Wetsuit FAQs
How do wetsuits work?
Wetsuits work by letting in a controlled amount of water and trapping this between the wetsuit material and your skin. As you move in your wetsuit, this thick layer of water heats up and keeps you warm. A poor fitting wetsuit or a wetsuit with tears or holes can let in more water and therefore make you colder. Also diving through a wave or a heavy wipeout can 'flush through' cold water. This means the better fitted the wetsuit is and the better quality, the warmer you will be.
What should I consider when buying a wetsuit?
A key consideration when buying a wetsuit is where you will be surfing. If you live in Scotland or the North East of the UK, you might well need a thicker wetsuit than if you live in the south or south west of the UK. This is due to the average sea temperature around the UK. You also need to consider what time of year you will need the wetsuit for. As a general rule of thumb, the colder the sea temperature, the thicker the wetsuit you need. How much you surf is also important to think about - if you are surfing regularly, you will want a much better quality wetsuit that will last better. This means you may choose to spend more on it.
What are the different types of wetsuits?
Wetsuits are different in terms of their thickness - in the body, arms and legs - and in their style. Different wetsuit styles include: full length, where the arms and legs are long: a shorty, where the legs are short, but the arms are long; a long john, where the legs are long, but there are no arms; or a short john, which has short legs and no arms.
How should a wetsuit fit?
A wetsuit should feel snug around your body, arms and legs, but not too restrictive. The arms and legs should feel like they natural meet your wrists and ankles. If the material bunches up there, then it's likely the wetsuit is too big for you. Modern wetsuits are designed to be stretchy, so if you feel very restricted, then it may be too small for you.
How long should a wetsuit last?
A wetsuit can last for a number of years, depending on how much you use it and how much you care for it. Always wash your wetsuit after use, in clean fresh water and hang it to drip dry, using a proper wetsuit hanger. Do not leave it left in the boot of your car or in the sunshine for prolonged times. And if you do develop a tear or damage, then you can buy wetsuit repair kits or take it to someone who offers wetsuit repairs.
What are wetsuit accessories?
Wetsuit accessories are other items that are made of the same wetsuit materials to help keep other parts of your body warmer when surfing. You can buy wetsuit gloves, wetsuit boots and wetsuit hoods or caps. Also, some winter wetsuits feature a built-in hood.
What wetsuit thickness is best for me?
The wetsuit thickness you need will largely depend on the sea temperature of where you live, the time of year you are surfing and whether you typically feel the cold more. Wetsuit thickness is listed by two numbers - the first denoting the thickness of the body and the second denoting the thickness of the arms and legs. A '5x3' wetsuit therefore has a 5mm body and 3mm arms and legs. This is best for late autumn, winter and early spring. A '3x2' wetsuit is best for early summer through to early autumn.
What wetsuit size am I?
To work out what your wetsuit size is, you need to take a measurement (in either cm or inches) of: your height - measure from the ground to the top of your head (barefoot); your chest - hold the tape horizontally and measure around the widest part of your chest; your waist - measure around your natural waist. Using these measurements you can then consult a wetsuit size chart to find the best size. Wetsuits sizes are typically: small; medium; large; large tall; XL and XXL.
What are the different types of wetsuit gloves?
There are three main types of wetsuit gloves: Mitts - tend to be the warmest as all of your fingers are together, with your thumb separately; Standard 5-finger glove - gives you better movement for your flexibility; 3-finger gloves - three of your fingers are grouped together, with your forefinger and then thumb separately. Wetsuit gloves come in different thicknesses too.
What are the different types of wetsuit boots or shoes?
Wetsuit boots have two main styles: Round-toe - the standard design with all your toes together; Split-toe - your big toe separate to the rest. These are meant to give you more balance and grip, but may be less warm. You can also use reef boots or slippers in the summer or if surfing somewhere tropical. These are ankle-high and give you protection from rocks, reef cuts, sea urchins etc.
What are the different types of wetsuit entry systems?
There are three different types of wetsuit entry: Back Zip - traditional design and useful for people who find it harder to get into the other types of wetsuit; Chest Zip - a shorter zip across the chest, so you put it on by pulling it up your body, pull the flap over your head and then zip it; Zip-free - as the name suggests, there is no zip. You pull the wetsuit up your body and the flap over your head, then draw it tight with a drawstring.
General FAQs
WHERE IS 10 OVER SURF SHOP LOCATED?
10 Over Surf Shop is an online surf shop based in Newquay, Cornwall, UK. We are a few minutes drive from Fistral Beach which plays host to some of the biggest surfing contests in Europe. You can find our address on the contact us page. We offer Click & Collect for customers wishing to pick up their purchases.
DOES 10 OVER SURF SHOP OFFER FREE SHIPPING FOR Wetsuit Boots?
Yes our surf shop offers free shipping on all orders over £50. You can also select "Click & Collect" for free pick up from our location in Newquay.
CAN I RETURN MY Wetsuit Boots ORDER?
Yes you may return your order within 30 days of purchasing it. Check the links in the footer of this website to view our terms of service, refund policy and shipping policy.
HELP, I CAN'T FIND WHAT I NEED!
Let us help find the perfect item you need. You can use the AI search function located at the top of the website. Failing that, reach out to us via the contact form and we'll tell you where to get the gear you need, even if we don't stock it.
WHAT TYPES OF SURFBOARD ACCESSORIES DO YOU SELL?
We sell longboard fins, shortboard fins, wetsuits, leashes, board bags, board socks, wetsuit hangers, surf wax, changing robes, changing mats and loads more. Just use the search function above to find your surfing accessories.
WHEN IS THE SURF SHOP OPEN?
As an online surf shop we're open 24/7. We ship daily, except Sundays and bank holidays. Click and Collect is offered Monday through to Saturday.
DOES 10 OVER SURF SHOP SPONSOR PEOPLE OR EVENTS?
Yes we do, in fact Community is one of our core values. We currently sponsor the British Longboard Union, Surfing England, Longboarder Magazine and we sponsor up and coming young surfers. Learn more under About Us.
