Having sailed dinghies in Australia for most of my life where a (thin shorty) wetsuit is only required in the winter months, I needed something more substantial for an English summer sail.
After some research, the long, one piece wetsuit looked to be the way to go. I was anticipating either an uncomfortably restrictive experience, much like that of diving wetsuits, or the very thin malleable and cold experience from my surfing days. Either way, getting into a wetsuit brings back memories of struggle, strain and inevitably feeling overweight and highly unattractive.
The correct fit for a wetsuit is essential. The wetsuit works by allowing a very thin layer of water inside the suit to heat up from your body warmth. If it is too tight or loose the wetsuit cannot do its warming job. Not only is the fit important for warmth, but also for comfort and maneuverability.
I am a size 12/14 and measured up as a size 16 on the CSR size chart. Getting the wetsuit on was not as much of a struggle as originally anticipated. The zips on the ankles eased discomfort substantially. However the wrist openings were small and did make for a tight fit.
The super stretch arm panels and the ladies cut made for a perfect fit and with the well-positioned colour panels and stitching, it looked quite flattering. The arms were slightly too long for my physique but do allow for comfortable arm movement.
The "Smoothskin collar with anti flush closure" was actually the first thing I noticed as far as comfort was concerned. You can adjust it to a perfect fit. However, it is a little fiddly to do on your own, so you need a mate to help you. The "smoothskin" is really soft and doesn't irritate sensitive skin, so no more horrible questionable red marks on your neck!
I first tested it with the air temperature at 15 degrees C and a wind speed of 18mph. As soon as I got wet and the wind started to blow, the body panels really kicked in preventing chill. The use of a spray jacket is a must in high winds, but mild winds are kept out by the "titanium panels".
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Striking a good balance between flexibility and durability, whilst keeping within budget at £59.95, I can recommend this wetsuit for the summer months. It comes in a choice of colours and sizes from 8-16.
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For more information visit www.crewsaver.co.uk
