How does a Wetsuit really works?
By keeping water out. Any water that gets inside the suit is going to leak out again. When the water is inside it absorbs some of your body heat. When it leaves it takes that heat with it.
A good fit, one that feels equally snug everywhere, is important, so the space the water wants to use to flow along your skin is as small as possible.
Providing Insulation Against Heat Loss
A little science here: solids and liquids conduct heat well; gases do not. Air, for example, is about 20 times less conductive than water. As a practical matter, good insulation - above or below water - is all about trapping air or some other gas. So it's not the wool or polypro or whatever in a sweater that keeps you warm, it's the air trapped in the fibers.
In or under water, you need a material that keeps gas from escaping. That's why neoprene foam works so well. Gas bubbles (usually nitrogen) are permanently trapped inside the "closed cells" of the wetsuit material.
So the good fit is critical for the wetsuit to work properly - our Wetsuits are manufactured from a very stretchy neoprene and will stretch to a number of shapes and sizes. Comfortably providing a "second skin".
How to get a good fit from a wetsuit?
Fortunately Trident supplied wetsuits are manufactured from quality neoprene which is very stretchy which makes them fit more easily - especially if the size guide is used.
A note about Cheap Wetsuits
Cheap wetsuits tend to be made from neoprene which contains a lot of rubber. Because rubber does not contain any air bubbles it has really bad isolation and stretch capabilities. We would not recommend a cheap wetsuit if you want it to work and keep you warm and comfortable.
Did your Wetsuit shrink over the Winter?
You might be pleased to know a wetsuit when not used frequently will lose its elasticity. If it seems that your suit has shrunk, just let it soak in warm water for 6 to 8 hours and hang to dry - it might well be easier to put on - no promises.
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