Picking the Perfect Spearfishing Wetsuit
Picking the Perfect Spearfishing Wetsuit
Picking the right spearfishing wetsuit can be a challenge. There are so many options on the market nowadays. There are also a wide range of prices and features available, as well as a wide range of qualities. Throughout this post we will go over some of the options out there, and what to look for in a quality spearfishing wetsuit.
Quality Neoprene
One of the biggest differences between a good wetsuit and a bad wetsuit is the quality of neoprene. A high quality neoprene is both stretchy, but sturdy. As the stretchiness increases the sturdiness tends to get worse. A great spearfishing wetsuit has a balance of the two. The gold standard for spearfishing wetsuit neoprene is Yamomoto 39. It is the best balance to give wetsuits thermal protection, durability, and comfort. Some great example of wetsuits that use Yamomoto 39 neoprene in their wetsuits is the Neptonics Quantum Stealth and Stealth wetsuits and the Riffe Digi-Tek suits.
Open Cell and Closed Cell Spearfishing Wetsuits
The decision between open cell wetsuits and closed cell wetsuits comes down to which is best for thermal protection. There is no real debate of this. The closed open cell wetsuits provide better thermal protection than the closed cell wetsuits. Open cell wetsuits have exposed neoprene on the interior of the wetsuit that goes directly against the diver’s skin. Open cell wetsuits have a fabric on the interior of the suit. The fabric improves the wetsuits durability, but significantly reduces how warm the suit is. Most suits designed for spearfishing are two-piece open cell suits. These spearfishing wetsuits offer the most flexibility and warmth.
Comoflage Patterns
Camouflage patterns are common for spearfishing wetsuits. There is some debate on if camouflage patterns are beneficial in spearfishing. Some divers are hard set on believing that proper camouflage patterns make a big difference in spearfishing. Fish do have several senses that humans do not have for identifying their environment, other than sight. Breaking up a diver’s silhouette cannot hurt the diver’s chance at landing a fish, but there are other factors at play beyond sight. Most of the decision being camouflage patterns on suits really comes down to a divers personal preference on the wetsuit’s appearance.
Accessory Pouches on Spearfishing Wetsuits
One of the biggest differences between different spearfishing wetsuits comes down to the accessory pouches available on the suits. The Neptonics Quantum Stealth and Stealth wetsuits come with several pouches and safety features that are not common on other suits. Check out some of the features here.