Wetsuit Fitting Guide | How to Choose the Right Wetsuit | Parrot Surf Shop

The definitive guide, Parrot Surf & Skate, Charleston, SC

Summer's over. Surfing isn't.
Find the wetsuit that keeps you in the water.

Water temps swing hard from Florida to New England and San Diego to Oregon. This guide gets you to the right thickness and the right fit for your coast in about two minutes, from a shop that's been suiting up surfers since 2000.

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Wetsuit finder

What wetsuit do I need right now?

Pick your coast, your break, and the month you're surfing. We'll match it to typical water temps and the suit that keeps you warm, then point you to it.

1 · Your coast
2 · Your break
3 · Your month
Typical water temp at in
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Temps swing with wind, swell, and cold fronts. Check live conditions on our surf report before you paddle out.

Parrot ships wetsuits nationwide. Whether you're surfing Cocoa Beach, New Smyrna Beach, or Jacksonville in Florida, Folly Beach in South Carolina, the Outer Banks, Virginia Beach, the Jersey Shore, Montauk, or Narragansett on the East Coast, or San Diego, Huntington Beach, Malibu, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Ocean Beach in San Francisco, or the Oregon and Washington coasts out West, the right thickness comes down to your local water temperature.

The basics

What actually keeps you warm

Four things decide whether you're comfortable out there. Get these right and you'll surf longer into the season.

Fit comes first
A suit that flushes water feels colder than a thinner suit that fits right. Nail the fit before you worry about thickness.
Water temp, not air
Pick your thickness off the water temperature you'll be sitting in, not how warm it feels on the beach.
Seams & zipper
Sealed, glued-and-blindstitched seams and a quality zip keep cold water out. Cheaper flatlock seams let it in.
Cover the extremities
Boots, gloves, and a hood add real warmth in the coldest months. Hands and feet are what end most winter sessions early.
Thickness

Wetsuit thickness by water temperature

The numbers on a wetsuit (like 3/2) are the neoprene thickness in millimeters, chest and core first, arms and legs second. Thicker is warmer; thinner is more flexible.

Rule of thumb: when you're between two thicknesses, size up in warmth. You can always unzip. A 3/2 covers most of the year in the Southeast; cold-water coasts live in a 4/3 or 5/4.
Water Temp Recommended Suit Optional Add-ons Shop
75°F+ (24°C+) Rashguard / boardshorts or 1–2mm top Reef booties (spot dependent) Shop →
68–74°F (20–23°C) Springsuit or 2mm shorty 1mm top for wind Shop →
60–67°F (16–19°C) 3/2mm full suit Boots if windy / long sessions Shop →
52–59°F (11–15°C) 4/3mm full suit Boots; gloves/hood if you run cold Shop →
45–51°F (7–10°C) 5/4mm or 5/4/3mm Boots + gloves + hood (or hooded suit) Shop →
Below 45°F (<7°C) Winter suit (5/4+), hooded Boots + gloves always Shop →
Fit

How a wetsuit should fit

Fit is the whole game. A suit should feel like a firm second skin, snug everywhere, with no gaps for water to pool and flush.

A good fit
  • Snug on land, tight across the chest and back
  • No loose pockets at the lower back, knees, or armpits
  • You can still breathe deep and move your arms to paddle
  • Neoprene sits flat against your skin everywhere
Red flags
  • Loose folds or gaps that let water sit against your skin
  • Baggy lower back, the number one source of cold flushing
  • So tight you can't fill your lungs or reach to paddle
  • Riding up or pulling down when you raise your arms
01
The undershirt trick
A thin poly top or rashguard under the suit makes it far easier to slide on, and adds a touch of warmth.
02
Fit the waist
Get the torso length and waist right first. Never size down in the waist to chase a sleeve or leg length.
03
The tightness test
Snug is right; restricted is wrong. If you can't take a full breath or reach forward to paddle, go up a size.
04
New suits run stiff
A new suit is tight and stiff out of the bag. It breaks in and loosens slightly with a few sessions, so don't oversize.
Not sure on size? Ask us first.
Tell us your height, weight, and build and we'll call the size for you. Phone 877-560-9009 and ask for Angelo or Phil.
Try it on in the shop
Buying your first suit or switching brands? Come try it on at our Mount Pleasant, SC store before you commit. Find us →
Brand fit

Which brand fits your body type

Every brand is cut for a slightly different build. Matching the brand to your frame is the fastest way to a suit that fits right the first time. O'Neill and Rip Curl have the most reliable sizing.

Most reliable sizing
O'Neill
Broad / stocky builds

Cut for broader, stockier frames, the rugby, football, or weightlifter build. Roomier through the chest and shoulders without sacrificing seal.

Best for: broader shoulders and chest, more muscular builds.
Shop O'Neill wetsuits →
Reliable sizing
Rip Curl
Slender / taller builds

Fits slender and taller frames well, less than about an 8″ difference from chest to waist. Long in the torso without bagging at the back.

Lean build
Quiksilver
Swimmer's build

Suits a lean swimmer's build with broader shoulders and a narrow waist. Trim cut through the middle.

Tall & thin
Billabong & Hurley
Taller / thinner builds

Cut for lean, longer proportions, taller and thinner frames that get lost in a boxier suit.

Still between brands? Call the shop at 877-560-9009. We fit surfers to suits every day and we'll steer you right.
FAQ

Common questions

Florida water stays warm most of the year. From roughly May through October you can surf in boardshorts or a rashguard. In the coolest months (January and February) water dips into the mid 60s, so a springsuit, or a 3/2mm full suit on the chilliest mornings, is usually plenty. You rarely need more than a 3/2 anywhere in Florida.
It depends where. Southern California (San Diego to Los Angeles) is 3/2 territory most of the year, with a 4/3 in winter if you run cold and trunks or a springsuit at the end of summer. Central and Northern California (Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, Ocean Beach in San Francisco) run cold year-round, so plan on a 4/3 or 5/4 with boots, plus a hood in winter.
Snug. It should feel tight on land with no big loose areas, but you should still be able to breathe and paddle. Loose spots cause flushing and make you colder; too tight compresses the neoprene and kills insulation. Chest-snug beats loose-anywhere-else.
Broadly: O'Neill for broader/stockier builds, Rip Curl for slender/taller builds, Quiksilver for a leaner swimmer's build, and Billabong or Hurley for taller and thinner builds. O'Neill and Rip Curl have the most reliable sizing.
Use a tape measure and read the brand's size chart carefully. Measure your waist about an inch below the belly button, and have someone else measure for you if you can. Never size down in the waist.
Choose based on water temperature and cold tolerance. A 3/2mm is more flexible; a 4/3mm is warmer. If you're often cold or surf long sessions, a 4/3 is worth it. The first number is chest/back thickness, the second is arms/legs.
Yes, and we recommend it, especially for a first suit or a brand switch. Trying on in person beats guessing online. Come into our Mount Pleasant, SC shop, or call 877-560-9009 and ask for Angelo or Phil.
Rinse with fresh water after every session, dry it in the shade (never a hot dryer or direct sun), avoid leaving it in a hot car trunk, and store it on a wide hanger rather than folded or crammed.

Suit up for your coast.

You've got your thickness and your fit. Grab the suit that keeps you in the lineup all season, and reach out if you want a hand dialing in the size.

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