How Do Drysuits differ from Wetsuits?
These protective garments may be common to you but when do we usually use a wetsuit and when are drysuits worn?
Wetsuits
Wetsuit manufacturers usually design wetsuits according to its use. Scuba diving wetsuits may be slightly different from a wetsuit made for triathlon or surfing, or it may differ in the materials and flexibility but they all have the same purpose – they maintain body warmth when you are in the water.
Wetsuits preserve the heat of your body when you are exposed to cold temperatures and cold waters. They work by allowing a small amount of water through the openings of the suit. This layer of water will serve then as the body’s shield from the cold temperature outside the wetsuit.
Neoprene, the main material used in the making of wetsuits, is synthetic rubber that is waterproofed, but wetsuits will not keep you dry as it allows water to get into the suit to make it work in preserving your body heat.
A wetsuit is made up of a very flexible material, thus it is also very flexible. It is also designed to fit snugly on the body. It is important that a wetsuit fits you well as this will be a main factor in its effectiveness in preserving your body heat.
Drysuits
A drysuit is also protective garment that is worn to protect the body from the cold or from suffering hypothermia, especially when you are submerged in water, as body heat tends to lose faster in water than when you are in land. Unlike wetsuits, drysuits are baggy and loose. As the name suggests, drysuits keep you dry even if you are submerged in water. This is how it works in keeping you warm.
Drysuits are baggy and loose to allow you to move freely since the suit is not made from flexible materials. You can also wear warm clothes underneath a drysuit to add more warmth to your body.
Drysuits and wetsuits have the same purpose, and that is protecting you from the cold by preserving your body heat. However, they also differ largely on their flexibility and their fit. With these differences, you may be able to know which of the two best fit to your needs.
Water sports require great flexibility, which a drysuit cannot give. Especially that a drysuit is loose fitting and baggy, it would be cumbersome to put on a drysuit when surfing or engaging into triathlon. For sure, it will not give you the speed required for the sport. Drysuits may however be helpful when snorkeling or scuba diving especially when a wetsuit is not giving you enough warmth, or if you plan to stay underwater for long or if temperature is lower than 60 degrees.