Scott Arderne

Scott Arderne

How to Choose the Right Size Wetsuit

What Makes a Good Fit For A wetsuit?

Your new Buell wetsuit should feel like a 2nd skin. Like it's part of your body. Obviously a wetsuit should fit tight. The only question is tight, or tiiiiiggght? 

Quick answer? If you are between two wetsuit sizes on the size chart below, decide if warmth or ease-of-entry is more important to you.

For warmth go with the smaller size.

To make it easy to get into, go with the larger size.


Buell Surf Wetsuit Size Charts


Wetsuit Size Chart - Metric Sizes

  • MENS
  • WOMENS
  • JUNIOR
  • KIDS
MENS XS SM ST MS M ML MT

HEIGHT

171 - 175

174 - 179

183 - 188

171-177

175 - 180

175-180

187 - 192

WEIGHT

57 - 64

61 - 70

66 - 75

66 - 75

70 - 77

75-82

75 - 84

MENS LS L LT XLS XL XLT XXL

HEIGHT

170 - 178

178 - 183

188-193

174 - 179

180 - 185

188-193

185-190

WEIGHT

73 - 82

77 - 86

82-95

82 - 91

86 - 95

91-102

95-104

 

WOMENS W4 W6 W6T W8 W8T W10 W12

HEIGHT

163 - 166

165 - 170

165 - 173

170-175

170-177

173-180

180-185

WEIGHT

48 -57

52-61

52 -61

61-70

61-70

145-165

155-175

 

JUNIORS J4 J6 J8 J10 J12 J14 J16

HEIGHT

122-137

132-142

137-147

142-152

147-157

152-163

163-170

WEIGHT

45-60

55-70

65-80

75-90

85-105

95-120

120-135

 

KIDS T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

HEIGHT

84-92

92-99

99-107

107-114

114-122

WEIGHT

25-30

30-35

35-40

40-50

50-60

Wetsuit Size Chart - US Sizes

MENS XS SM ST MS M ML MT

HEIGHT

5’7.5” - 5’9.5”

5’8.5” - 5’10.5”

6’ - 6’2”

5’7.5”-5’9.5”

5’9” - 5’11”

5’9”-5’11”

6’1.5” - 6’3.5”

WEIGHT

125 - 140

135 - 155

145 - 165

145 - 165

155 - 170

165-180

165 - 185

MENS LS L LT XLS XL XLT XXL

HEIGHT

5’7” - 5’10”

5’10” - 6’

6’2”-6’4”

5’8.5” - 5’10.5”

5’11” - 6’1”

6’2”-6’4”

6’1”-6’3”

WEIGHT

160 - 180

170 - 190

180-210

180 - 200

190 - 210

200-225

210-230


WOMENS W4 W6 W6T W8 W8T W10 W12

HEIGHT

5’4” - 5’6”

5’5” - 5’7”

5’5” - 5’8”

5’7”-5’9”

5’7”-5’10”

5’8”-5’11”

5’11”-6’1”

WEIGHT

105 -125

115-135

115 -135

135-155

120 - 135

145-165

155-175

JUNIORS J4 J6 J8 J10 J12 J14 J16

HEIGHT

4’0”-4’6”

4’4”-4’8”

4’6”-4’10”

4’8”-5’0”

4’10”-5’2”

5’0”-5’4”

5’4”-5’7”

WEIGHT

45-60

55-70

65-80

75-90

85-105

95-120

120-135

KIDS T1 T2 T3 T4 T5

HEIGHT

2’9”-3’0”

3’0”-3’3”

3’3”-3’6”

3’6”-3’9”

3’9”-4’0”

WEIGHT

25-30

30-35

35-40

40-50

50-60


What makes wetsuit fit and perform great?

A good fit includes:

  • No bunching or "rolls" in the back, behind the knees, or in the elbows
  • No gaps around the neck
  • No "balloons" of water around the lower leg when you get out of the surf

Can You Handle Thick and Super-Tight?

Warmth Wins For Winter Wetsuits: Your 5mm toaster should fit like a glove

You will always stay warmer in a thicker, tighter wetsuit. For example, our RB2 full suit at 5MM thick, with a slant zip entry, is designed to stop water flushes in extreme conditions. You may be getting smashed by the 29th wave of a Mid-Winter-Vic set, but you’ll still be warm. 

Here’s the rub: There's a bit of a learning curve when it comes to getting into a suit like this. Minor contortionist skills and strong arms will help too. Everything that makes this suit super-warm: sealed seams, thick neoprene, small entry, all make it harder to get into. It’’s not impossible to don, it just takes a bit more work.


Flexibility Wins For Summer Wetsuits: Wiggle Room in a 2mm

If you’re surfing in warmer waters like The Gold Coast, maybe you don't surf too often, and you are not as flexible as you used to be, a wetsuit like the 2MM RBZ Stealth Mode with a back zipper may be perfect. With practice you can get into a looser-fitting 2MM in under 30 seconds. Suits like these are awesome for some extra warmth, sun protection, and an added layer between you and the wax.


Choosing the Right Size Wetsuit for Kids:

Little Kids Wetsuit Sizes - 3-7-Year-Olds

Little kids don’t feel the cold. Buy the bigger size. After you just spent 20 minutes looking for a parking spot, the last thing you want to do is struggle with getting their wetsuit on. They’ll be stoked on the looser suit while they charge around the shore break and dig in the sand. You really just want to keep the sun off of them and have a bit of padding for when they eat it on their skim board.


Junior Wetsuit Sizes - 8-14-Year-Olds

Once your kids are bigger and are ripping properly, give their old suit to their younger sibling and get them into a suit that fits tight and right.  

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