A wetsuit is a special suit worn by people who want to spend a lot of time in the water. Wetsuits are usually worn by kitesurfers, wakeboarders, surfers, standup paddleboarders, swimmers or divers. Wetsuits insulate them or help them retain body heat. This, in turn, helps to avoid hypothermia, a dangerously low body temperature.

Wetsuits are made of a kind of insulating bubbly rubber called neoprene. The suit traps a thin layer of water between the neoprene and the wearer’s skin. So, the wearer is always wet—that’s why it’s called a wetsuit. Body heat warms the layer of trapped water and helps keep the wearer warm. The wetsuit must be tight, or else the layer of water between it and the wearer’s body will be too wide to keep warm.

There are different thicknesses and styles of wetsuits to fit different water conditions and the wearer's needs. Usually, the thicker the wetsuit, the warmer it keeps the wearer. However, the thicker the wetsuit, the more difficult it is to move in it. Most wetsuits are between 2 and 5 millimetres thick.

Helping to choose your perfect wetsuit has been at the heart of Animal since we got started in 2014, because we love watersports as much as you do. Whatever your budget, we offer high quality wetsuits from the top surfing brands, including Neil Pryde, Mystic, Animal, Saltrock, Spinera. You can shop today for steamers, hooded wetsuits, shorties and spring suits as well as neoprene tops, rash vests, boots, gloves, hoods and even sunsuits for toddlers.

The different brands now offer a huge range of ingenious wetsuit technologies and styles, giving you plenty of choice when it comes to finding your perfect wetsuit. The selection of suits is massive and varied; whether it’s a shorty for warm summer days, a steamer for cooler waters, or a semi-dry suit for those icy cold arctic breaks.

Zips - Back zip, Front Zip, or no Zip?

Back zip wetsuits are particularly comfortable and easy to put on and take off. They often have adjustable collars to prevent water getting in your suit.

Front zip wetsuits open at the chest, allowing you to easily adjust the suit to your upper body.

It doesn’t get any easier than a No Zip suit. Slip in and drop in. No zip, no problem.

We offer every choice of size, style, colour and brand, but in the face of such a big selection how to choose your wetsuit? Now that yu have gone through the ultimate guide to choosing a wetsuit and everything you need to know before buying one, click here, on our Wetsuits page and choose one!