Surf suit
A surf suit protects surfers and other water sports enthusiasts from cooling down and solar radiation . Since water in connection with wind removes heat from the body through evaporation , it makes sense to protect yourself against hypothermia with surf clothing even at temperatures above 20 ° C.
material
Surf suits are often made of thin chloroprene rubber such as B. made of neoprene . They are available in different cuts (shirt, shorts, shorty) and material thicknesses tailored to different water temperatures. For better warmth, the material is usually a little thicker in the torso area and a little thinner on the legs and arms for optimal freedom of movement. Manufacturer information on material thickness in the format "4/3" means that the surf suit is 4 mm thick on the torso and 3 mm thick on the limbs. Common material thicknesses are between 3 mm and 6 mm.
The use of chloroprene rubber is controversial due to the concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) . For this reason, new formaldehyde-free materials such as Thermoprene have been experimented with for a number of years.
Types of surf suits
Surf suits do not keep the body dry, but they hinder the direct exchange of water. The water that stands between the neoprene and the body is warmed by the body and serves as additional thermal insulation. Based on this principle, therefore, we also speak of a semi-dry suit, semi-dry suit or semi-dry suit. Dry suits, on the other hand, prevent water from entering and can therefore be worn over normal clothing. Conceptual differences can also be identified based on the length of arms and legs. A suit with short arms and legs is called a shorty in Anglo-Saxon countries and also in everyday German. A suit with long legs but without arms is also known as a long john, and the matching waist-short neoprene jacket is also known as a bolero . The latter two parts together are also referred to as a so-called two-parter.
Differentiation of surf suits from diving suits
Neoprene and dry suits are not only worn by surfers, but also by divers , water skiers and sometimes also by swimmers . Such suits are also used for rafting and sailing in choppy cold waters. However, the diving suits are constructed differently than wetsuits, which are not designed for the increased ambient pressure. Another difference is the surface of the suits. The exterior of diving suits consists mainly of double-lined neoprene, which has a more porous surface and is therefore more like a fabric. Due to this larger surface, the thermal insulation underwater is better than with a surf suit, which mainly consists of smooth-skin neoprene on the outside. The small surface of the smooth skin neoprene and the better beading properties of the smooth skin neoprene ensure less evaporation cold above water and especially in wind.
Individual evidence
- ↑ BeyondSurfing's Wetsuit Guide. Retrieved October 5, 2018 .
- ↑ Information on Thermopren from Tuttles.de ( Memento of the original from May 21, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ↑ Information on the semi-dry suit
- ↑ Surf suit advice from wind force 7
