Wetsuits and Dry Suits 101

‘Tis the season for extra layers on the water. Air and water temps are dropping, and even on the rare warm weather day, thermal protection comes highly recommended. Now is when you’ll see paddlers donning their wetsuits and dry suits. But which is the one for you? How do you choose? Much of this comes down to personal preference, water sport, and water exposure. But, to help those heading out for just your average paddle, we’re going to walk through the similarities and differences between the two and why you might pick one over the other.

What’s similar?

Both wetsuits and dry suits are designed to keep you insulated from cold water. But they go about this very differently, so….

What’s different?

Well, a lot. The main differences between a wetsuit and dry suit are material and how they function.

Wetsuits are made from a material called neoprene, a type of stretchy foam that has insulating abilities. They’re designed to keep you warm, even when you’re wet. When water penetrates a wetsuit it’s critical that it stays there so your body can warm the water trapped between your skin and the suit. Once this water is flushed from a wetsuit, your body has to use more energy to produce more heat. For that reason, it’s important that wetsuits fit properly and snugly. It’s also the reason why you get so cold when you come out of the water in a wetsuit.

Dry suits on the other hand are completely waterproof. Think of them like a shell. If worn properly, they seal off contact with the water and ensure that everything within the dry suit stays dry. But, they’re not designed for warmth if used alone. Dry suits almost always require more warm layers underneath - think fleece, long underwear, wool socks, etc.

So, why pick one over another? And when is one more beneficial than the other? Remember, we’re only talking about your average SUP excursion, not other activities that impact water exposure, like swimming and surfing, or even your more active SUP sesh, like fitness and race training.

Wetsuits are generally less expensive, provide more mobility, and come in a lot of different variations - neoprene thickness, design, style, etc. For those reasons, we tend to wear our wetsuits and wetsuit layers as far into the autumn months as possible before the water temps really drop. When that happens, we typically turn to our dry suits because, when paired with the right layers underneath, they retain heat better. We worry a lot less about falling into cold water when we’re wearing a dry suit because we know we’ll be warmer and dryer when we get out (usually the only thing getting wet in a dry suit are your hands and your head). We also find them to be a lot easier to take on and off and therefore more comfortable to wear. Dry suits are definitely an investment, but it might be worth it if you’re seriously considering year-round paddling in cold weather climates.

It goes without saying, but we’re gonna say it anyway: it’s crucial you protect yourself while stand up paddling in the cold weather months. Even if you’re an experienced paddler, the chances that you fall in the water are never zero. Being dressed for the immersion (aka falling in, getting wet) is important so you stay warm and safe on your paddle home.

So, are you a wetsuit or dry suit person? What’s your go-to cold weather attire?