WETSUITS

 

 

DIFFERENT SUIT NAMES  

STEAMER                       full length arm, full length leg - comes in different thickness (mm), stretch and seams.

 

 

S/S STEAMER          short sleeve arm, full length leg

 

 

LONG JOHN                 sleeveless arm, full length leg - good for paddle sports like kayaking, canoe and surf ski.

 

 

 

SPRINGSUIT                                short sleeve arm, short leg - Perth summer suit - all watersports

 

 

 

L/S SPRINGSUIT       full length arm, short leg - generally a Body boarders ideal wetsuit, keeps chest warm while no restriction when kicking into wave.

 

 

 

SHORT JOHN              sleeveless arm, short leg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MATERIALS/MANUFACTURING

 Apart from the thickness and quality of the neoprene used in the manufacture of a wetsuit - how that 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 it affects the type of suit you need for your chosen water sport? The aim of this guide is to explain some of the terms used in wetsuit design and construction to help you make a more informed choice.

Neoprene is a type of synthetic rubber. The many unique qualities of neoprene make it useful in a number of popular products. One of the most popular and visible uses of neoprene is with wetsuits. In wetsuits, neoprene traps water between the wetsuit and the wearer's skin. Body heat warms the water against the skin, which works to reduce heat loss from the body. This reduced heat loss allows someone to comfortably stay in colder water for a longer time. It can also be quite buoyant in the water.

A wetsuit will not keep you 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 the suit fits, the water temperature, how the wetsuit is constructed and of course the thickness of the neoprene used.

Cheap, poorly constructed or incorrectly fitting wetsuits generally allow too much water in to a suit with obvious poor results. Your body will be trying to warm up too much water or constantly heating cold water as it flushes through the suit. With wetsuits, like most things in life, you get what you pay for and a 'cheap' wetsuit will often be manufactured using the quickest cheapest stitching method with  thin inflexible neoprene and basic cut which results in a poor fit on the majority of body shapes.

Three of the most common types of stitching used to construct a wetsuit are over locked, flat locked and glued and blind stitched (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.

Over lock Stitching is the most basic form of stitching found in budget or cheap suits. Over lock stitching joins two pieces of material together by stitching over their edges. Although the seams can be seen from the outside, all the stitching is hidden away on the inside of the suit and leaves a protruding seam next to the skin - uncomfortable. The stitching will also open slightly when stretched and allows more water in.

Flat locked Stitching is formed by joining two overlapping edges of material. The finished seam lays flat on the inside and outside of the wetsuit making it more comfortable against the skin. Flat lock stitching can be seen from both the inside and the outside of a wetsuit and looks similar on both sides. Wetsuits that are flat lock stitched seep some water through the seams, although not as much as an over lock stitched suit. Flat locking is found in better quality suits and will cost that little bit more as more work is involved in the stitching process.

 

 

Blind stitched (Glued & Blind stitched or GBS) seams can generally be found on high specification wetsuits, especially those used for colder water/winter us as the more complicated method of construction makes for a warmer suit with minimal water seepage. 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 seepage holes along the seam that you usually get with the standard types of stitching. Blind stitch seams also lay flat, allowing the material to lay flatter and smooth against the skin enhancing comfort and fit. As you can appreciate this is a more complicated method of constructions and your wetsuit will generally be more expensive than a flat locked suit.

Additional 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 most at risk of over stretching, usually when being put on or taken off. By taping the stress points 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 blind stitched 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 1/2 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 then 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WETSUIT WARRANTIES

 

QUIKSILVER 

Quicksilver wetsuits have been designed using the lightest most flexible materials. All flatlock stitch styles carry a limited lifetime warranty on workmanship & a limited 1 year warranty on materials. All glued and blindstitch suits carry a limited 1 year warranty on workmanship & materials.

Under Quicksilver warranty guidelines Quicksilver will repair or replace (at Quicksilver’s sole discretion) this wetsuit if found to be defective under normal use and proper care. Should you find any fault in workmanship or materials during the warranty period, return your clean dry wetsuit along with your original sales receipt to your Quicksilver dealer or send it directly to Quicksilver. Freight pre paid.

