How to buy a kids wetsuit

Buying a kid’s wetsuit is simple, but choosing a wetsuit that won’t make a child cry can be trickier. That’s why I created this simple to follow kid’s wetsuit guide.

Are wetsuits for kids worth buying? Yes! If a child wants to play in cold water, a wetsuit will keep them warmer and happier for longer.

If you’re searching for children’s full length wetsuits or shorties, read this guide to help you buy a kid’s wetsuit with confidence.

How does a wetsuit work?

A wetsuit works by keeping a thin layer of water between the body and the neoprene material. Body heat warms the layer of water and small air cells in the neoprene provide insulation, trapping heat in and keeping cold out.

What are the different types of kids’ wetsuits?

Kids’ wetsuit styles are much the same as adults, the choice really boils down to a shorty or a full length wetsuit.

Lost you already? Ok, here’s a bit more detail about each:

• Shorties are wetsuits with short sleeves and legs
• Full length suits have legs down to the ankles and sleeves down to the wrists

You can also get a shorty with long arms or a full suit with short arms, but these options are rare for kid sized wetsuits.

Where should the zip go on a kid’s wetsuit?

It varies! For toddler wetsuits you sometimes have a zip on the front, so it’s easier to get on and off.

Most kid’s wetsuits have a zip on the back of the wetsuit, running from the neck to the lower back. A long cord is attached to the zip allowing the wearer to zip and unzip themselves.

As wetsuit materials have advanced and become more stretchy, chest zips have become popular, especially on winter and premium wetsuits.

Occasionally, kids’ wetsuits also have zips on the ankles. Again this can help with getting the wetsuit on and off.

Here’s a quick zip guide to help you choose:

Do kids need thicker wetsuits?

The thicker the wetsuit, the warmer the wearer will be. Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimeters, but different areas might have different thicknesses.

Thicker wetsuits are warmer but thinner wetsuits are more flexible. The torso section of a wetsuit will always be thickest for warmth and comfort. But to allow flexibility and movement the arms are often thinner.

For example, you might get a 5/4mm wetsuit which means the body is 5mm and the arms will be 4mm.

Choosing wetsuit thickness depends on the water temperatures in which you surf and wetsuits are often categorised by season.

Here’s a rough guide to kids’ wetsuits thickness based on water temperature:

It also depends on how resilient the child is and how long they might spend in the water.

My daughter loves playing in the sea through spring, summer and autumn. Buying a 5mm wetsuit was a game changer. She went from spending 15-20 minutes in the water to hours. Her surfing improved rapidly as a result!

Does wetsuit stitching make much difference?

Wetsuit stitching will determine how much cold water is kept outside and how warm the wearer is inside. They also contribute to a wetsuit’s strength and comfort.

Here’s a quick wetsuit stitching guide:

Sometimes wetsuit seams are also glued, taped or sealed with liquid rubber. This helps increase strength, improve comfort and reduce leakage.

How to choose the right size wetsuit?

Ideally, try on as many wetsuits as a child will tolerate to ensure you get the best fit.

A poor fitting wetsuit will rub a child raw and put them off wearing a wetsuit ever again (and therefore surfing in cool water). Wearing a rash vest beneath a wetsuit and applying vaseline to areas that rub (neck and armpits) often helps, but a good fitting wetsuit shouldn’t rub.

If in a shop, quickly check length and width by holding the wetsuit up against the back of the child. If not too long, short or wide it’s worth trying on.

Once on, the main places to check are under the arms, around the torso and crotch. If baggy or too tight, it will rub. Do not be tempted to buy a wetsuit that is a size too big for a child to grow into. Get the closest fitting wetsuit you can. If they grow out of it quickly, you should get a decent price second hand and some shops accept trade-ins.

Need to buy online? Find the wetsuit sizing guide for your chosen retailer. You’ll usually need to measure height, chest and waist.

Be sure to check the sizing guide for each brand you’re considering. As different brands might use different measurements.

Does it matter what wetsuit brand I choose?

Most wetsuit brands offer a range of wetsuits to satisfy different budgets and usage.

Toddlers and pre-teens are likely to be oblivious to brands, but a teenager might be more brand conscious.

Popular surfing wetsuit brands available in the UK include O’Neill, C-Skins, and Xcel. Some brands specialise in wetsuits for different water sports. For example, Orca make triathlon wetsuits, Gill make sailing wetsuits.

How much does a kid’s wetsuit cost?

Kids wetsuits can range in price from £30 to £300, depending on all the factors detailed above.

Typically a good kid’s full summer suit starts from £50, whereas a thicker winter suit is likely to cost double that.

It is worth spending a few extra pounds to upgrade the stitching, seams or thickness, if the wetsuit will get good use. As a blindstitched and glued 5mm wetsuit will last longer and provide better warmth than a 3mm overlock wetsuit.

Around my way it costs about £15 to hire a wetsuit for a surf session. There aren’t many kids’ wetsuits over £150, so if you get 10 wears you’re quids in!

Where to buy kids wetsuits

Search for specialist water sports and wetsuit retailers online or in your area. Not only will you find a wider choice of kids’ wetsuits, but they should have higher quality standards and superior knowledge to non-specialist stores.

Please don’t pick up a wetsuit at the supermarket with your weekly shopping. They might be cheap and convenient but they’re guaranteed to be uncomfortable, ineffective and landfill within a few wears.

Kids wetsuit accessories

Hopefully this guide has equipped you with the knowledge to choose a suitable kid’s wetsuit with confidence.

However, there are a few extra wetsuit accessories worth considering:

• Boots – great for extra warmth in colder weather and keeping feet protected
• Gloves – only necessary for cold water / winter surfing
• Hood – prevents ice cream headaches when diving through icy waves in winter

I hope you’ve found all the info you were seeking on kids’ wetsuits, but if I’ve missed anything feel free to ask a question in the comments below.