A drysuit is primarily designed to keep you dry and warm. It offers a full body coverage keeping the water from coming into contact with your skin thus making your stay, deep in the waters, comfortable.

Besides the undergarments on the body, you also need to cover the head, feet, and hands since these usually aren’t covered by the drysuit. The following is a detailed discussion on what to wear underneath your drysuit.

Body Undergarments

Of the two main types of drysuits (Neoprene & Trilaminate), neoprene is very thick and waterproof hence may not require undergarments.

Trilaminate designs are usually thin and lightweight. The materials from which they are made hardly provide warmth on their own hence additional undergarments are required to improve warmth and comfort.

The most common types of underwear include layers of wool and synthetic layers.

The Head

First, you need a hood with a perfect fit then an undergarment for it. The undergarment can be made from neoprene or fleece to make the head warmer. The head is the most important part of the body when it comes to insulating your body from the cold.

The Hands

To keep your hands warm and functional, you need warm gloves or mittens over your hands.

The Feet

For your feet, you will need good quality neoprene socks and the appropriate boots for your dive.

Drysuit Undersuits

Drysuit undersuits are clothes that are specifically created to be worn underneath drysuits. Just like the other undergarments, they offer thermal protection when you go under. They achieve this by trapping air and maintaining body heat. Undersuits range from one-piece, two-piece, traditional duvet-like onesies, and skin-tight garments made of synthetic materials.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Drysuit Undergarments

The Water Temperature

The temperature of the water you’re to dive in, coupled with winds and the rain will determine how many layers and thickness of undergarments you’ll be needing when you dive into the water. Don’t be mistaken into thinking if the air is warm the water will automatically be warm since it rarely works that way.

Your body’s response to temperature

Different people respond differently to temperature with some being more sensitive than others. Depending on how responsive you are to temperature, you should find the right type and amount of undergarment.

With these aspects in mind, you should find yourself the right type and thickness of drysuit undergarments.

Material Considerations

Wool

Wool, while a good insulator of heat, takes too long to dry. If you stay with sweat or water on your body for too long underwater, you will feel cold. As such, avoid using woolen undergarments with your drysuit.

Cotton

Cotton has one of the worst heat insulation properties when wet. When you sweat or some water seeps into the drysuit, a cotton undergarment won’t do much to keep you warm.

Synthetic Materials

Synthetic materials do great to retain heat both when you’re dry and wet. As such, consider using synthetic materials to go with your drysuit. Such materials include neoprene and others.

Use Multiple Layers

Multiple thin layers of a material offer better warmth than one thick layer. You should thus opt for light and manageable layers of fleece, synthetic materials and other favorable ones rather than going for a single thick one. Keep in mind that too many layers can also lead to overheating. When it comes to layering garments for your drysuit, you have the base layer against your skin, the mid layer which is the thickest, and the outer layer which can be the drysuit. Pick the right materials to keep warm. Also remember that you should put on undergarments in line with the temperature of the water not that of the air.

Drysuit Considerations

The aspects to consider about your drysuit include the following:

Breathability

Generally speaking, a breathable drysuit is better than a non-breathable one when it comes to retaining heat. If it’s not breathable, the sweat that soaks up in the undergarments won’t have a way to escape and keep the undergarments dry.

The result is that you’ll have sweaty and uncomfortable undergarments. Even worse, the sweat will cool down and make you cold.  At the same time, if you stay wet from your own perspiration, it can lead to condition referred to as hypothermia.