At The Watersports Centre, we frequently get the question, “What do you wear under a wetsuit?
”. What to wear beneath a wetsuit is a matter of personal preference, and might range from board shorts to a bikini to nothing at all. Depending on the activity they’re engaged in, some people may need to wear sport-specific clothing underneath their wetsuit. The majority of people prefer to wear a swimsuit or board shorts.
Wearing Properly Under a Wetsuit
Wetsuit-required activities
Without any additional clothing worn underneath, wetsuits are made to keep you warm. The typical action is as follows:
Most surfers, kiters, and riders wear board shorts or swimsuits when engaging in these water sports. It is simple, practical, and adaptable. Men who care about their board shorts bunching up use Speedo suits or racy underwear.
Open water swimmers generally cover up with a swimsuit in the Speedo style for triathlons. To make the transition from swim to bike easier, competitive triathletes wear bike shorts or a one-piece tri suit.
Most SCUBA divers dress in a bathing suit. Cold-water divers frequently choose a base layer made of poly fleece or a full-body rash guard. It is really simple to slip into a heavy SCUBA suit while wearing a full body rash guard. Thermals made of poly fleece accomplish the same thing while wicking away sweat and keeping you toasty.
Can I go barefoot?
Absolutely! A wetsuit’s undergarments can bunch, punch, and make donning and doffing difficult. It is completely fine and a question of personal preference to wear nothing below your wetsuit. But take into account these things:
Wetsuits may chafe when worn. Try it out, and if you find it uncomfortable, wear a swimsuit.
Destination: Consider your final destination and whether it is appropriate to wear nothing underneath your wetsuit there. Wearing nothing could prevent you from putting on and taking off your wetsuit, which can be difficult even for seasoned users.
What happens if you get tired or hot? To cool off, guys can simply roll their suit down to their waist. Girls could run into difficulties.
Wearing Properly Under a Wetsuit
Choosing what to put on beneath a wetsuit
additional warmth and protection
The main benefit of wearing extra layers underneath a surfsuit for certain surfers is that they stay much warmer in colder environments, both above and below the water. Experienced surfers and kitesurfers choose to wear thin layers (rash vests) below to act as additional insulation for the body rather than a very bulky wetsuit that will impede movement and deplete their energy more quickly.
When determining whether or not to wear an undergarment with your wetsuit, you should also take into account the temperature of the air and wind above the water in addition to how cold or warm the water is. In order to keep your body at a comfortable temperature throughout your session, it is important to choose the right material and type of undergarment (full-body, one-piece, or two-piece). This is because kitesurfers frequently deal with varying temperatures during a single session while riding, swimming to shore, standing on the beach, rigging up, etc.
In addition to offering UV protection, some undergarments provide as an additional barrier between the environment and your skin, protecting you against bites, stings, wounds, and scratches.
Comfort
Many surfers and kitesurfers choose to remove their wetsuits while in the water, however doing so can occasionally be uncomfortable and even painful due to the skin’s persistent rubbing against the suit’s interior material. Some people notice that their skin starts to chafe and feel sore after wearing a wetsuit for a long time.
The neck, armpits, behind the knees, and crotch are the typical places that experience wetsuit or harness chafing. You can use anti-chafing cream or gel to prevent this issue, but sometimes it’s more practical to wear a bathing suit or spandex/lycra underneath.
Decency
Many times, surfers and kitesurfers must change in public settings, such as on a boat, by a car or van, or on a crowded beach. Wetsuits are also famously difficult to put on and take off, so you usually can’t do it fast and discretely behind a towel.
You may help ensure that you have the necessary coverage to prevent flashing other people when you change by wearing a bathing suit, a thin rash guard, or any other form of clothing below.
Hygiene
You might not like the concept of your skin touching against areas where other people’s flesh has already rubbed if you have to rent a wetsuit, especially in your more delicate areas. Particularly if the person who wore it before you also went commando in the suit, it’s not exactly hygienic. Keep in mind that some people do urinate while wearing wetsuits, which is another reason to wear underwear, especially if you are renting. Your best option in such circumstances would be to at the very least put on some trunks or a swimsuit to protect your delicate body parts.
Does a wetsuit require a bra?
Women can choose between wearing a bikini or a sports bra and some type of compression shorts. Wearing cotton-based clothing, such as ordinary underwear, that holds water increases your chance of chaffing, thus you should avoid doing so.