part from the thickness and quality of the neoprene used in the construction of a wetsuit - how a wetsuit is manufactured will affect how well it functions in terms of overall fit, flexibility and heat retaining qualities. Ever wondered what wetsuit jargon generally means and how this affects the type of suit you need for your chosen watersport? The aim of this review is to explain some of the terms used in wetsuit design and construction to help you make a more informed choice.

A wetsuit will not keep you completely dry. A small amount of water will enter through the seams, zipper, neck, arms or legs. A wetsuit works by trapping a thin layer of water between your body and the neoprene which then warms up to your body temperature. How effective this is and how long it takes depends on many factors including  how well your suit fits, the water temperature, how the wetsuit is constructed and of course the thickness of the neoprene used.

Three of the most common types of stitching used to construct a wetsuit are overlocked, flatlocked and glued and blindstitched (GBS). The type of stitching plays a part in how much water seeps in to the suit and how comfortable it will feel to wear. At Big Orange Watersports we believe in stocking quality suits so all our ranges are either flatlocked or GBS.

Overlock stitching is the most basic form of stitching used to join the seams in a wetsuit. Usually found on “budget” or “cheap” wetsuits. Overlock stitching joins two pieces of material together by stitching over their edges. Although the seams can be seen from the outside, all of the stitching is hidden away on the inside of the suit. Overlock stitching will leave a protruding seam on the inside of the wetsuit and will open up slightly when over stretched causing them to leak water.

Flatlock stitching is formed by joining two overlapping edges of material. The finished seam lays flat on the inside & outside of the wetsuit making it more comfortable against the skin. Flatlock stitching can be seen from both the inside and the outside of a wetsuit and looks similar on both sides. Wetsuits that are flatlock stitched may leak some water through the seams, although not as much as a suit that is overlock stitched. Flatlocking is found in better quality suits and will cost that little bit more.

Blindstitched (Glued and Blindstitched or GBS) seams can generally be found on high specification wetsuits, especially those used for colder water/winter use as the more complicated method of construction makes for a warmer suit. Material is glued together along an edge and then stitched using a specialised curved needle which means the stitching does not pierce the outside layer of the neoprene and thereby eliminating the water leakage holes along the seam that you usually get with standard types of stitching. This makes the join nearly water tight and therefore the warmest method of stitching. Blindstitch seams also lay flat, allowing the material to lay flatter and closer to the skin enhancing comfort and fit. As you can appreciate this is a more complicated method of construction and your wetsuit will generally be more expensive than a flatlocked suit.

Additionally finishing touches added to suits may include the following:-

Taped stress points are usually found where two or more seams join together. The purpose of taping the stress points of a wetsuit is to add strength to the areas that are most at risk from over stretching, usually when being put on or being taken off. By taping the stress point’s manufacturers prolong the life of the suit & prevent the seams from parting where they may receive a lot of stretching. Commonly found on the better glued and blindstitched suits as a finishing extra.

Fully taped seams are a good way of preventing any water penetrating the seams and adding strength to the whole suit. The tape used is a thinner neoprene that may vary slightly in diameter up to about ½ inch wide and is glued over the top of the seams to add to the strength of the stitching.

Liquid taped seams are usually found as an alternative to fully taped seams. Rather than using the traditional neoprene tape, some manufacturers use a latex based glue to cover the seams. The advantages of this are that it is more flexible than neoprene tape and makes a better seal over the seams so it makes the seams water tight and as a result of this it makes the wetsuit even warmer.

Our current top sellers include the fantastic Swarm 3/2 mm Glued and Blindstitched full suit or the Swarm 5mm Winter weight suit at a Big Orange special price of only £69.99