“As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you”
Sailing in challenging conditions
Whether you love dinghy sailing in the summer or slightly cooler conditions, one thing we know for sure is that you’ll need a wetsuit. Of course, choosing a wetsuit from the plethora of options available isn’t the most fun activity, but it has to be done.
Not to worry, Windyhq is here to save the day, again. So, please put your mind at ease and watch as we reveal the best wetsuits for dinghy sailing when the water isn’t smooth.
Our Top Picks
| Product Image | Product Name | Key Features | Star Rating | Buy Now |
  |
O'Neill Men's Epic Wetsuit |
|
Check Price & Reviews | |
  |
O'Neill Women's Reactor |
|
Check Price & Reviews | |
  |
Sealskin Men’s Wetsuit |
|
Check Price & Reviews |
Did you think that was all? Well, no. Here we’ll also love to pass down the knowledge we’ve gathered on things you need to know when purchasing a wetsuit. But before we do that,
What is a Wetsuit?
The wetsuit, an essential sailing gear, is a must-have for anyone planning to sail a dinghy. This gear helps to keep the wearer warm by trapping a small amount of water between the skin and the neoprene material.
The neoprene material consists of a zillion nitrogen small pockets that contain trapped air, which guarantees that the body barely loses heat.
Now that that is out in the open, let’s now proceed to reveal the best wetsuits for dinghy sailing.
The 3 Best Wetsuits for Dinghy Sailing
Here are the three best wetsuits for dinghy sailing when the water is rough;
O’Neill Men’s Epic Wetsuit – Best for Men
Standing at the top spot of the best wetsuits for men is the O’Neil epic wetsuit. So, what makes O’Neil deserving of the top spot?
As you can see, this brand name not only perfected the art of making durable wetsuits, they’ve also taken it one step further and are providing wetsuits that are easy to take on and off through the introduction of the back zip entry and exit system.
In addition to this, you never have to worry about cold water finding its way into your O’Neil gear. This suit features excellent glued and blind stitched seams.
O’Neil also guarantees dinghy sailors increased thermal insulation with its internal thermo chest panel, and it promises enhanced performance through its ultra-stretch neoprene material.
Key Features
- It features a seamless lumbar design
- It includes an internal thermo chest panel
- The Neoprene material is 4/3mm thick
- All seams are blind stitched and triple glued
- Its chest size is 38″
O’Neill Women’s Reactor – Best for Women
Women also love dinghy sailing; that’s why we bring you the O’Neil women’s wetsuit. This suit is made from ultra-stretch neoprene rubber and features a zipper closure at the back to provide easy entry and exit. You’ll find it hard to discover any other women’s dinghy sailing wetsuit that puts attention to detail.
The O’Neil women’s reactor also assures you maximum mobility by including flexible designs in the paddle zones. Finally, with this suit, you no longer have to be scared of the cold waters. It also features a wind-resistant smooth skin that provides maximum insulation against cold weather while sailing.
Key features
- The only available color is black
- It is made from neoprene rubber
- Chest size for this suit is 32.5 inches
Seaskin Men’s Wetsuit – Best Triple Layer Fabric
The award for the best triple-layer fabric goes to no other than the Seaskin wetsuit for men.
First, let’s explore the high scalability, waterproofing, and insulating properties of the triple-layer material. The fabric is unique as it consists of an outer nylon layer, a middle neoprene layer, and another neoprene layer on the inside.
Also, with the Seaskin men’s wetsuit, you get heavy-duty YKK front zips that ensure a hassle-free entry and exit when wearing or removing the wetsuit.
Finally, the Seaskin wearers never have to worry about the wetsuit’s integrity, and durability as all the seams are flat-locked and stitched.
Key Features
- Chest size for the wetsuit is 36.”
- All seams are flat locked stitched.
- It sports a heavy-duty YKK zipper at the front.
- This wetsuit is available in 8 different sizes, from X-small to 4X-large.
Things To Know Before Buying Dinghy Sailing Wetsuit
Now that you know that wetsuits are designed to keep the body warm when dinghy sailing. It’s imperative that you also know that there are several intricacies involved in choosing a wetsuit.
To ensure you end up with the right one, here are some factors and features you need to consider when choosing a dinghy sailing wetsuit.
The Wetsuit’s Size and Fit
When opting for a wetsuit, you need to first and foremost consider the size that will be right for you. This factor will determine whether the wetsuit will be able to keep you warm, so ensure that the wetsuit is a proper fit.
What does proper fit mean?
This means that the wet suit isn’t too tight and uncomfortable, such that it restricts movement. It should neither be too loose nor lead to folds when you wear the fabric.
A properly sized wetsuit will feel like a second skin when dry, but it becomes a bit loose when wet.
When purchasing a wetsuit from any online store, be sure to check the manufacturer’s size chart to get the best wetsuit that will be a perfect fit for you. Finally, remember to choose suits with seals that fit snugly on the wrist and ankles or knees.
The Material
The wetsuit’s material is next on the list of things to look out for when choosing a wetsuit. The generally accepted material for wetsuits is neoprene. However, you need to know that there are different qualities of neoprene.
What is Neoprene?
