Which wetsuit do you need to surf in Europe? Thickness by region and season

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In Europe your wetsuit matters as much as your board. From Scotland to the Algarve the water is cold for much of the year, and a suit that isn't warm enough cuts your sessions short, saps your paddling power and makes winter, when the best swells arrive, a real struggle. This guide explains which thickness you need for where and when you surf, which accessories are worth it, and how to look after your suit so it lasts several seasons.

If you're heading to a particular break, every spot on our wave map shows the local water temperature and the gear we'd bring.

What 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4 mean

The two numbers are the neoprene thickness in millimetres. The first is the torso, where you lose most heat; the second is the arms and legs, which need more freedom to paddle. A 4/3 has 4 mm on the body and 3 mm on the limbs. Some suits have three numbers (5/4/3, for example), with an even thinner panel at the shoulders or armpits.

Thicker is warmer, but also heavier and more tiring to paddle in. So wear the thinnest suit that keeps you comfortable, not the thickest one you can find. Thanks to stretchier neoprene and thermal linings, a good 4/3 today is as warm as a 5/4 from ten years ago.

Thickness by water temperature

This is the rule of thumb most surfers and brands use. If you feel the cold, surf long sessions or there's a cold wind, go up one step.

Region by region: what to wear in Europe

• Scandinavia and Iceland (2–6 °C in winter, 10–17 °C in summer): 6/5 with hood, 7 mm booties and mitts in winter; a 5/4 in summer.
• Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall and Normandy (7–10 °C in winter, 14–17 °C in summer): 5/4 with hood and booties from October to May; a 4/3 in summer.
• Brittany, Vendée and Charente (10–12 °C in winter, 17–20 °C in summer): a 5/4 or a good 4/3 with booties in winter; a 3/2 in summer.
• Cantabrian coast, Galicia, French Basque Country and Landes (12–14 °C in winter, 19–21 °C in summer): a 4/3 most of the year, with booties in January and February; a 3/2 from July to September.
• Portugal and Morocco (14–17 °C in winter, 17–21 °C in summer): a 4/3 in winter and a 3/2 the rest of the year. Northern Portugal gets cold upwelling in summer, so don't trust the calendar.
• Mediterranean (13–15 °C in winter, above 24 °C in summer): a 4/3 from December to April, a 3/2 in autumn and spring, and a rash vest in summer.
• Canary Islands (18 °C in winter, 22–23 °C in summer): a 3/2 almost all year and a shorty or rash vest in summer.

Booties, gloves and hood

Hands, feet and head get cold first. In water below 12–13 °C, a pair of booties is the difference between a two-hour session and a forty-minute one. Split-toe booties grip the foot and the board better. They also protect against rocks, urchins and stony bottoms, so some people wear them on reefs in summer too.

Gloves help from around 10 °C, especially in the wind. 3 mm gloves let you paddle naturally; 5 mm gloves or mitts are for the coldest water. Finally, a hood stops the ice-cream headache when you duck-dive and keeps cold water and wind out of your ears, which over the years causes surfer's ear.

Zip, seams and lining

• Chest zip: the most common choice today. Less water gets in than with a back zip and the suit is more flexible.
• Back zip: easier to get in and out of, a good option for beginners or warm water, but it lets in more water.
• Zipless: the most watertight and stretchy, but harder to put on.
• Seams: for cold water, look for glued and blind-stitched (GBS) or taped seams. Flatlock seams let water through and are only for summer.
• Thermal lining: a fleecy lining on the chest and back is very warm and dries quickly. It's what most sets a mid-range suit apart from a basic one.

Getting the size right

A wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, with no bagging at the lower back or armpits: any gap fills with cold water. At the same time you need to be able to raise your arms and paddle without it pulling at your shoulders. Sizes vary a lot between brands, so check each brand's height and weight chart, not just the letter. If you buy online, make sure returns are free before you order.

How to make it last

1. Rinse it in fresh water after every session, inside and out. Salt and sand harden the neoprene.
2. Wash it now and then with wetsuit shampoo: it removes salt and smells without damaging the neoprene. Never use a washing machine or normal detergent.
3. Dry it in the shade and inside out, first the inside, then the outside. Direct sun makes it crack. Hang it by the waist on a wide hanger rather than by the shoulders, which stretch.
4. Use a wetsuit dryer if you surf every day or in winter: a hanger with a fan that dries it in a few hours, so you don't have to pull on a cold, wet suit the next morning.
5. Carry it in a bucket or dry bag on the way home, so the car stays dry and the suit isn't left crumpled in the boot.

Heading to a particular break? The wave map lists every wave in Europe with the water temperature of its region. And if you're after a board for this winter, the directory has more than 200 European shapers.