BILLABONG          

Billabong wetsuits come with a limited 12 month warranty on materials and workmanship. The warranty period will begin the date of sale. Only proof of purchase will validate your warranty. If you find fault with your wetsuit during the warranty period, please return it CLEAN and DRY to your Billabong dealer with Everything we need to know in order to fix it and return it to you.

 

WEST             

All West Wetsuits come with a Lifetime Warranty

The warranty covers:

• Lifetime warranty on all stitching

• 12 month warranty on glueing and materials

The warranty does not cover:

• Normal wear and tear, including scratches and fading.             

• Damage caused by anything other than defects in materials or workmanship.

• Use in teaching, rental, commercial or instructional programs or activities.

• Damage caused by failure to follow the care instructions provided with this product,

including improper handling or storage and extended or excessive exposure to sunlight.

• Wetsuits that have been sold as 2nd hand or have been sold as a 2nd

(as it has been sold as a product with existing defects).

• Wetsuits repaired by other repair service.

 

RIPCURL               

There is an International Warranty on the Rip Curl Wetsuits

THE WARRANTY • Lifetime warranty on all stitching • 12 month warranty on materials THIS WARRANTY DOES NOT COVER THE FOLLOWING : • Damage caused by anything other than defects in materials or workmanship. • Use in commercial, rental, teaching or instructional programs or activities. • Damage caused by extended or excessive exposure to sunlight, improper handling or storage, or failure to follow instruction provided with this product. • This product when classified as being 2nd hand or it is being sold as a 2nd (it is being sold as a product with existing defects). • Normal wear and tear, including scratches and fading. • Wetsuits repaired by other repair service. To ensure you're covered by the best guarantee in the business, please make sure you keep your proof of purchase in a safe place

 SHOES       

                                          

The difference between a regular shoe and a skateboarding shoe is in the construction. A skateboarding shoe is naturally more padded generally more comfortable, the sides of the shoe are built by stronger materials like leather or suede to withstand grip tape abuse, and the soles are made flat and grippy to stay on the board.

 

Features

Skate shoe companies have integrated a number of special features into their shoes. These innovations have a number of functions including preventing heel bruises, increasing "board Feel" through increased flexibility, and enhancing grip.

These include but are not limited to:

• Vulcanized rubber soles
• Air pockets in the heels
• Shoelace protectors
• DGT (DC Shoes)
• Super Suede (DC Shoes)
• System G2 Cushioning (etnies, Emerica, éS)^[1]
• STI foam (etnies, Emerica, éS)^[2]
• Lace Loops that "hide" shoelaces
• 'Action Leather'
• EVA Mid Sole
• Fusion Grip Rubber Outsole
• Asymmetric stabilizer
• Silicon Rubber makes shoes last longer(SiRC)

Many features of the Skate Shoe are designed to increase its durability. The Skate Shoe is subjected to the abrasiveness of a skateboard's grip tape on a regular basis when worn by skaters. This is why skaters tend to go through shoes quickly. Super Suede, Action Leather, and plastic underlying the toe cap help to increase the durability of a skate shoe. Lace loops and protectors are designed to prevent laces from shredding by shielding the most common areas that contact with grip tape.

Other common features include: Triple stitching with thicker treads to prevent ripping, more width so that there is more contact with the board with thicker tongues and sides to compensate, and deep sole patterns for grip.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SUNGLASSES

The Sun's Radiation Spectrum

 

·         UVC and part of UVB are absorbed high in the atmosphere.

·         UVB is very damaging to the skin and eyes, causes sunburn and is implicated in skin cancer induction.

·         UVA is less damaging than UVB but lately there has been concern over long term hazards of exposure.

Why Wear Sunglasses?

As there is an association between UVR (ultra violet rays) and eye damage, the eye should be protected from exposure to UVR. Sunglasses should decrease visible light to a comfortable level while blocking the invisible and potentially harmful UVR.The important points to look for when purchasing sunglasses are detailed below.

