How to find a wetsuit that fits

Finding a wetsuit that slips on like a second skin has always been a tricky task and as neoprene becomes ever more flexible, it is only going to get harder to find that perfect fit. Here are five pointers to put you on the right track.

1. Don’t struggle to put your wetsuit on

Be aware that if you are putting serious strain while putting your suit on, the sizing might not be quite right.

2. Looking good is not the same as a good wetsuit fit

Remember that just because the suit looks like it fits doesn’t mean it fits well.

Once you have the suit on, you shouldn’t feel any significant resistance when bending and flexing limbs. The suit won’t “break-in” or loosen up once in the water. You will experience discomfort, rubbing, poor performance and accelerated wear on the wetsuit.

3. Always follow the size chart

A simple way to get the right size is to make sure you have the largest suit possible that still fits like a second skin. The size chart is there for a reason. Take your measurements, and try a size up and down to find your sweet spot.

4. Try a range of brands

Sometimes a brand will just not be the right fit for you. Although most brands try to create the fullest possible range of fits, people come in all shapes and sizes and to accommodate everyone is near impossible. If one brand isn’t right for you, there will be another that will suit you perfectly.

5. Try before you buy

Put the wetsuit on, walk around for a while and make sure you feel comfortable. If you are a little clammy, don’t be afraid to jump about and wave your arms so the suit can settle into its natural resting position. If you are uncomfortable in a shop, it won’t be much better in the water and two-hour paddle fest in the sea will be an unpleasant ordeal. Head over to our dealer page by clicking here.

Look for the signs of an incorrect fit. A super stretchy suit may feel like it fits ok although if its too small, the seams will become stressed and the longevity of your wetsuit will be significantly reduced. Signs of the suit being too small are – riding up on your arms and legs. If the front of the suit isn’t long enough, it will pull on the collar and the neckline, this means water flushing when you duck dive, never nice.

Signs of the suit being too large are – bunching at the wrist and ankles, knee pad placement too low. Excess material behind knees, armpits, and the back of the neck will cause rubs and be very noticeable when paddling.

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MENS XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	XS	S	ST	MS	M	MT	MLS	ML	LS	L	LT	XLS	XL	XLT	2XLS	2XL	3XLS	3XL
HEIGHT (CM)	163-169	168-173	175-183	170-175	173-178	180-185	168-173	175-180	170-175	178-183	185-191	173-178	180-188	191-198	175-183	183-191	178-185	185-198
WEIGHT (KG)	57-61	61-68	66-73	66-73	70-77	75-82	70-77	75-82	75-82	79-86	84-91	79-86	86-93	93-100	88-95	93-100	100-109	104-118
CHEST (CM)	90	94	94	96.5	99	99	101.5	101.5	104	104	104	109	109	109	114	114	124	124
WAIST (CM)	73.5	77.5	77.5	80	82.5	82.5	85	85	87.5	87.5	87.5	93	93	93	98	98	108	108

WOMENS XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	2	4	6	6T	8S	8	8T	10S	10	10T	12S	12	14S	14	16
HEIGHT (CM)	150-157	152-160	157-167	165-173	157-163	163-170	170-178	160-168	165-173	175-183	163-170	168-175	163-170	168-175	170-178
WEIGHT (KG)	44-45	43-48	48-52	52-59	48-54	52-59	54-61	54-61	59-66	64-70	64-70	68-75	68-77	73-82	82-91
BUST (CM)	79	82.5	86	86	90	90	90	95	95	95	103	103	112	112	121
WAIST (CM)	58	62	66	66	70	70	70	75	75	75	82.5	82.5	91.5	91.5	100
HIPS (CM)	81	85	89	89	93	93	93	98	98	98	105.5	105.5	114	114	123

YOUTH XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	4	6	8	10	12	14	16
HEIGHT (CM)	117-124	124-132	132-140	140-147	147-155	155-163	163-168
WEIGHT (KG)	18-25	23-29	27-34	32-39	36-43	43-50	48-54
CHEST (CM)	58.5	62	66	70	73.5	78.5	84
WAIST (CM)	51	55	58.5	62	66	71	76

TODDLER XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	1	2	3	4	5
HEIGHT (CM)	71-81	84-94	96-107	109-119	122-132
WEIGHT (KG)	9-11	11-14	14-16	16-18	18-20
CHEST (CM)	48	51	53	56	58.5
WAIST (CM)	46	48	51	53	56

BOOTS XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13
HEEL TO TO (CM)	21.6-22.5	22.5-23.5	23.5-24.4	24.4-25.4	25.4-26.4	26.4-27.3	27.3-28.3	28.3-29.2	29.2-30.2

GLOVE XCEL SIZE GUIDE

	XXS	XS	S	M	L	XL	2XL
HAND LENGTH (CM)	15-18	16.5-19	18-20.5	19-21.5	20.5-23	21.5-23	23-24
PALM WIDTH (CM)	15-18	16.5-19	18-20.5	19-21.5	20.5-23	21.5-24	23-25.5