How tight does a wetsuit have to fit to be warm and comfortable?
The first wetsuit always feels a bit strange! It's certainly not a jogging suit; the material, which is nothing more than foamed rubber, is unfamiliar at first - you need to get used to it. But even if it feels comfortable at first, you shouldn't opt for a suit that's too loose as it will significantly reduce the thermal protection in the water.
Why does a wetsuit only keep you warm when it fits tightly?
To keep you warm, a wetsuit must fit snugly - but there must also be freedom of movement!
To keep you optimally warm, a wetsuit must fit quite snugly, ideally like a second skin. A neoprene suit doesn't keep you warm in the same way a wool sweater does; it provides thermal protection by striving to minimise water circulation inside the suit. Simply put – if water flows unrestricted along your skin, it carries away your body heat, causing you to feel cold. If your wetsuit fits snugly and seals properly at the cuffs, water will enter your suit but won't flow freely. This way, your body heat is retained, and you won't feel cold.
The art of the perfect wetsuit fit
How tight should the divign suit fit? How do you find the right wetsuit fit?
Imagine a functional shirt or a base layer for outdoor sports – snug and comfortable. That's approximately how your wetsuit should fit. It should lie close to the skin but not be restrictive. You should still be able to move freely, breathe effortlessly, lift your arms, and squat down. Around the stomach, lower back, underarm areas, and chest, there should be virtually no air pockets, and the sleeves and legs should not have large folds.
TIP! If you lose some weight after purchasing your wetsuit, you might consider wearing a neoprene underlayer beneath it. Thin neoprene vests or neoprene shirts are well-suited for this purpose, ensuring that the suit doesn't become too loose and that you remain optimally thermally insulated while diving.
You can quickly tell if a wetsuit fits well when you try it on for the first time. Putting on a wetsuit should be neither too easy nor too time-consuming, and there are certain features that let you know whether it's "your" suit or not. For more information, check out the FAQs under the topic "How do I try on a wetsuit?"
Can the wetsuit be tight around the neck?
Make sure the collar fits well so that the suit seals good and you can still breathe freely
When diving, you are in a horizontal position in the water with your head slightly extended. The collar of the suit should still seal well in this position. However, this means that when standing outside the water, the neck seal might feel a bit unusual. That's okay. But it shouldn't be very uncomfortable or tight, as this would impede proper breathing and circulation. Ideally, you should look for wetsuits with a neck zipper, which you can leave open out of the water for maximum comfort and only close when diving for a perfect underwater seal.
Does a wetsuit wear out?
Does the material composition and fit of a neoprene wetsuit change over time?
The clear answer is "yes and no." Neoprene is not a textile fabric and does not stretch out over time. What happens, however, is that the small air bubbles trapped in the material burst after frequent use, causing the neoprene material to become slightly thinner over time. After a few hundred dives, a 5mm suit might become more like a 3mm suit, and as a result, it will also feel a bit looser.
For some wetsuits, the textile coating or the inner textile lining can also wear out or become thinner over time, which can affect the fit of the suit and give the impression that the suit has "stretched out."
Improper storage can create dents or pressure marks in the neoprene material, which can also slightly alter the fit of the suit. Learn more about this in our diver's guide on “How to clean and maintain my wetsuit?”
Our conclusion
Even if it feels unusual and a bit uncomfortable at first, you should always opt for a snug-fitting wetsuit, as it provides good thermal protection. Thanks to modern materials that are much more elastic and softer, you can find wetsuits that fit like a second skin without restricting your freedom of movement.
Wearing a wetsuit that is too loose can risk making you cold underwater. If you need to wear a loose rental suit, try using a suitable underlayer underneath.
By snug, we don't mean restrictive! It's important that you can move well in it, including stretching your arms up or squatting down. Most importantly, the suit should not restrict your breathing. And to find this perfectly fitting wetsuit, only one thing helps – TRY ON! TRY ON!! TRY ON!!!
(1)_preview.jpg "Fins overview: differences and areas of application in water sports")
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May 09, 2025
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Open heel fins, snorkelling fins, apnoea fins, full foot fins - who can keep track of them all? We do! And we are also happy to explain the different features and areas of use.
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Presents for divers
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What presents make a diver happy? You don't always have the right gift idea for a diver, but we have it all - the ideas and the presents!
_preview.jpg "Diving Regulator terminology explained simply")
Diver guide
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Piston-controlled or diaphragm-controlled? SCUBA, balanced, upstream, venturi, medium pressure, DIN, DFC... What's that all about? We bring light into the regulator gibberish!