When to Wear Sunglasses?

Outdoors, particularly in the following circumstances:

·         During Summer. The level of UVR at noon in summer is about three times as high as that for winter. More importantly, the levels of UVB can be as much as ten times higher (which is why sunburn takes such a short time in summer).

·         Around noon (1 pm during daylight saving). 70% of the harmful UVB radiation that is received each day occurs within three hours either side of this time.

·         On the beach or boating. There are usually few buildings or objects to block out part of the sky, so people are exposed to direct and scattered radiation from the whole sky.

·         Skiing at high altitude. Solar UVR increases with altitude and, at 2000 metres (typical of Australian ski fields), can be as much as 30% higher than that at sea level. The high reflection of snow worsens the problem, so that the UVR dose to the eye can be quite large. Consequently, good eye protection while skiing is very important.

 

Note: Sunglasses should not be worn at night, especially while driving, as they reduce visibility in an environment which already has low light levels.

 

A Standard for Sunglasses

In 1971 Australia was the first country to introduce a national standard for sunglasses (AS 1067.1: 1990 'Sunglasses and fashion spectacles'). Australia is now one of the few countries along with UK, Germany, France and USA to have a standard for sunglasses. AS/NZS 1067 is the only mandatory sunglass standard in the world and the requirements for complying with the Safety Requirements and Performance Requirements sections are quite demanding. All sunglasses sold in Australia must comply with the standard.

In 2003 a revised sunglass standard AS/NZS 1067:2003: 'Sunglasses and Fashion Spectacles' was released. The new standard defines five categories of lenses:

The new lens categories are:

·         0 Fashion spectacles that are not sunglasses and provide very low reduction in sunglare with some UV protection

·         1 Fashion spectacles that are not sunglasses and provide a limited reduction in sunglare with some UV protection

·         2 Sunglasses that provide a medium level protection against sunglare with good UV protection

·         3 Sunglasses that provide a high level of protection against sunglare with good UV protection

·         4 Sunglasses for special purposes that provide a very high level of protection against sunglare with good UV protection

 

All sunglasses sold in Australia must be labelled to indicate which AS/NZS 1067:2003 category they comply with to provide consumers with the necessary information to select the correct sunglasses or fashion spectacles depending on their intended use.

For best protection choose wraparound sunglasses to reduce the amount of UVR entering from the sides. Non-wraparound designs allow UVR to enter from the sides reducing protection to the eyes even though the lenses themselves may provide 100% UVR protection.

Sunglasses that provide excellent protection need not be expensive; the price of the sunglasses should not be used to gauge the quality of the lenses in respect to protection from UVR. Low cost sunglasses, which comply with the sunglass standard, may also provide excellent protection against UVR.

 

 

Summary

Look for the following points when purchasing good quality sunglasses.

·         The sunglasses are actually general or specific purpose sunglasses and not fashion spectacles.

·         The sunglasses carry a label that indicates they comply with or exceed the requirements of AS 1067 or are rated EPF 10.

·         The sunglasses absorb more than 95% UVR (or transmit less than 5% UVR). Some sunglasses may even provide 99% or greater UVR absorption.

·         If the sunglasses are to be used while driving, then colours should still be easily recognized when viewed through the lens.

 

 

WHY SHOULD I BUY POLARIZED LENS GLASSES?

Answer ;

The polarized lenses help reduce glare, which can be a real problem in water sports and many other outdoor activities.

Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as the surface of a lake or the hood of a car. They accomplish this feat through a process called polarization, much like a venetian blind controls sunlight through a window.

A fisherman wearing polarized sunglasses can see below the surface of the water to search for schools of fish or hidden obstacles. Drivers are no longer affected by a constant reflection of light from their hoods or the road ahead.

There are some limitations to the use of polarized lenses, however. Some drivers discover that polarized lenses can often make it tough or impossible to see liquid crystal displays (LCD’s) found on the dashboards of cars, ATMS and others.

Also, skiers generally should not use them because they make it harder to see contrast -- bumps -- in the snow.