Surfing is a popular sport on the ocean coasts, it is adrenaline, emotions, and the fill of nature. It is not necessary to be an athlete and overcome extremely large waves – you can surf in calm areas, where waves do not exceed half a meter.
Moreover, there is such a sport as wave-free surfing with a paddle. However, no matter what surfing you do, you should remember that the right clothes Rip Curl Australia make the riding process more comfortable.
Why Do We Need Special Clothes For Surfing
Riding on the waves on the board, we expose our bodies to water, wind, and sun. Therefore, surfing clothes are necessary for practical reasons: it creates protection.
In hot climates, clothing protects from the sun’s rays: the surfer is always covered with water drops, which, enhance the impact of the sun. In cool areas, suits protect humans from water. For example, on the California coast, the water temperature rarely exceeds +14 °C.
So, in any climate, clothing protects from the winds blowing on the ocean coasts.
How To Choose Clothes
All of it depends on the conditions in which you are going to surf.
They can be divided into:
- warm conditions – the temperature of water and air is about +30 ° C and above;
- moderate conditions – water temperature above +18°C, the air temperature above +25°C;
- cold conditions – water temperature below +18°C.
In accordance with this gradation, there are summer clothes, off-season clothing, and clothes for the cold season.
Summer Clothes
The most popular clothes for a surfer in summer are loose shorts-swimming trunks. The main qualities of them:
- the elasticity of the fabric – they do not restrict movement;
- fast drying speed;
- the presence of a lace that fixes the shorts at the waist.
Moreover, shorts are the most comfortable men’s clothing for a beach holiday. You can swim in them, walk around the city, and relax in beach bars.
For the upper part of the body, the good idea is to choose T-shirts or shirts with short sleeves. Try to give preference to products made of synthetic fabrics: they form fewer folds, do not absorb water, and do not constrain movements. They are often called hydro-bikes, as they are usually made of lycra or neoprene, fit the body, and allow water to drain quickly.
Buy the way, women can also use lycra shorts and tops. Nevertheless, many prefer closed swimsuits with an inseparable top and bottom.
Off-Season Clothing
If the water temperature is about +20 ° C, and the wind is blowing, not everyone will surf in shorts. In this case, neoprene clothing comes to the help. The most popular are tight-fitting long-sleeve jackets, which are often called lycra.
They can be used in combination with shorts in quite warm weather or for additional insulation when using a wetsuit – in cool weather. The advantage of lycra over a wetsuit is the lack of a zipper. By the way, lycra is also convenient for surfing with a paddle.
Neoprene sleeveless vest is used less often than lycra with long sleeves, but it has an undoubted advantage: it leaves the arms and shoulder free, which is important for many surfers. The vest can also be worn under a wetsuit, providing a more comfortable stay on the board.
Clothes For The Cold Season
If it’s cold in the spring suite and even in an additional neoprene vest, then it’s time to buy a wetsuit for surfing, with the protection of the body, arms, and legs.
They come in two types:
- standard wetsuit;
- a wetsuit with a hood.
According to the method of heat protection, there are dry suits and suits that let water through. Dry wetsuits are airtight, fit the body well and allow you to wear warm underwear. Surfers, as a rule, do not use them, because neoprene – a synthetic and insulating material – makes normal heat exchange of the skin with the environment impossible.
More popular are suits that let a little water through and form a thin layer between the skin and neoprene. In this system, water takes the function of heat exchange.
Accessories
Additional items of clothing, that will be useful when surfing in cold or sunny weather. Here are some of them:
Hydro Boats
They protect not only from the cold but also from reefs, rocks, and other things underfoot. In addition, a surfer in boots is more stable, because they provide significantly better grip on the board than a barefoot.
Headdress
To protect the head and make surfing more comfortable. They are produced in various versions: from a baseball cap to a panama hat. In order not to lose such an important piece of clothing, buy a headdress with fasteners allowing you to fix it on your head.
Surf Glasses
Sun protection, which at the same time protects the eyes from sudden splashes. They are usually made in a sporty style, streamlined shape.
Finally, an accessory for those who need to know what time it is even on the board:
A Surf Watch
So, any waterproof ones will do. If there is any sense of them when you are engaged in such an exciting activity as riding on the waves.