Before you start putting on a wetsuit, there are a few things we’d like you to know. Have someone nearby to help you get out of the suit. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly how tight a wetsuit will be. That said, here’s our quick rundown on how to get into different types of wetsuits.
What to Wear Underneath a Wetsuit
Do you have to wear a swimsuit under a wetsuit? That’s up to you. Most people don’t wear anything under their wetsuit, but you can wear a swimsuit if it’s more comfortable.
Don’t wear short swim trunks underneath, a lycra one is better.
First of all, when you put the wetsuit on, make sure the front is facing forward. And that the inside of the neoprene is facing inwards.
How to put on a wetsuit without a zipper
If you have a wetsuit without a zipper, you have to pull it all the way up to your chest. Once it’s under your armpits, start with one arm and pull it close to your torso. Most people always start with the right arm. Then, find the opening with your left arm and put it down. Once it’s inside, pull it up, and you’re done. I’ve included a video so you can see it better:
How to put on a wetsuit with a chest zipper
For a chest zip entry, it helps to push your arm through the armhole and down. After pushing your arm through most of the way, you can extend your arm to the side and then up, which is usually enough. Don’t forget that your other arm is available to help you get your hand through.
STEP 1 First the feet up to the leg
Your first step here is to make sure the front is facing you. If it’s a chest zipper, the zipper is in the front. If it’s a back zipper, the zipper is in the back. Then, put one leg in at a time and slide your feet through the legs of the suit. Point your toes and insert the first leg. Hold the suit at the top of the leg you’re working on to help guide your foot through. If you can’t get your foot through just by doing that, that’s okay; it’s not uncommon. At least you should be able to see that your toes and part of your foot have gone through the wetsuit. At that point, you can roll up your ankle, slide your toes between your foot and the suit, and pull the suit out and tuck it around your heel. Repeat this with your other foot.
STEP 2 Pull the wetsuit up to your waist
Now that your feet are through the legs, you can begin pulling the suit up to your waist. If your wetsuit has a soft neoprene skin, be careful not to use your fingernails at this point. You can start by gripping the suit near the top of each leg (one at a time) and making sure the knee pads are positioned just above your knees. Feel free to hold the suit a little lower on your leg if that helps. Once everything is in place, you can grasp the wetsuit like pants and pull it up to your waist. At this point, the suit shouldn’t have any significant folds of neoprene below the waist, and the ankles and knee pads should be flush with your ankles and knees.
STEP 3 Pull the wetsuit up to your chest
If you go for the arms too soon, it will be more complicated, so at this point it’s good to grab the suit (avoiding smooth skin and without using your nails) and make sure the groin is fully lifted and the torso is up to your chest so it’s easy to put your arms in.
STEP 4: Go for the arms one at a time
If you have a wetsuit with a back zipper, it will be a little easier from now on than if you have a chest-zip suit. Since the chest zipper is a bit more complicated, we’ll focus on that. Either way, you can follow these same instructions. The key is to go one arm at a time. Most people tend to go with their right arm first, but ultimately, you should do whatever feels most comfortable. It can help to take the hand that isn’t going into the armhole first and hook your thumb into the suit to open the armhole. Once your arm starts sliding in, you can continue using your other arm to help pull the suit up over your shoulder. Just like when getting your feet in, you can slip your hand through and make sure your wrist lines up with the cuff of the wetsuit. For the second arm, you can repeat the same steps. This arm is usually a little awkward, but it’s not too difficult.
STEP 5: Secure the closure
There are many different ways to secure a closure depending on the type, whether it’s a zip-free suit, a back zip, a chest zip, or a chest zip with a hood. On chest zip suits and hooded suits, you’ll usually have a flap hanging behind you that you’ll want to grab and pull up and over your hood. After that, zip up the suit and fasten the webbing drawstrings to your liking, adjust any snaps or Velcro closures, and you’re done. For a back zip, look for the long tab to close the suit. Once it’s closed, you’ll want to secure the Velcro at the back of the neck for a snug fit.