A novelty in the past, wetsuits for children are now available in stores and online. While they are widespread, they are not all made of the same material. That’s the reason why two wetsuits that look the same have different price tags. Familiarity with how wetsuits work is also important for buyers.
How Wetsuits Keep People Warm
This is something buyers should know so they don’t get confused by any claims made by manufacturers. When you wear a wetsuit, water gets in the suit, right between the suit and your body. The body heats the water. Based on this principle, the thicker the wetsuit is, the better the insulation and the warmer it will be.
What the Numbers Mean
When you buy wetsuits for children and other sizes, you’ll see numbers like 3/2mm. This denotes the thickness of the wetsuit as measured in millimeters. The first number signifies the thickness at the torso.
This section is almost always the thickest part of the suit. The second number is the thickness around the legs and arms. Usually these are the thinnest in the whole wetsuit.
A Snug Fit
This is vital, as the snugness determines how well the wetsuit can keep the child warm. If the wetsuit is too big, folds or pockets will form in the suit. This means the suit won’t be able to make the seal necessary to keep the body warm.
There are also problems if wetsuits for children are too tight. They will be uncomfortable. Overly tight wetsuits reduces flexibility and mobility. It will also lead to fatigue. This will be an issue for kids who are very active in the water.
Wetsuit Features and Price
The higher the price, the more features are packed in the wetsuit. If you are just looking for a wetsuit to keep the child warm, there are plenty of low cost wetsuits that can do that. The costlier wetsuits are those that have extra features including superstretch neoprene, taped seams, hollow fiber fleece panels, waterproof neoprene and others.
The low cost wetsuits for children are designed for basic protection, but they work just fine. Unless the kid is seriously into swimming or water sports, they probably won’t need the fancier wetsuits.
Other Factors to Consider
Quality wetsuits come with protection against UV and even jellyfish. It’s a good idea to buy a wetsuit that offers as much protection as possible. This is mandatory if children spend a lot of time in the beach during hot summer days.
All wetsuits come with warranties. However, some companies require registration for it to be valid. Policies differ per manufacturer, so read the information thoroughly. You need to understand these facts in case you need to return a damaged product. Keep the receipt too; it will serve as proof of purchase.
Buying wetsuits for children is easy enough to do, but there are several factors that must be evaluated. From the size to the kind of protection it offers, all these must be accounted for. It will make the difference between purchasing a poor and top quality wetsuit.