Wetsuits and Drysuits - Know the Difference and When to Wear One
These protective garments may be common to you but when do we usually use a wetsuit and when are drysuits worn?
Wetsuits
Wetsuits are usually classified according to what water sports they are for. For example, a wetsuit intended for triathlon may have some slight differences on a wetsuit made for scuba diving. They may also be classified according to their level of flexibility, but wetsuits are protective garments that have one sole function - to protect you from the cold.
Wetsuits keep the body warm by allowing just a small quantity of water inside the wetsuit. The water trapped inside the wetsuit serves as your protector from the cold. Of course, the materials that made up the wetsuit also keep your body warm because of its tiny air pockets that preserve your body heat in water.
The material that makes up a wetsuit is a very flexible rubber that is also waterproofed. However, wetsuits do not work by keeping your body dry. It actually lets a small amount of water into the suit so that it can protect you from the cold.
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 on the other hand is a waterproofed equipment that is used to prevent the loss of body heat when you are submerged in the waters. Unlike wetsuits, drysuits are baggy and loose fitting. They work differently from wetsuits because they preserve body heat by keeping the body dry. The openings at the neck, arms and legs are sealed so that no amount of water may enter, thus 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 indeed have the same function and that is, they both protect you from the cold by preserving your body heat. However, they differ on their flexibility and in keeping you dry while you are doing your sport. With these differences, you may be able to know which one is suitable for you.
Water sports especially those competitive ones require speed and maximum flexibility in the garments. Of course, with drysuits being baggy and not flexible, it would be unsuitable for water sports like triathlon. It may even slow you down instead of speeding up. However, when you do scuba diving and you intend to enjoy the adventure a little longer, you may however need a drysuit for protection, especially if water temperature is below 60.