A wetsuit is one of the most important items of equipment for surfers, which means choosing the right one is essential. Read our wetsuit thickness guide for beginners and get ready for your French surf vacation.
While it's possible to surf in boardshorts or a bikini during summer in southwest France, you'll most likely need a wetsuit to surf during the other seasons.
At Southwest Surf House, we stock a bunch of comfortable and modern wetsuits to keep you warm. However, if you're thinking about buying your first wetsuit for a French surf trip, you need to know what to look for.
To ensure you choose a well-fitting and warm wetsuit (without emptying your bank account), we've put together this wetsuit thickness guide for beginners.
In it, you'll learn all about neoprene wetsuits and how to pick one that will keep you cosy and help you surf better in colder conditions.
With that in mind, let's learn all about wetsuit thickness and French water temperature below.
Why do I need a wetsuit?
If you're coming to France in summer, you might turn your nose up at the idea of wearing a wetsuit.
I mean, if you can't show a bit of skin and get your tan on while in Hossegor, where else can you do it?
That being said, a wetsuit is necessary in Europe for a minimum of 9-10 months every year depending on where you're surfing.
This means that if you want to stay in the water longer and improve your surfing, you'll need a thicker wetsuit or even wetsuit accessories to protect yourself from cold water and wind chill.
What’s more, neoprene wetsuits also make lying on a surfboard more comfortable and may even guard against bumps and bruises.
What do the numbers mean on a wetsuit?
When the time comes to browse for your first wetsuit, you'll notice that all suits are divided into different numbers.
These numbers are the neoprene's thickness in millimetres and are usually presented as a pair, such as 5/4mm or 3/2mm.
The reason why they're in a pair is that the larger number is the thickness of the trunk section of the wetsuit, while the smaller number is the thickness of the arms and legs.
How do I know which thickness I need?
This comes down to two factors: how you cope with cold conditions and the dominant water temperature of the area you'll be surfing in.
You can scroll down to learn all about which wetsuit thickness we recommend for France throughout the year.
For now, you should keep in mind that those who can handle cooler temperatures will be able to get away with a thinner wetsuit, while those who really feel the cold should opt for a thicker wetsuit.
It's a matter of personal preference and the best you can do is research the water and air temperature where you'll be surfing.
Are there different types of wetsuits?
Aside from the fact that wetsuit thickness numbers can be confusing, there also exists a plethora of different wetsuit types.
These range from cheap and basic entry-level wetsuits that are not worth buying to battery-powered wetsuits that just aren't necessary for beginner surfers. To ensure you buy a wetsuit that you don’t need, you should look at the following factors.
Gender
While a woman can wear a men's wetsuit and vice versa, the fit will be slightly awkward in certain areas. Specifically, the shoulders, hips and groin. For this reason, you should wear wetsuits made specifically for your gender or as close to your body shape as possible.
Thickness
The most common wetsuit thickness measurements that you'll come across are 5/4mm, 4/3mm, 3/2mm and 2/2mm.
Generally speaking, the thicker the wetsuit, the warmer it’ll keep you but the less flexible you'll be.
Truth be told though, you needn't worry too much about flexibility if you're a beginner surfer given that you won't be doing radical manoeuvres and exploring your full range of movement during a surf session.
A 5/4mm wetsuit is appropriate for water temperatures around 10°C or less depending on your tolerance levels, but it's also not uncommon to see people wearing a 5/4 when it's between 10-15°C
A 4/3mm wetsuit is usually worn f0r a water temperature that ranges between 11°C and 15°C
A 3/2mm wetsuit is for water temperature that falls between 14°C and 17°C
A 2/2mm wetsuit is for water that's warmer than 17°C
Arm and leg length
Another thing you'll notice is that arm and leg lengths vary.
Depending on the season, you'll either want more neoprene or less neoprene.
In summer, wearing a short arm/short leg wetsuit will help with wind chill and cooler morning or evening temperatures.
In winter, you'll want a steamer or full suit. You might also need wetsuit accessories, such as gloves, a hood and booties.
All wetsuits come in the following configurations:
Long arms and long legs (full suit or steamer)
Short arms and long legs
Short arms and short legs (springy or spring suit)
Sleeveless and long legs (long john)
Sleeveless and short legs
Zipper system
Entry systems have really evolved over the last decade.
