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Wetsuit Guide
Stay Warm. Surf Longer.
Slide to your water temperature to see what to wear. Not sure of the temperature? The Surf Report shows it for any beach.
°F
38°F86°F
Wear this
| Water temp | Wetsuit | Extras |
|---|---|---|
| 75°F+ (24°C+) | Boardshorts or swimsuit | Rash guard or surf shirt for sun and wax rash. |
| 70–75°F (21–24°C) | Rash guard, neoprene top, or 1–2mm spring suit | A top helps on windy mornings. |
| 65–70°F (18–21°C) | 2mm spring suit or 3/2 full suit | Go full suit for long or windy sessions. |
| 59–65°F (15–18°C) | 3/2 full suit | Booties optional for cold-footed surfers. |
| 54–59°F (12–15°C) | 4/3 full suit | Booties recommended toward the low end. |
| 49–54°F (9–12°C) | 4/3 or 5/4 full suit | Booties, and gloves if you run cold. |
| 43–49°F (6–9°C) | 5/4 hooded full suit | 5–7mm booties and 3–5mm gloves. |
| Below 43°F (6°C) | 6/5 or 5/4 hooded full suit | 7mm booties and 5mm mitts. Short sessions, and never surf alone. |
What “4/3” means
Wetsuit thickness is listed in millimeters. A 4/3 has 4mm neoprene on the body for warmth and 3mm on the arms and legs for flexibility.
Fit is everything
A wetsuit should feel snug, like a second skin, with no baggy spots for water to pool. A loose suit flushes cold water in and leaves you colder.
Everyone runs differently
Wind, air temperature, and session length all matter. If you get cold easily, go one step warmer. Cold water is serious: keep sessions short and never surf alone.
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