Being exposed to the water is continual in surfing. Even riding a wave the spray is constantly on your body. Sometimes, it feels colder than the water itself. Air carries away body warmth more easily when your skin is wet.

Wetsuits and drysuits to the rescue.

Wetsuits are made of neoprene, a special synthetic rubber that contains thousands of air pockets. That makes them lightweight, highly elastic and well insulating. They hug the body and fit reasonably well around the neck, wrists and ankles - everywhere the water might gain entrance to the inside of the wetsuit.

But wetsuits are designed to have some breathability. They work by trapping a thin layer of moisture between the skin and the wetsuit. The body easily heats that thin layer and the body and suit work together to keep it heated.

Popular Wetsuits for children

O'Neill Reactor kids full body wetsuit for surf, scuba, snorkel, swim

Girls UV Protective Tuga Thermal Sunsuit

Boys UV Protective Tuga Thermal Sunsuit

 Wetsuits come in a variety of designs. Some of that variation is just for the sake of fashion. But other aspects are functional. Those encompass zippers, seams and sealing material around the openings.

The number and location of zippers is a compromise between the need to keep the wetsuit flexible and easy to enter versus keeping it well sealed from cold water entering.

Because the line along a zipper is always less flexible than the surrounding material, zippers are often not placed directly down the front midsection of the body. That would make them easier to get in and out of, but it leads to more discomfort for a surfer who is constantly leaning over or lying down to paddle, popping up and crouching.

Similar comments apply to any kind of seam. Though more flexible than a metal or even a plastic zipper, a joint where two layers of neoprene meet is always going to be less flexible than a large swatch of material. The glue is less flexible, if that's how the seam is sealed. But even a seam created by heat sealing will have some thickening, which is less flexible. Otherwise, it wouldn't be a seam.

As a result of these issues, designers try to maximize the comfort and stretch of a suit where it is most needed. Since wetsuit design is as much art as science, and everyone has a different viewpoint on the best design. So, there are hundreds of different choices.

Drysuits are a special category, needed only by those surfers who are braving the coldest waters. Whether in the UK, Alaska, or other areas, there are waters that are consistently below 60F/15C. It's possible to lose body heat to a dangerous extent. In most cases, that calls for a drysuit if the wearer is going to be exposed for more than a few minutes.

Drysuits, unlike wetsuits, are designed to allow no entry of water at all. They're made from a dozen different materials, but are often a form of neoprene as well. They tend to be more flexible, but are also often used with an undersuit as well, along with booties, gloves and a hood.

Let your personal comfort and the conditions you surf in be your guide. Always wear uv protective clothing and sun protection swimwear with UPF50+ maximum cover.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/surfing-wetsuits-and-drysuits-for-surfers-556520.html

Author: J Edmond Souaid

About the Author:

J Edmond have been working in the sun protection clothing industry for several years. The main aim is to raise awareness of the sun' UV radiation and it's effect on human skin. Click here for more info about sun protection swimwear and UV protective clothing.

Technorati Tags: body glove wetsuits, Surfing, wetsuits

What started out as a protective shirt intended to prevent rashes underneath wetsuits for surfers and divers has exploded into nothing less than a twenty first century phenomenon: the lycra rash guard shirt.

What is a rash guard? Good question. Basically, it is an athletic fitting, stretchy shirt made from nylon and lycra. Originally, rash guards were used for what exactly the name implies, to prevent rashes. These water-repelling shirts were worn under the wetsuits of surfers to prevent the chaffing and skin irritation around the arm pits, which result from constant paddling.

In the early 80's, at surf spots in Australia and California, where the water is cold in the winter, but warm in the summer, surfers began wearing their rash guard surf shirts without a wet suit in the warm water, primarily to avoid getting pesky nipple rashes. These primitive rash guards provided little sun protection.

In the following years to come, surf companies and wet suit makers started targeting surfers, offering long-sleeve rash guards, rashguards for men, surf shirts for women, and even swim shirts for kids and toddlers. They became extremely popular, and spread like wildfire.
Cool Wetsuits for Kids

Body Glove  Wetsuits & Surf Shirts with Body Glove quality.

O'Neill Toddler Series. Quality, style & selection of Wetsuit & Rash Guard for the kid's.

By the early 90's, rashguard popularity had grown outside the surf community and into mainstream America. Why, you ask? Well, not only do these rashies provide comfort, durability and performance for any water sport or outdoor activity, they also now offer excellent sun protection. Thousands of miles from any beach, families in America's heartland are realizing the benefits of a SPf 150+ swim shirt that is stylish, functional and more affordable than sunscreen. Across America, and the globe, rash guards have become commonplace for use by men, women and children at pools, lakes, sporting events, etc. With this boom, the quality of rashguards has also improved with new stitch technology, and increased SPF ratings.

Amazingly, the rash guard has even become a fashion statement. Men often wear their rashguard to clubs, restaurants, wherever. This is especially a hot trend with gays and marines, who like a tight fit that shows off their muscles. Popular ska band "The Aquabats" have made wearing their trademark royal blue rashguards a staple of their live performances and appeal.

Looking to the future, the trend is expected to continue expansion. With rises in skin cancer rates, global warming concerns and the constant need for economical and effective innovation, the demand for rashguard shirts, with their athletic durability, comfort and style, is a no-brainer for the millions of savvy outdoor enthusiasts across the globe.

If you or your family plan on spending a good deal of time outdoors in the future, investing in a rash guard shirt would be a very wise investment. The many uses, hot style, affordability, and sun protection are just the start of a long list of pros. Who knew that the undershirt for wetsuits would grow into such an effective and innovative product? It's always the simplest things that change people's lives, isn't it? Go online and buy a rashguard today!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/the-rash-guard-phenomenon-628177.html

Author: Justin Laubscher

About the Author:
Justin Laubscher is co-owner of The Beach Depot, an excellent online store specializing in high quality rashguards and swim shirts. He recently launched My Surf DVDS, another popular web store that carries a huge selection of dvd surfing titles.

Technorati Tags: rashguards, Surfing, wetsuits