The original back zip wetsuits still exist, but they've been more or less phased out and replaced by sleeker, more flexible entry systems. The most common type of entry system found on summer and winter wetsuits these days are as follows:
Chest zip wetsuits - More expensive than a back zip wetsuit but also more supple and easier to use. Also better at keeping the water out
Zipperless wetsuits - Provides the most flexibility out of all entry systems with a price tag to match (compared to zip wetsuits). Many beginners may also struggle to get in and out of zipperless wetsuits, but there's no denying that they boast a better on-body feel
Wetsuit construction
In addition to wetsuit thickness, the construction of the neoprene also has a huge effect on your comfort and cold tolerance levels.
Neoprene wetsuits continue to be the most popular material for mid to low-end wetsuits, however, high-quality options that are easy on the environment do exist.
Limestone neoprene and Yulex wetsuits are becoming widespread due to their superior flex, lightness and ability to generate heat when moving. There's even a wetsuit company making winter wetsuits and summer suits from oyster shell powder.
Tech features
Finally, another factor to consider that falls alongside wetsuit thickness are the additional features that it comes with.
These features, which look like mere details, can have a surprisingly significant impact on whether or not a wetsuit is worth buying. Examples of wetsuit details you should look for include:
Seams - Wetsuits are manufactured in panels and stitched together. The strip where the panels meet is called the seam. Low-quality wetsuits will use a standard overlock stitch, which lets in water and irritates the skin. Higher-end wetsuits will glue and blindstitch their seams, making them both watertight and strong
Lining - Lining refers to the knitted fabric that's laminated onto the inside of the wetsuit. It's designed to be quick-driving and warm, but it can make the suit less elastic. A good wetsuit will have a lining that covers the trunk, back and legs, while cheaper wetsuits may have no lining at all
Pockets - Stash pockets in wetsuits are never a deciding factor when buying a wetsuit, but they do come in handy for storing car or fin keys
What thickness do I need for France?
Neoprene thickness and the type of wetsuit you wear will vary depending on where in France you intend on surfing.
In the southwest, the summers are incredibly beautiful with water temperatures hovering around 22 ºC. In winter, the water can drop to as low as 11 ºC, so you'll need a full suit/steamer plus wetsuit accessories such as wetsuit boots, a wetsuit hoot and wetsuit gloves (numb fingers suck).
Ultimately, we have comfortable brand-name wetsuits to get you through spring, summer and the beginning of autumn. For anyone looking for more info regarding wetsuits for southwest France, please see below:
January
Water temp average: 12.2°C
Air temp average: 8.6°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 5/4mm or 4/3mm with wetsuit boots, hood and perhaps wetsuit gloves
February
Water temp average: 11.7°C
Air temp average: 8.5°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 5/4mm or 4/3mm with wetsuit boots, hood and perhaps wetsuit gloves
March
Water temp average: 12.2°C
Air temp average: 10.8°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 5/4mm or 4/3mm with wetsuit boots and hood
April
Water temp average: 13.7°C
Air temp average: 12.8°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 4/3mm with wetsuit boots and hood
May
Water temp average: 16°C
Air temp average: 16.6°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 4/3mm or a 3/2mm
June
Water temp average: 19.1°C
Air temp average: 19°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 3/2mm for cooler mornings and evenings but a short arm/long leg or short arm/short leg 2/2mm throughout the day
July
Water temp average: 21.6°C
Air temp average: 20.8°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: Short arm/short leg 2/2mm for cooler mornings and evenings. Boardshorts or bikini with a rash vest top throughout the day
August
Water temp average: 22.3°C
Air temp average: 21.2°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: Boardshorts or bikini with a rash vest top. 2/2mm wetsuit optional
September
Water temp average: 20.8°C
Air temp average: 19.4°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: At most a 3/2mm for the morning and evening. Otherwise, a 2/2mm short arm with long legs or boardshorts and bikini throughout the day
October
Water temp average: 18.3°C
Air temp average: 16.6°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 3/2mm full suit (wetsuit boots optional)
November
Water temp average: 15.4°C
Air temp average: 11.8°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 4/3mm or a 3/2mm (plus wetsuit boots and hood for windier days)
December
Water temp average: 13.4°C
Air temp average: 9.3°C
Wetsuit/wetsuit accessories: 5/4mm or 4/3mm with wetsuit boots, hood and perhaps wetsuit gloves
If you dont have a wetsuit dont worry, we have plenty you can use - book with us today
