Womens Wetsuit Sizing Guide

A wetsuit is created from specially designed neoprene to keep you warm in the sea. You can stay in the water for much longer periods of time by wearing a wetsuit than you could without one.

For those who do watersports in the UK, they are beneficial thanks to our colder water temperatures! We take a look at how to size the perfect women’s wetsuit and the accessories to match!

Contents

• Wetsuit Size Guide for Women
• Wetsuit Fit
• Choosing a Wetsuit
• Tips for Women’s Wetsuit Sizing
• Brands and Sizing
• Women’s Rash Vest and UV Protection Size Guide
• Women’s Impact Vest Size Guide
• Women’s Wetsuit Boots Size Guide
• Women’s Wetsuit Hood Size Guide
• Women’s Wetsuit Gloves Size Guide
• Buying from Wetsuit Centre

Wetsuit Size Guide for Women

Wetsuit Fit

A wetsuit should fit tight to your body like a second skin, creating a close seal against your skin. A proper fit is essential to prevent water from entering and causing you to feel cold. When considering wetsuit sizing, your torso, chest, waist, and legs should all feel secure without being restrictive. A well-fitted women's wetsuit should have minimal gaps and no noticeable excess material, especially around key areas like the lower back. The lower back is one of the most essential areas to check. The neoprene should sit close to your body, allowing only a small amount of material to pinch. This helps retain heat and maintain warmth in cold water conditions. If you notice slight looseness behind the knees or under the arms, it is not ideal but generally acceptable if the rest of the suit maintains a snug fit.

For more advice and practical tips, including guidance on chest, neck, and overall fit, explore our womens wetsuit size guide below.

View Our Blog Article: Wetsuit Fitting Tips For Women, Here

Choosing a Wetsuit

There are several essential factors to consider when choosing the right size wetsuit, ensuring comfort, performance, and warmth.

Thickness

Wetsuit thickness plays a major role in keeping you warm in different conditions. The thickness of a wetsuit is measured in millimetres, usually shown as a ratio.

For example, a 3/2 wetsuit means 3mm neoprene on the body and legs, and 2mm on the arms.

• Summer suits tend to be 3:2 thicknesses and below, including shorty wetsuits.
• Mid-season suits come in a 4:3 thickness and are recommended from April to November, depending on your cold threshold.
• Winter wetsuits are for the coldest conditions and usually come in 5:4 and thicker, including 6mm suits.

The thickness you choose depends on the time of year you hit the sea and how the cold affects you. For some people, they can surf in a 4/3 wetsuit all year round, with a thermal rash vest for extra warmth in the winter months, but this isn’t recommended for most!

For more advice on which thickness of wetsuit you need, click on the link below!

View Our How To Size A Wetsuit Guide, Here

Budget

Your budget will influence your choice of wetsuit across the available size and performance range. Entry-level options are ideal for beginners, while premium suits offer more flexible materials, better movement, and improved warmth for surfing. As your skills progress, you may want a women's wetsuit that offers a balance between flexibility and insulation.

As a beginner, you will most likely want to start with entry-level wetsuits such as the C-Skins Surflite 4:3. They are generally more affordable, and as you advance, you will be more aware of the requirements you need from your wetsuit.

As you improve, you will no doubt want more flexibility from your suit as well as a focus on warmth. We often recommend the O’Neill Hyperfreak.

Zips

Most entry-level suits are back-zipped simply because they tend to be easier to get on. Overall, they aren’t as warm as chest zip suits because a chest zip removes any weak spots at the lower back where water can enter. However, they will still keep you super warm and are also friendlier on your wallet!

Tips for Women’s Wetsuit Sizing

Finding the right wetsuit sizing is key to achieving the perfect fit. A reliable wetsuit size guide or size guide will help you compare your measurements and choose correctly.

Here are some simple tips:

• Start with your clothing dress size as a base
• Always check the brand’s size guide or size chart
• Focus on chest, waist, hips, and height
• Measure your chest at the widest part and your natural waistline
• Consider your weight and body shape
• If you fall between two sizes, choose based on comfort and fit

Accurate measurements in cm are essential when using a wetsuit size guide to ensure your wetsuit fits properly.

Short and Tall Sizes

Ensuring you have the correct size wetsuit is integral; if the wetsuit is too big, it won’t work!

With this in mind, wetsuit brands have advanced their sizes by introducing short and tall sizes. For example, instead of your standard 6, 8, 10, etc., in-between sizes are also available, such as 6-small (6S), 6, 6-tall (6T) and so on. If you are petite, you may want to consider a short size, and if you are tall, the tall sizes are great for extra length.

Brands and Sizing

The way a wetsuit fits will vary between each brand. For example, a 10 in an O’Neill wetsuit may fit differently from the same size in Rip Curl. You might find that you prefer the fit of one brand over the other, simply because it suits your body better.

Always check the brand’s size guide to make sure you have picked the correct size for you.

Below, we take a look at some of the other essential watersport equipment, including size guides for each.

Women’s Rash Vest and UV Protection Size Guide

Rash vests can be worn underneath your wetsuit to help protect your skin should you suffer from rubbing from your wetsuit.

They can also be worn on their own with a swimsuit or boardies to act as a sun protector. This can be especially useful in warmer climates.

Rash vests don’t really improve warmth unless they include a thermal lining to help maintain heat under your rash vest.

Women’s Impact Vest Size Guide

An impact vest is a safety essential to ensure buoyancy, should you fall off you water craft while in the water. They are usually used for sailors, kayakers and water skiers. They are placed on top of you wetsuit.

Women’s Wetsuit Boots Size Guide

Wetsuit boots are worn as the water temperature drops. They keep your feet warm, and need to fit more like a sock than a shoe. There should be little room between your foot and the wetsuit boots, but they shouldn’t fit so tightly that your feet curl up.

Women’s Wetsuit Hood Size Guide

Another cold water essential, a hood ensures your head and face are protected from colder climates. It should fit fairly tight but not so much that it causes pain around your neck or face.

Women’s Wetsuit Gloves Size Guide

Wetsuit gloves ensure that your hands retain heat and don’t suffer in the colder conditions of UK winters!

Buying from Wetsuit Centre

If you’re eager to get in the water, we aim for all orders before 3 pm to be shipped the same day. After this time, any orders should be sent for delivery the following day, providing it isn’t a bank holiday.

If you choose one of our wetsuits and discover it’s not right for you, all items purchased from us can be returned for an exchange or refund within 90 days, provided they haven’t been used, and the tags are still intact.

Remember, our expert team are always here to help! Just give us a call on 01202 302943 or drop an email to info@wetsuitcentre.co.uk with any of your questions!