Waterproof W7 vs Bare Reactive 7mm Wetsuit Experience (Sizing and Warmth) (2024)

FAQs

What temperature is a 7mm wetsuit good for? ›

Freediving Wetsuits

75°F – 81°F: 3mm full suit. 70°F – 75°F: 3.5mm or 5mm full suit. 60°F – 70°F: 5mm or 7mm full suit. 50°F – 60°F: 7mm full suit or 8/7mm semi dry suit.

A wetsuit should fit as tightly as you can comfortably get into. What you need to avoid are slack areas where water can pool, or loose seals around the ankles, wrists, and neck.

The 5mm wetsuits are ideal when diving in waters between 23° and 27°. You can wear the 7mm wetsuit when diving in areas where the temperature drops below 20°. Professionals who dive all year round are often in 5 mm + a top under 3 to 5 mm…

Semi-Dry Suit. The semi-dry suit is a water suit with strong seals at the neck, wrists and ankles that limit the amount of water that enters and leaves the wetsuit. The stronger seals are similar to those on drysuits, but like wetsuits, the semi-dry suits are made of neoprene.

A thicker suit means that we are displacing more water and require more lead to enable us to sink. A 3mm wetsuit may only require 6 to 8% of your body weight in lead whereas a 7mm, wetsuit, or dry suit could require 10% of your body weight or more depending on your undergarments.

Ultimately wetsuits should feel relatively tight and fit snuggly to your skin – there should be no pockets of air or wrinkles when you put one on. However, they shouldn't be so tight as to limit your range of motion or dig in uncomfortably. Wetsuits work by trapping a layer of water between your body and the suit.

Initially, the wetsuit will be too tight for your body, but each time you put it on, it will become more comfortable. Try the wetsuit on before you surf for the first time to ensure comfort. It will always feel tighter when you're not in the water, and a little looser when it fills with water.

As for stretch in wetsuits, yes, they will give a little bit but not enough to compensate for buying a wetsuit which is too small for you.

Wetsuit thickness is crucial for thermal insulation and should be selected based on water temperature, ranging from 2mm for warm waters above 21°C to 7mm for colder waters below that threshold, with drysuits being the go-to for extreme cold conditions.

Your normal clothing size will give you a first indication of what wetsuit size to choose. But to make sure you choose the right wetsuit size we recommend to carefully measure your body sizes. Almost every wetsuit size comes in a short (S) and tall (T) size to fit different body types.

Will a 5mm wetsuit keep me warm? ›

A 4mm suit for early spring and late Autumn before the winter really kicks in. A 5mm wetsuit for winter in most locations is fine, especially when couple with boots gloves and a hood.

The main difference between a wetsuit and a drysuit is their suitability in warm or cold water. Depending on thickness and personal tolerance, wetsuits are popular across tropical and temperate destinations. However, chillier temperatures below 10ºC/50ºF demand the added protection and warmth of a dry suit.

After your wetsuit is washed, hang your wetsuit inside out to dry. Avoid a damp or moldy pile. Therefore, don't leave your wetsuit laying around wet. Especially not soaked in a bucket of seawater in the boot of your hot car.

When the water temperature measures between 50 and 65 degrees, wetsuits are strongly encouraged, and some races may require their use. Between 65 and 78 degrees, it's typically the athlete's choice of whether to wear a wetsuit.

Recommended wetsuit thickness for temperature:

80°F or above: 1-2mm, This type of wetsuit is also known as a shorty and is ideal for warm water diving. Between 70-80°F: 3mm. Between 60-70°F: 5mm.

Water temperatures between 57-64°F (14-18°C): A full suit with a thickness of at least 3/2mm is recommended. Water temperatures between 64-77°F (18-24°C): A shorty wetsuit with a thickness of at least 2mm is recommended.