The Wetsuit Guide: Glossary of Wetsuit Terms

Back Zip — The original wetsuit entry design. Back zip suits have a long zipper running from your lower back up to your neck, with a cord attached to the zipper so you can get in and out of the suit.

Batwing — A stretch of neoprene extending over the back to prevent flushing and water entering through the zipper.

Booties — Neoprene boots or shoes that range in thickness from 1.5-8mm. They provide warmth from the cold water and protect your feet from the ocean floor.

Bottom — Usually worn with a neoprene top for cooler tropical water. Can range in length from the thigh to ankle.

Cap — A minimalist surf hood that covers just the head and ears and typically is held in place by a chin strap.

Chest Panel — A section inside the suit covering the body’s core that uses a special fabric or material to generate extra warmth.

Chest Zip — An entry featuring a zipper that runs across the chest to maximize flexibility throughout the suit.

Detachable Hood — Some full suits feature a detachable hood piece. The O’Neill Mutant Legend is unique in that the hood is attached to the suit via two zippers: one on the chest and one on the upper back. The hood is completely removable, and in it’s place, you can attach a neck piece to the wetsuit.

Double Blind Stitched Seams — A type of seam typically used in cold water suits, where two pieces of neoprene are joined together by glue and then stitched together by only penetrating the outside of the neoprene. This creates a durable seam that does an excellent job of preventing leakage and is best used in cold water suits.

Drainage Hole — A small hole or set of holes, usually located on the back chest or shoulders, that allows excess water to drain out easily from the suit.

Flatlock Seams — A type of seam found on wetsuits where panels of neoprene are laid over each other and the stitches go all the way through both of them. This type of seam is very strong, flexible, and best suited for warmer waters.

Fluid Seam Weld — Also called LFS (liquid fluid seam) or external fluid seam, a liquid rubber tape that covers the exterior stitching of the suit and helps to make the suit much more durable and watertight.

Flush — An ill fitting suit is prone to flushing: when the existing warm water layer is flushed out and replaced with new colder water. In addition, as the seams break down from wear and tear, you might experience water flushing into the suit through the weakened seams.

Full Suit — A wetsuit that features full arms and legs but doesn’t have an attached hood. Full suits are made in back, chest zip, and zip-free entries and are offered in 3-5mm thicknesses.

Gloves — Offered in a variety of styles (5 finger, mittens, lobster, and 3 finger gloves), surf gloves are made from neoprene and provide warmth and protection from the cold water elements.

Glued and Blind Stitched Seams (GBS) — A type of seam found on wetsuits connecting two panels of neoprene. The edges of both panels are pushed together and secured with glue before being stitched. The stitching on this seam also differs as it doesn’t go all the way through the top and bottom of each panel, making it more watertight and therefore better suited for cold water surfing.

Gusset — An extra bit of neoprene in the armpit of a wetsuit. This gusset is placed in the armpit to prevent fatigue and increase range of motion while paddling.

Hidden Split Toe — Some surf boots feature a divider between the big toe and the remaining toes, similar to a flipflop. A split toe boot can provide more stability to the wearer. 

Hood —  A cover of neoprene that can be stretched over your head to keep it warm. A must-have for cold water surfing, hoods can be purchased separately or come attached as part of a hooded wetsuit.

Hooded Full Suit —  A full wetsuit with an attached hood. Many surfers in cold water climates use hooded full suits, since they are more water tight and warm compared to a full suit with a separate hood piece.

Internal Liner —  Interior liners are often found in wetsuits and can also be found in some gloves, hoods, and boots. The liner offers extra insulation, creating a warmer and more comfortable feel.

Internal Tape — Tape that is glued over the stitching of seams. This tape can be made of neoprene and helps to make the suit more watertight and extend durability.

Jacket — A neoprene top with full-length arms to provide warm to your core. Ideally used with board shorts, for early morning sessions or if the wind picks up.

Key Loop — A small loop or pocket to stash a car key while you’re in the water. Usually located in the leg, the key loop allows you to safely keep your key on your person and will not affect the performance of the suit. Also called a stash pocket.

Knee Pads — Reinforced padding over the knee caps, found on almost every suit today, to extend durability and comfort.

Long John — Also sometimes called a Farmer John, a sleeveless but otherwise full wetsuit. Long Johns give the rest of your body warmth while allowing unrestricted paddling and freedom in the arms. Ideally used in temperatures around the high 60s to low 70s.

Millimeter (MM) — Refers to the thickness of wetsuit gear, such as suits, gloves, hoods, and gloves. The thicker the item, the more warmth it will provide in the water.

Neoprene — The material that almost all wetsuits are made of. Neoprene is used for its incredibly flexible, comfortable, and stable properties. Neoprene technology is constantly evolving, helping to make suits more high performance than ever before.

Offset Zipper — A zipper design where the teeth of the zipper overlap, creating a more watertight seal.

Panels — Individual pieces of neoprene that make up a wetsuit. In general, fewer panels equals fewer seams, and fewer seams equal fewer “moving parts”.

Rashguard — A shirt, typically made of polypropylene or neoprene, that is used to help protect your body from UV rays, provide warmth in your core, and prevent rashes from wax. Commonly found in both long sleeve and short sleeve variants.

Round Toe — Surf boots are also made in a round toe option. This type of boot doesn’t have an internal divider. Round toe boots are often warmer than split toe boots.

Seams — Seams on a wetsuit are where two or more panels of neoprene meet and are held together by stitching and other materials.

Short John — A sleeveless, short-legged wetsuit that extends from your torso down to your thighs. Ideal for warmer waters and sometimes used as a substitute for board shorts or in conditions that are slightly too cold for board shorts.

Size Chart — Each wetsuit manufacturer has their own size chart to help consumers figure out what size is best fit for them. Wetsuit sizing can vary from brand to brand.

Slant Zip Entry — A chest zip entry system where the zipper runs at a diagonal angle from your right shoulder down across your chest. This entry is popular for its ease of entry and exit.

Smooth Skin — A type of “dipped” neoprene that is commonly used in the chest and back regions for its water and wind resistant properties. It helps to provide comfort when lying down on a surfboard, better traction with the wax, and improved insulation to keep your core warmer.

Split Toe — Similar to a hidden split toe boot. The difference is that the split toe is exposed and visible from the exterior of the boot instead of hidden.

Spring Suit — Also known as a “shorty,” spring suits are typically thinner wetsuits (1-3mm) that have short sleeves, legs or both.

Yulex — Developed by Patagonia as a more environmentally friendly and sustainable wetsuit material, Yulex shares the same flex and warmth characteristics as neoprene with a smaller carbon footprint.

Velco — Back zip wetsuits feature a longer zipper that starts in the lower back and zips up to the back of the neck, where it is secured by an overlapping Velcro collar.

Vest — A neoprene top or rashguard that utilizes a front zip that runs up and down the entire length of the top. Typically used in warmer environments and worn with a pair of boardshorts or bathing suit bottoms.

Warranty — Wetsuit companies offer a warranty program to make sure you’re taken care of in the event that your suit becomes damaged. The timeline of each company’s warranty varies a little, but for the most part, every suit is covered for any manufacturer’s defects up to 1 year after purchase. This means that if your suit has any damages caused by the workmanship or any defect in material, they will either repair or replace your suit at no additional cost.

Zip Free Entry — Also referred to as zipperless, this entry is basically the same as the chest zip minus the zipper. Zip Free suits are found in higher-end performance suits with ultra stretchy neoprene which tends to allow for a fairly easy entry even though the hole you get in through is smaller.