O'Neill Wetsuits: What Thickness for What Water
Wetsuit thickness is chosen by the water, not the air. A 3/2 on the Black Sea in June is right; in November it is cold. Here we explain what the numbers mean on an O'Neill, which zip is for what, how the suit should fit and when a rash guard is enough.
The first question in the shop is always the same: where and when will you ride. July on the Black Sea and November on the Black Sea are two different suits. The answer to that question settles half the choice.
What 3/2, 4/3 and 5/4 mean
The first number is the neoprene thickness on the body, in millimeters. The second is the thickness on the arms and legs, where you need movement. 3/2 means 3 mm on the torso and 2 mm on the limbs. A 6/5/4 has a third zone.
The "+" after the numbers on an O'Neill means 0.5 mm of extra thickness for more warmth. The O'Neill Hyperfreak 3/2+ Chest Zip is a little warmer than an ordinary 3/2.
Thickness is not everything. The Epic and Bahia are made of UltraFlex, a tough, stretchy neoprene. The Hyperfreak is made of TechnoButter 3 and 3X, is lighter and, according to O'Neill, absorbs 30% less water. The Hyperfreak Fire has TB4 Firewall on the inside, with graphene fibers that return heat to the body. That is why a 4/3 Hyperfreak Fire and a 4/3 Epic do not feel the same in the water.
Thickness by water temperature
The table is a guide. Wind, cloud and how long you stay in the water move the limits. If you generally feel cold, look at the row above your temperature.
| Water | What to wear |
|---|---|
| above 22 °C | Rash guard or a 1.5-2 mm neoprene top |
| 18-22 °C | 2 mm spring suit or long john, a 3/2 in wind |
| 15-18 °C | Full suit 3/2 |
| 12-15 °C | 4/3, often with booties |
| 8-12 °C | 5/4 with booties, and a hood in wind |
| below 8 °C | 5/4 or 6/5/4 with a hood, thick booties and gloves |
A spring suit has short legs, with short or long sleeves. A long john has no sleeves and long legs. The O'Neill Hyperfreak 2mm Chest Zip L/S Spring is a long-sleeve spring suit, and the O'Neill O'Riginal 2mm Long John is the classic long john with a Velcro shoulder. For women there is the O'Neill Bahia 2/1 Back Zip L/S Spring.
The Black Sea, Greece and winter
The Black Sea in July and August is around 23-26 °C. Then a rash guard is enough, and a neoprene top helps on a windy day. In June and September the water is cooler and a 2 mm spring suit is a comfortable choice. From October the water drops below 18 °C and it is the turn of the 3/2. In November you already need a 4/3.
Winter on the Black Sea is 6-8 °C. That means a 5/4 with booties, a hood and gloves. The O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 5/4+ Back Zip and the O'Neill Psycho Tech 5/4+ Back Zip are for that kind of water. The O'Neill Mutant Legend 5/4 Chest Zip has a hood and collar that are detachable.
In Greece the summer is like ours, and in winter the water stays around 14-16 °C. If you go windsurfing or kiting in spring and autumn, a 4/3 like the O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 4/3+ Chest Zip covers more days. In wind a 3/2 often is not enough even at 17 °C.
The zip: back, chest or none
A back zip is a long zip down the back. It is the easiest to put on, which is why the Epic, Bahia and kids' Reactor-2 have it. A long zip usually lets in a little more water than a chest zip. For summer and autumn that does not matter.
The chest zip at O'Neill is called F.U.Z.E. You step in through an opening at the chest and close it with a short zip. It lets in less water, and the back has no zip, so it is more flexible when paddling. The first few times, getting into it takes some getting used to. These are the Hyperfreak 3/2+, the O'Neill Hyperfreak 4/3+ Chest Zip and the Hyperfreak Fire 4/3+.
The Psycho Tech has a Z.E.N. Zip. It is a small external zip on the back with an inner seal like a pullover. It is easy to put on and feels close to a suit with no zip.
We do not currently have full suits without a zip. The neoprene top O'Neill Hyperfreak 1.5mm has none: you pull it on over your head.
