The wetsuit is the essential piece of gear that lets you retain your body heat once in the water. Beyond its thermal protection role, it also protects against knocks during downclimbs or slides.
Choosing the right size
The wetsuit should fit optimally: neither too big nor too small. Mismatching sizes between the top and bottom can sometimes solve this problem.
In a wetsuit that is too big, water constantly circulates and must be continuously reheated by your body. Conversely, a wetsuit that is too small or too thick restricts movement.
There is no universal rule: it all depends on the location, the season, the canyons covered and your own preferences. That said, a 2-piece wetsuit offers several advantages:
- Possibility of mixing sizes at purchase, for an optimal fit
- Possibility of wearing only the bottom piece on canyons with little water or that are very warm
A 5 mm thick wetsuit is a good compromise between warmth and ease of movement.
Protecting your wetsuit
Downclimbs and slides are prone to causing tears. To extend the life of your wetsuit, protect the sensitive areas: seat, knees, elbows, side seams.
“Polyglut” or “Aquaglutene” is a flexible coating applied to the neoprene to protect it from abrasion. Some brands offer wetsuits already reinforced in these areas, generally more expensive. Some practitioners also use a polyurethane glue such as “Sikaflex” on the knees and elbows. The seat panel, whether integrated into the harness or not, also protects the seat of the wetsuit.
Find the rest of the equipment in our complete canyoning equipment guide.
