Wetsuits aren't as complicated and high-tech as the wetsuit manufacturing companies would like us to believe. They are essentially just rubber panels that have been sewn together to form a garment designed to trap a layer of water against the skin to insulate the wearer from the cold. Simple, right?

    So what's with all the high-tech mumbo-jumbo that you see in the glossy pamphlets and magazine ads? Features. Wetsuit companies are competing hard for your dollar, and even the most simple features have names that sound like something from the Space Shuttle or a stealth bomber.

    Generally speaking, with wetsuits, the more you pay, the more features you get, the thicker the suit, and the 'better' the suit is able to insulate. Whether or not a given feature is worth the price increase is totally subjective. Prices for wetsuits vary widely, from as little as $100 to close to $400(in American dollars in Santa Barbara).

    All that aside, the single most important feature is how the suit fits. If the suit is too tight, you won't be able to paddle or move or breathe. It will only get worse as the suit ages and shrinks and stiffens, and the additional stress on the suit will wear out the seams. If the suit is too loose, you'll be carrying 50 gallons of water around with you and getting pinched by all the folds of rubber.