The Complete Handbook of Wetsuit Tops

Chapter 1: Understanding Wetsuit Tops

In its most basic form, a wetsuit top is a close-fitting garment made of neoprene foam, worn on the torso and arms, designed to keep its wearer warm in water cooler than body temperature. It is distinct from a wetsuit jacket because a top is not always part of a full suit, and it is distinct from a drysuit because it does not keep water out. The top intentionally lets a thin layer of water in between the neoprene and your skin. This is not a design flaw; it is the core of how the garment works. Your body warms that trapped layer of water, and the neoprene foam acts as an insulator to keep that warmed water from pulling heat back out away from you.

You need one when the water is too cold for comfort and you do not want to commit to a full wetsuit. For example, a swim coach standing on a pool deck with a safety line in hand does not need a full suit. A short-sleeved wetsuit vest worn under a windbreaker is enough to keep the chill off during the teaching day. A kayak guide in a warm climate who primarily needs sun protection and a thin layer of thermal buffer is another. Scuba divers in tropical climates often wear a single-ply long-sleeve top underneath a shorty wetsuit, or even by itself for longer surface intervals. Commercial workers, such as salvage crews and underwater photographers, may wear a