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The Evolution Of The Surfing Wetsuit

By Chris Kennelly
Sep 17, 2009
The surfing wetsuit was originally two pieces of rubber that were not exactly the most flexible items to wear when going swimming, diving or surfing, with the wearers thereof having to put powder on their bodies in order to enable them to put the suits on properly. The strength of the suits were also somewhat dodgy in that if they were pulled too hard to too rigorously then the suit could be torn into pieces.

Great strides in technology as well as countless hours of research have resulted in the surfing wetsuit becoming something so much more functional, stylish and useful than these predecessors. Together with new stylish designs and applications it has now become somewhat of a fashion statement for many a surfer when hitting the waves.

The original rubber backed material of the surfing wetsuit has advanced to the neoprene material which is essentially the crux of any wetsuit, as this material allows for a layer of water to be trapped inside of the material, and is heated up by the body temperature of the wearer. This layer of insulation is the barrier between the colder water and the warmer body, which therefore retains some of the heat and prevents conditions such as hypothermia.

Additional manufacturing process breakthroughs for the wetsuit include the way that the wetsuit is put together. This includes the process of blind stitching, as well gluing within the seams, which provides a much more solid surfing wetsuit, and in turn providing a better insulation for the wearer thereof. Beyond mere insulation some of the latest developments within the industry include the addition of heating elements that generate additional heat around the back and central torso area, so that the extremities such as the arms and legs do not get affected when the body pulls heat towards the vital organs.

These developments really prove how far the surfing wetsuit has come since the initial proposals that were made to the US navy for diving suits. And this fact together with the added functionality that has come about allows people to really enjoy their surfing throughout the year both in warm water and colder water conditions. This incidentally reveals that some people get somewhat confused about warm water conditions, in which some believe that a surfing wetsuit is not required. This is a popular misconception, and the reason why a suit should be worn is based upon the fact that the water is normally colder than the air temperature, as well as the fact that the water draws heat away from the body.

Therefore if you want to spend a longer while in the water whether it be for surfing, diving or whichever water sport then a suitable wetsuit specific for the conditions should be used.
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