Have you ever watched one of those shows with surfers riding the waves or been to the beach and seen the surfers with their surfboards? If there’s one thing unanimous about these surfers both on TV and on the beach, it’s the color of their outfit — black. You see, neither the black wetsuit is a coincidence nor is it a dress code for surfers; there’s a good reason behind it.
Surfers wear black wetsuits primarily to regulate temperature while surfing. Black wetsuits help absorb more heat. These wetsuits also protect surfers from UV rays and underwater predators.
There are a couple of other reasons which are also just as important to wear a black wetsuit when going surfing. This article explains in detail the reasons why surfers wear black suits. Keep reading.
Reasons Surfers Wear Black Wetsuits
It’s understandable if you have mistaken black wetsuits for the dress code for surfers. But now that you know that’s not the case, you may wonder if there’s a reason for this. What difference does it make wearing a black wetsuit and wearing another color when surfing?
Black Wetsuits Protect Surfers From Harmful UV Rays
Surfers wear black for the same reason you splash on a ton of sunscreen when you’re out in the open sun or on the beach on vacation.
Spending long hours under the sun naturally takes its toll on your skin, taking in a lot of very harmful UV rays. Even though you’re constantly being splashed by cold, refreshing water while surfing, the chances of suffering long-term consequences from overexposure are very high, and it has detrimental effects on your health.
Wetsuits usually come in a milky white color, thanks to neoprene. Carbon black, which is responsible for the black color, is intentionally added to increase its strength and UV rays.
Although black clothing is primarily associated with causing lots of heat, black wetsuits do surfers more benefit in absorbing light instead of reflecting it. This advantage of black wetsuits also helps unprotected areas like the skin, face, and feet.
It Is Safer To Wear Black Wetsuits While Surfing
If you’re a surfer, you know that you’ll likely be getting into the water a lot. You may also get hit by a heavy wave and lose your board. You might take a few minutes to get your board back and start surfing again. It also means that you’ll spend a couple of seconds in the water from time to time.
Black wetsuits are recommended to surfers because they provide them with a safer cover than other bright-colored or flashy-colored wetsuits. Novice or beginner-level surfers are also advised to use black wetsuits when starting out surfing to avoid extra attention from the ocean dwellers and blend in more efficiently.
While surfing is usually done in shark-free zones, there have been casualty cases of surfers in the ocean or open sea. Certain fishes like sharks see in monochrome, meaning contrast matters to stay hidden from these underwater predators.
While black still gives a contrast compared to the color of the water, you stand a higher chance of blending in if you wear black rather than a flashy colored yellow or red that screams “Hey! I’m underwater,” which no surfer wants.
For example, in murky waters, a black wetsuit is your best bet to blend in and stay out of the sight of underwater predators. At the same time, you might not need to worry about this in safe surf zones; it’s still great to play it smart in the territory.
Another reason you might want to wear a black wetsuit, which is for beginners, helps you blend in better. If you’re surfing with experts and you have the least experience with the waves, the last thing you want is to stand out too much from the rest of the surfing crowd.
Black Wetsuits Help You Get Better Surf Experience
You might wonder how one piece of clothing helps make your surf game better and boost your overall performance.
Well, here’s the thing: aside from being a piece of clothing that covers you up, wetsuits are specially designed for the actions and reactions associated with surfing. Uniforms, in general, have had a way of boosting overall performance; it’s like dressing for the job.
The concept of better dressing equals better performance has come to play in several fields of which sports like surfing are an example.
This concept is known as enclothed cognition that shapes one’s psychological process concerning a task at hand, and clothing is a vital factor of this concept in many scenarios. Black, in general, is fantastic, thanks to the movies.
Going out in all black gives a certain kind of confidence; the same goes for a classy black suit or a sexy black dinner dress. In the same way, a black wetsuit makes up the surfer’s arsenal putting them in the right mindset to ride the waves.
Black Wetsuits Last Longer
Wetsuits, in general, are made from rubber known as neoprene due to their elasticity, durability, and comfort. It’s also less likely to cause skin irritations and reactions, which is why many surfers like them.
With frequent exposure to UV rays, varying water temperatures, salt, and other environmental factors, wetsuits are prone to degradation even with a durable material like neoprene.
On the other hand, black wetsuits come with an extra ant-degradation wall that reduces rubber degradation thanks to the carbon black added to the material. Carbon black is not only responsible for its difference in color to neoprene; it also gives it double durability and protection from damage when exposed to sun, water, and other unfavorable environmental factors.
Black Wetsuits Help Surfers Regulate Their Body Temperatures
In surfing, your body temperature matters a lot to your overall performance. A stable body temperature means you can surf your best for longer.
Keeping your body warm is vital for surfers, especially when you’re splashed with water from time to time at varying temperatures. Water also takes the heat out of you faster than air which is not suitable for your surf or health.
Black wetsuits absorb more heat than brighter colored wetsuits that reflect the heat and light away from you. They also help trap more heat to keep you warm and your temperature stable while moving in the water.
Conclusion
Wetsuits are constantly undergoing tweaks and modifications to meet the growing challenges that come with surfing, and picking a wetsuit that protects your body and enhances your performance is a great way to go! Thanks to tried and true methods, black wetsuits are a preferred gear.