This is a synthetic rubber material containing tiny bubbles of nitrogen gas. The nitrogen gas in the neoprene material aids in providing buoyancy to the neoprene.
When choosing a wetsuit, ensure that the neoprene is covered with backing materials to prevent damage when something pulls on it. Examples of these backing materials include nylon, lycra, and spandex. However, since nylon cannot stretch, it has been removed from the backing material list. So, look out for neoprene with stretchable backing materials.
In addition to neoprene and backing materials, modern wetsuits also feature Merino wool and titanium fibers that help reflect heat to the body and add warmth.
The Wetsuit’s Style
It would be best if you also choose a wetsuit style that suits your needs. There are various wetsuit styles and the most common include;
- Steamers– Also known as one-piece wetsuits that consist of long arms and legs. They are perfect for when you’ll be in the cold water for long and usually feature zippers at the front or back for easy entry and exit. Some steamers could also have short arms but never short legs.
- Long Johns– Long Johns covers the torso and legs, and they have a Velcro closure at one of the shoulders that aid entry and exit. They also offer better freedom of movement of the arms and are suitable for warm-temperature sailing.
- Shorties– Shorties are not left out of the list, and these are wetsuits with short legs and arms, making them the perfect choice for summer sailing. The arms of these shorties extend slightly above the elbow while the legs extend above the knee.
The Wetsuit’s Construction
The wetsuit’s construction includes features like the seals, the joints, and the zippers. Starting with the seals, you need to know that seals aid in keeping the wearer of the wetsuit warm by preventing water entry through the collar, ankle, or cuffs. The seal should hug them tightly.
In addition to the seals, you also need to consider the seam and stitches that attach the wetsuit panels. The stitching adopted will help you in determining the quality of the wetsuit. Some of the more popular kinds of seams include;
- Flatlock seams are criss-cross stitches designed for warmer waters. These seams are usually visible on the inside and outside of the wetsuit.
- Taped Seams are the perfect seams for cold waters. Here the internal stitches are bound by tape with waterproof backing.
- Glued Seam; Manufacturers create glued Seams by gluing the seams to prevent the entry of water. However, since this process doesn’t make the holes entirely waterproof, it is usually combined with taped seams.
- Welded Seams; You’ll find welded seams in high-end wetsuits that are incredibly waterproof. This is accomplished by bonding sections of the wetsuit together and then gluing the seams.
- Glue and Blind Stitching Seams are stitches made through the use of special curved needles. These needles do not go all the way through the neoprene material, therefore, ensuring the water stays out.
Its Thickness
We would also like you to consider the thickness of the wetsuit material when choosing a wetsuit. A general rule of thumb is that the thicker the material, the more warmth you’ll experience. So when determining the thickness of wetsuit material, get ready to see single numbers like 2mm, two numbers like 4/3mm.
A single-digit indicates that the neoprene is of the same thickness throughout the entire wetsuit, while two digits is an indication that the neoprene varies in thickness, where the thicker one guarantees better insulating properties and buoyancy and the thinner one is used around the arms to ensure flexibility and mobility.
Let’s take a look at the wetsuit temperature chart and the appropriate wetsuit thickness.
| Water Temperature | Neoprene Thickness |
| Below 8(°C) | 6/5(mm) |
| 8-12(°C) | 5/4(mm) |
| 9-14(°C) | 4/3(mm) |
| 13-18(°C) | 2 or 3/2(mm) |
| 17-21(°C) | 2(mm) |
| 21-23(°C) | 1–2(mm) |
Other factors to consider when choosing a wetsuit for dinghy sailing include the price of the wetsuit, which will play into your budget, and the prevailing weather conditions when you are out on the sea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is it worth buying a wetsuit?
A: Staying warm is crucial for both pros and amateurs alike. This is because the body loses heat 20 times more when dinghy sailing. So, to remain comfortable and warm, buying a wetsuit is worth it.
Q: Do wetsuits keep you warm?
A: Since manufacturers make wetsuits from neoprene materials, they are guaranteed to keep you warm. The neoprene wetsuits contain a zillion tiny nitrogen air pockets (air bubbles). The air bubbles have trapped air and ensure you do not lose body heat. Not forgetting that nitrogen has a great affinity for heat.
Q: What is the best wetsuit to buy?
A: The best wetsuit for men is the O’Neill Men’s Epic Wetsuit, while for females, the best wetsuit is the O’Neill Women’s Reactor. These two wetsuits guarantee the user’s comfort and functionality.
Q: Do I need a wetsuit for dinghy sailing?
A: We advise pros and amateurs always to wear a wetsuit when dinghy sailing. This way, you’ll have no reason to catch a cold or end up with hypothermia.
Q: What thickness of wetsuit do I need?
A: The appropriate wetsuit thickness you’ll need will be subject to the prevailing weather condition on the sea. In the article above, we included a guide on the best wetsuit thickness for different weather conditions.
Concluding Remarks
We have come to the end of this comprehensive guide on the three best wetsuits for dinghy sailing. We also included factors and features you’ll need to look out for when choosing a wetsuit. However, we’ll like you always to remember that staying warm is crucial when out on the water. Hypothermia is a dangerous condition you never want to experience.
