How to Choose your Wetsuit for Surfing

Melo Surf and Yoga
Nov 30, 2025
2 min read

Choosing the right wetsuit can make or break your surf session — especially here on the Moroccan coast, where temperatures shift with the seasons and early mornings can feel completely different from sunny midday peaks. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most common wetsuit types, their ideal conditions, and how to decide which one you actually need.

Whether you’re surfing your very first green waves or already chasing your progression, the goal is simple: stay warm, stay comfortable, and stay out in the water longer. Here's how to choose the best wetsuit for surfing.

The Different Types of Wetsuits for Surfing

Before diving into thickness and details, here’s a quick overview of the main wetsuit styles you’ll see in the lineup:

Full Suit

A wetsuit with long legs and long sleeves.Perfect for colder water or windy sessions.

Typical thickness: 3/2 mm or 4/3 mm (sometimes thicker depending on climate).

Spring Suit

A lightweight suit for warmer days.Can be:– long arms + short legs– short arms + long legs– or short arms + short legs

Typical thickness: 2 mm.

Shorty

Short arms and short legs — your go-to for summer or tropical water.

Typical thickness: 2 mm.

Wetsuit Thickness (mm) — What It Means

Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimetres and always displayed like this: 3/2, 4/3, etc.

The first number = thickness around your core (keeps you warm).
The second number = thickness around your arms and legs (keeps more mobility).

More thickness = more warmth, but also less flexibility.

Which Wetsuit for Which Water temperature?

Here’s a simple guide:

18–22°C: 2 mm (spring suit or shorty)
15–18°C: 3/2 full suit
12–15°C: 4/3 full suit
Below 12°C: 5/4 and hooded options (not common here in Morocco)

In Morocco, most of the year you’ll be comfortable in a 3/2 full suit, with occasional colder weeks where a 4/3 feels better — especially early mornings, sunset or strong wind days.

Fit Matters More Than Anything

A wetsuit should fit like a second skin:

No loose areas around the lower back, armpits or shoulders.
No air pockets.
Snug but not cutting off your breathing.
You should be able to move your arms comfortably for paddling.

If water flushes into the suit, you’ll get cold quickly — even in a thick suit.

Zipper Types – Small Detail, Big Difference

Front Zip (Chest Zip)

Warm, flexible, less flushing. Great for most surfers.

Back Zip

Easy to put on, especially for beginners. Slightly more flushing.

No Zip (Zipless)

Super warm, flexible, almost no flushing, but harder to get into.

The Extra Details That Matter

Seams: Glued & blind-stitched seams keep you much warmer than flatlock stitching.
Knee Pads: Helpful for beginners spending more time learning pop-ups.
Lining: Thermal lining adds warmth without adding thickness.

Our Melo Recommendation

When you join us in Morocco, we usually recommend:

Autumn–Spring: 3/2 mm full suit
Early mornings in winter or windy days: 4/3 mm
Summer: 2 mm spring suit or shorty

If you already own a wetsuit and don’t know whether to bring it — send us a message anytime. We’re happy to help you choose the right one.