What is a 5/3 Wetsuit?

By Dexter O'Neal


A 5/3 fullsuit wetsuit is a full on winter cold water bring it on wetsuit. It may are available in two variations - 5/3 and a 5/4/3 (some new models also have a 0.5mm thickness like 5.5/3.5). The numbers 5/3 and 5/4/3 represent the thickness of neoprene applied in this wetsuit. 5 stands for five millimeters, 4 stands for four millimeters, and 3 stands for 3 millimeters. This signifies that a 5/4/3 wetsuit is made from neoprene of 3 different thicknesses and a 5/3 wetsuit is made out of neoprene of two various thicknesses. Thicker neoprene is generally used on the body and legs while the thinner is utilised on the arms and crotch region. The purpose for this is enhanced flexibility of the wetsuit.

Thicker neoprene keeps your core warmer while thinner neoprene will allow for additional flexibility where you need it. There's not much difference between 5/4/3 and a 5/3 wetsuit (newer models are ordinarily 5/3) so get one that fits you best. This is a full wetsuit - a wetsuit that protects your complete body except your head, hands and feet.

When you combine your 5/3 with thick wetsuit boots (at the least 5mm), wetsuit gloves plus a neoprene hood you may use it anywhere down to 45F (7C). This is not a firm number however; there are various factors that influence at what temperature a wetsuit may be employed so check our wetsuit thickness and water temperature guide to find out more. Also if water so cold is the water temperature which you will mainly surf, you do not want a wetsuit which has its bottom limit at that temperature. Get a thicker one.

A 5/3 wetsuit (5/4/3) with integrated hood

When you get to thick winter wetsuit models you'll find that some of them will have an integrated wetsuit hood. Integrated hood is a wetsuit hood that's currently attached to the wetsuit and it cannot be taken of. When you get a separate hood you may put it on or take it off at will. So why get a wetsuit with an integrated hood? Because it is warmer! You just must determine if you will need to have the hood most of the times you will be making use of your wetsuit. If you will, then you may get one with an integrated hood.




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1 comment:

  1. Amazing blog and very interesting stuff you got here! I definitely learned a lot from reading through some of your earlier posts as well and decided to drop a comment on this one!

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