Clothing Definitions — definitions of garments and clothing terms from Apparel Search
A wetsuit is a protective garment used for watersports such as scuba diving, surfing, windsurfing and triathlon. A modern wetsuit is mostly made from thin neoprene, which provides limited thermal protection for activities in cold water, usually lined with nylon fabric for strength and easier dressing. A wetsuit allows water inside, but the water is trapped as a thin layer between the skin and the neoprene and body heat warms it; the neoprene then insulates that warm layer against the surrounding cold water. A close fit and flexible seals at the cuffs make the system work.
A wetsuit allows water inside the suit, but it is trapped as a thin layer between the skin and the neoprene, and body heat warms it. The neoprene insulates the warm water layer against the surrounding cold water. The wetsuit must be a close fit to make the suit work efficiently; too loose a fit will simply allow the warmed water to be flushed through and be replaced by cold water. Flexible seals at the suit cuffs aid in the retention.
It is difficult to credit a single individual for the creation of the modern wetsuit. In 1951, while working for the US Navy, Hugh Bradner had the insight that a thin layer of trapped water could act as an insulator. It was a colleague of Bradner who suggested neoprene as a feasible material. However, Bradner was not overly interested in profiting from his design and never marketed a version to the public; nor did he patent his design. The first written documentation of Bradner's invention was in a letter dated June 21, 1951.
Traditionally, most say it was Jack O'Neill who invented the wetsuit and started using neoprene, which he found lining the floor of an airliner. However, this is disputed by some aviation experts because neoprene and other rubbers are not fire retardant; therefore, they would not be found on any passenger aircraft. O'Neill went on to found the successful wetsuit manufacturer, O'Neill. But Bob and Bill Meistrell, from Manhattan Beach, California, claim to have started experimenting with neoprene around 1953. Their company would later be named Body Glove.
Wetsuits come in different thicknesses depending on the conditions for which it is intended. The thicker the suit, the warmer it will keep the wearer. A thick suit is stiff, so mobility is restricted. A wetsuit is normally described in terms of its thickness. For instance, a wetsuit with a torso thickness of 5 mm and a limb thickness of 3 mm will be described as a "5/3". Some suits have extra layers added for key areas such as the lower back.
Different shapes of wetsuit are available, from the "shorty" that covers the torso and has short arms and short legs; the "jacket" covering the torso and arms; the "long johns" that covers the torso and legs only; and the "full suit" or "steamer" that covers the torso and the full length of the arms and legs. Some suits are arranged in two parts; the jacket and long johns can be worn separately in mild conditions or worn together to provide two layers of insulation around the torso in cold conditions.
A specialised kind of wetsuit, with a very smooth (and somewhat delicate) outer surface is used for long distance swimming and triathlon. These are designed to maximize the mobility of the limbs while providing both warmth and buoyancy.
| The above article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/wetsuit ). Apparel Industry definition modified by Apparel Search 1/2/06 |
Wetsuits are cut to the amount of protection a sport needs. The shorty covers the torso with short arms and short legs, for warm water and summer surfing. The jacket covers the torso and arms and can be worn alone or over long johns, which cover the torso and legs only; worn together, the pair gives two layers of insulation around the torso for cold conditions. The full suit, or steamer, covers the torso and the full length of arms and legs and is the standard cold-water form. Specialized smooth-surface suits for long-distance swimming and triathlon trade durability for maximum limb mobility, warmth and buoyancy.
Neoprene does the insulating because its closed gas cells slow heat loss, but plain neoprene shrinks with age and resists stretching. Nylon lining strengthens the suit and makes it easier to put on and take off. Newer suits marketed as superflex blend spandex into the panels, typically 15 to 20 percent, which counteracts the shrinkage, lets the suit stretch, and tolerates some change in the wearer's size without becoming uncomfortable. Fit remains the deciding factor in performance: seals at neck, wrists and ankles, a close torso, and no loose pockets of fabric are what keep the warmed water layer in place.
A wetsuit lets in a thin layer of water, which the body warms. The neoprene insulates that warmed layer against the cold water outside. The suit must fit closely: a loose fit lets the warmed water flush through and be replaced by cold water, which destroys the effect.
Wetsuits are described by neoprene thickness. A 5/3 suit has 5 mm of neoprene at the torso and 3 mm at the limbs, putting warmth where the body needs it and flexibility where the arms and legs bend. The thicker the suit, the warmer and stiffer it is.
Credit is disputed. Hugh Bradner had the trapped-water insight in 1951 while working for the US Navy and documented it in a letter dated June 21, 1951, but never patented or marketed it. Jack O'Neill is traditionally credited and founded the O'Neill company, while Bob and Bill Meistrell of Manhattan Beach, California, later of Body Glove, claim experiments with neoprene from about 1953.