Do surfers ever use drysuits? This is a good question that many water enthusiasts (surfers, kayakers and divers) have asked themselves at one point. This question comes about because of the high prevalence or popularity of wetsuits among surfers. It’s important to understand the difference between drysuits and wetsuits in order to figure out when is the best time to use either.
Both drysuits and wetsuits have their unique characteristics and benefits. Let’s take a look at some scenarios where drysuits are more appropriate for surfing.
Water Temperature
Water temperature is the primary reason you should consider getting a drysuit instead of a wetsuit. Drysuits are typically made of layers of insulating materials (such as nylon and neoprene) that prevent your body from coming into contact with the water.
Drysuits include waterproof zippers and seals that protect you from very low water and air temperature (basically weather conditions below 10 °C). When wearing a drysuit, your body never comes into contact with the water.
Surfing with Drysuits
During cold seasons, surfers often ask themselves why they shouldn’t wear drysuits. Well, the main concern is that a drysuit will limit or restrict your movement and maneuverability as you surf. Nobody wants to feel like a log on a surfboard. Drysuits are commonly used by military and recreational divers, rescue teams, harbour workers and boaters.
A wetsuit works differently because they allow water in even if you are wearing one of those thick models. Wetsuits are made from neoprene, which is a material that offers great flexibility and insulation during surfing. Wetsuits are not waterproof, but this is not what they are trying to achieve.
Surfers should only consider buying a drysuit if they think that their wetsuit is not doing enough for them. In spite of that, you should have in mind that drysuits can be heavier, more complicated to wear, not to mention more expensive than wetsuits.
If you are a cold water surfer or a person who suffer from hypothermia, a drysuit can come in handy when you want to go surfing in winter. Surfing during the cold seasons of the year is actually pretty good because beaches are less crowded and the waves are not that bad either. In essence, you can surf all year round if you decide to invest in a good drysuit.
Benefits of Owning a Drysuit
Some key benefits of owning a drysuit include:
1. You can stay warm even in the coldest weather.
Coldwater riding may seem daunting at first, but when wearing a drysuit, the whole experience becomes a bit more bearable and even enjoyable. Cold, wet and numb is not the best way to spend your time out in the water. A drysuit keeps you comfortable and warm in air and water temperatures below 10 °C.
2. You can wear your regular clothes inside.
Some drysuits offer enough room that it is possible to wear your regular clothes underneath. How cool is that?
3. You can surf during winter when everyone else is dreaming of being in the water.
As already mentioned, drysuits allow you to swim and surf even in the harshest of weather. And this includes the winter season as well.
4. You stay completely dry.
Aside from a few drops of water coming through some seals, a dry suit should keep you completely dry through your surfing sessions.
5. Drysuits are easier to get in and out of than wetsuits
One of the very few drawbacks of wetsuits is that they can be pretty difficult to get in and out of. This is not the case with drysuits.
6. You can share your suit with other surfers who are close to your size.
The fact that you can wear other articles of clothing underneath drysuits means that they are versatile enough to be worn by multiple people (assuming they are around the same size).
Summary
With these tips, you should be in a better position to pick a wetsuit that suits not just your body but water conditions. If you are uncertain about anything, do not hesitate to seek expert advice.
At Beachin Surf, we offer a wide variety of surfing essentials. We have surfboards, wetsuits, board bags, clothing, footwear, accessories and surf hardware including eco-friendly alternatives. We are more than happy to help you with your surfing journey.
For all your surfing essentials, please visit us at 262 Maine Road, Toukley, NSW. You can also call ahead to make sure we are there to assist you properly.
Please call us today on (02) 4396 5159 or feel free to send us an inquiry.