Re: [Paddlewise] Wetsuit sizing help needed for Newbie

In a message dated 01-05-16 22:30:31 EDT, you write:

<< Please don't laugh if these questions sound silly or strange. I bought a 
shorty wetsuit by NRS for use during those chilly days and it feels pretty 
snug. How tight are they supposed to feel and are you supposed to wear 
underwear under them or not? (Hey...I told you not to laugh!!!) >>

Laugh!  Not at all.  I was going to write and tell the list that I actually 
went out and bought one yesterday.  Try being short and fat and then try on 
different wetsuits.  The men's one with short zippers at the back couldn't 
get past my hips.  The others were really hard to pull up.   I guess the 3mm 
doesn't have as much stretch as lighter weights.

 I was wondering if I was supposed to wear a bathing suit underneath.

The only one I found that fit and, fortunately, I liked (ie it wasn't black 
with midnight blue!) was a woman's one but was made for someone flatchested.  
I kinda stretched out the neoprene and can cover everything but it certainly 
leaves the shoulders and back exposed.  

It's the Aura 2/1 Shorty by Body Glove. In purple, black, white.  I paid $80 
for it at Sports Authority.  I called Body Glove to see how I could get more 
upper coverage and he told me they make a matching surfing jacket for about 
$58.  

I'm leaving for CA tomorrow so they gave me the # of a dive shop in La Jolla 
(about 20 mins from San Diego) and they will order it for me.  

I found out that the 2/1 means that the top part is 1 mm neoprene and the 
hips/legs are mostly 2mm neoprene.  Perhaps I would have been better with 3 
mm, but they didn't have any (I won't remove the tags in case the dive shop 
in CA has a better selection).

I reckon that this lighter weight one would get more use if I use it on 
certain trips in the winter months in florida.  

I had always thought that whenever I did buy a wetsuit I would get one with a 
relief zipper.  Body Glove doesn't make any with zippers.  Soooo, I asked, 
what do you do if you need to pee?   Me, personally, he said?  "I just let it 
go.....they are designed to allow water to go in and out...Just rinse it 
well."

So, Christian, that may be the answer to another unasked question.

Sandy Kramer aka Baby Beluga

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************