Wetsuit Accessories

Wetsuit Accessories Benefits in Cold Water

Wetsuits provide thermal protection for your core body. Your feet, head, and hands are considered your extremities. In cold water your wetsuit may not be enough to keep your extremities warm. If you feel numbness or chills, consider protecting your extremities. Wetsuit boots, wetsuit hoods, and wetsuit gloves can help your body keep it's heat. If you do a sport where your feet are always in cold water consider a warm pair of booties or neoprene boots. There are soft flexible sole options and hard sole options to choose from. Adding neoprene gloves is very helpful in retaining your heat, under water diving it is important to be able to feel your hands and neoprene gloves can give you the warmth and comfort you need. Wetsuit neoprene hoods are also essential for retaining body heat. We loose heat from our heads and being in cold water can rob us from our body heat. Choosing form bibbed hoods or neoprene swim cap styles are very popular. The goal is to be at ease in the water so you can maximize your fun time.

Which Wetsuit Boots to Wear for Surfing and Diving?

Neoprene wetsuit boots come in soft sole bootie 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm thicknesses. Soft sole booties are very popular for sports like surfing, stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, and kiteboarding because putting pressure in your toes can help with the performance of the activity you are doing. In contrast, if you are SCUBA diving you may want to consider a harder sole boot if you will be on surfaces that are rugged and rocky. The sole of the boot can give you more support and protection from jagged edges. Boots for diving also come in 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm thicknesses. Soft sole neoprene wetsuit boots can also be worn for scuba diving and snorkeling, you may be walking into sandy beach areas or dropping in from a boat and a soft sole neoprene bootie is more appropriate. Neoprene socks are also a great option for divers, snorkelers, and swimmers. Neoprene socks come in 1mm, 2mm, and 3mm thicknesses.

Wetsuit Accessories: What is a Neoprene Bibbed Hood?

Wetsuit hoods are considered one of the essential wetsuit accessories for cold waters. There are a variety of hood types. A bibbed hood is a neoprene hood that offers coverage of the neck and has a bib at the bottom of the hood that can tuck into your wetsuit so that there is seal for water to stay out. These hoods are commonly used by SCUBA divers and they come in 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm thicknesses. Bibbed hoods come in standard and vented styles. A vented hood has a vent at the top of the hood that allows for any air to escape through the vent so it does not get trapped when you go underwater. If air is trapped it can stretch the hood and allow for water to flood the hood and pool water in the hood which could make you feel cold.

What Wetsuit Neoprene Gloves Should I wear?

Wetsuit gloves or neoprene gloves are wetsuit accessories and are excellent ways to protect your extremities. Not all water sports require gloves but if your body is unable to keep your extremities warm then protecting your extremities can bring your over all body temperature up and warmer. Most gloves today are sealed seamed gloves so that water does not leak into the seams of the gloves. Wetsuit gloves come in 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 5mm, and 7mm thicknesses. Depending on the conditions you are in you may need a thinner glove for warmer waters or a thicker glove for colder waters. Some wetsuit gloves have a rubber look about them, these gloves are often referred to as mesh skin gloves. These gloves do not have a nylon lamination on them and they can are often used in conditions that do not require you to touch abrasive surfaces. Without a lamination, these wetsuit gloves can tear. So if you will be gripping tightly or touching rough surfaces used a glove that has a exterior lamination. You can tell if a glove has a laminate by seeing fabric on the surface of the glove as oppose to just a rubber surface.