Size and how it should fit
O'Neill men's suits come in S, M, L, XL and in-between sizes: MS and LS are for shorter heights, MT and XLT for taller. Women's are numbered: 4, 8, 10, 12. Kids' are also numbered by age.
A wetsuit should fit snugly everywhere, like a second skin. Check the waist, the armpits and behind the knees: there should be no folds or air there. The neck is snug but does not choke. A dry suit always feels tighter than it does in the water. If it is loose even when dry, it will fill with water.
The women's 3/2 models are the O'Neill Bahia 3/2 Back Zip and the O'Neill Epic 3/2 Back Zip. The Bahia has flat flatlock seams, for summer and autumn. The Epic has glued and stitched GBS seams, which let in less water. For men there is also the O'Neill Epic 3/2 Back Zip.
For kids: the O'Neill Reactor-2 2mm is for summer, and the O'Neill Hyperfreak 4/3+ Chest Zip in a kids' size is for cool water.
When a rash guard or a neoprene top is enough
A rash guard does not keep you warm. It protects from the sun and from chafing on the board. The O'Neill Hyperfreak S/S and the women's O'Neill Wms Hyperfreak Skins L/S are UPF 50+ and have a tie for your board shorts so they do not ride up. In July and August on the Black Sea that is all you need.
A neoprene top is for days when the water is warm and the wind is cool. The Hyperfreak 1.5mm has no zips. The O'Neill Hyperfreak Comp-X 2mm L/S is thicker and can be worn either side out. The O'Neill O'Riginal 2mm is a vest with a front zip: it warms the torso and leaves the arms free. For women there is the O'Neill Bahia 1/1.5mm.
Booties, hood and gloves
Booties protect from cold, but also from rocks, shells and reefs. Most of our O'Neill booties have a split toe, with the big toe separated from the other toes. That way the foot sits more steadily on the board. The O'Neill Superfreak Tropical 2 ST is 2 mm, for warm water and reefs.
For autumn and spring you need 3 mm. The O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 3mm ST has TB4 Firewall on the inside and arch support. For winter there are the O'Neill Heat Ninja 5/4mm ST and the O'Neill Mutant 6/5/4mm. The Mutant has internal toe separation and an ankle strap against water getting in.
In water below 10 °C the head and hands get cold first. The O'Neill Ultraseal 3mm is a hood with an adjustable tie. The O'Neill Psycho Tech 3mm are gloves with textured palms for a surer grip.
Frequently asked questions
What wetsuit for the Black Sea in October?
A full 3/2 suit. From October the Black Sea water drops below 18 °C, and in November you already need a 4/3.
What wetsuit for the Black Sea in winter?
A 5/4 with booties, a hood and gloves, because the water is 6-8 °C. The O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 5/4+ Back Zip and the O'Neill Psycho Tech 5/4+ Back Zip are for that kind of water.
What wetsuit for windsurfing or kiting in Greece in spring and autumn?
A 4/3, for example the O'Neill Hyperfreak Fire 4/3+ Chest Zip. It covers more days, and in wind a 3/2 often is not enough even at 17 °C.
Chest zip or back zip wetsuit?
A back zip is the easiest to put on but lets in a little more water. A chest zip lets in less water and the back is more flexible when paddling, but getting into it takes some getting used to.
Does a rash guard keep you warm?
No. A rash guard protects from the sun and from chafing on the board. In July and August on the Black Sea, when the water is around 23-26 °C, it is all you need.
How to choose
Start with the water. If you only ride in summer, a rash guard and a neoprene top. If you want to go in until late autumn, a 3/2 or 4/3 depending on the wind. For winter, a 5/4 with booties, a hood and gloves. Then choose the zip: back zip for easy entry, chest zip for less water. Last is the size, and that is only checked by trying it on.
A wetsuit is one of the things you do not buy from a table. Come to the shop at Golo Bardo 6A and try two or three sizes. If you are far away, call +359 887 800 575 or write to us with your height, weight and where you ride, and we will tell you which model and size to try first.
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