polar socks

Plain English — your first wetsuit

Why it feels tight: on dry land a right-size wetsuit feels firmly snug — like a handshake everywhere. In the water it eases and disappears. It’s only too small if you can’t breathe deeply or raise your arms overhead.

What buoyancy means: built-in float. This suit lifts your hips and legs so you stop dragging them — for most first-timers that’s worth more than months of training.

Putting it on: dry skin, go slow, and use fingertip pads — never nails. Nail nicks are the #1 wetsuit injury.