How to choose your wetsuit for Chile
The Humboldt Current keeps the Chilean Pacific cold all year round. Choosing the right wetsuit is not a detail: it decides how long you last in the water and how you paddle. This guide helps you decide in four steps.
1. Start with the water temperature
Before thickness, look at the water temperature where you surf:
- North (Arica–Coquimbo): milder water, especially in summer.
- Central coast (Valparaíso–Maule): approx. 12–17 °C depending on the season.
- South (Biobío–Los Lagos): approx. 10–13 °C, cold all year.
2. Pick the model for that range
| Water temperature | Kuhane wetsuit |
|---|---|
| 8–12 °C | K2H · Kuhane Two Hood: Metallic interior, the thermal feel of a 5 mm, integrated hood |
| 10–14 °C | K1H · Kuhane One Hood: Kumo lining, the thermal feel of a 4/3, integrated hood |
| 10–14 °C | K1 · Kuhane One: the same suit as the K1H, without hood |
3. Thickness: warmth isn't measured only in millimetres
All three models are 3/2 mm Yamamoto #40 neoprene, made from Japanese limestone, not oil. What changes is the interior: the K2H's Metallic lining returns heat to the body and keeps you as warm as a 5 mm; the K1 and K1H's Kumo is an ultra-soft lining that keeps you as warm as a 4/3. Less thickness means more freedom when paddling.
4. Hood or no hood?
- With hood (K2H or K1H): if you surf in winter, in the south or in the wind.
- Without hood (K1): if you want more freedom and surf in the milder months of the range.
5. The right size
A wetsuit should fit like a second skin: no air pockets in the lower back or knees. Kuhane comes in 5 sizes: S, M/S, M, M/T and L. Check the size guide with your height and weight. If it doesn't fit, you can exchange it within 30 days of receipt, unused and in its original packaging.
Details you feel in the water
- Arms Up cut: sleeves set in a raised position for a pull-free paddle.
- Moon Zip: curved YKK chest zip.
- GBS seams: glued and blind-stitched. The K2H adds exterior liquid seal.
- 2-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
FAQ
Can I use the same wetsuit all year on the central coast? Yes. A 3/2 mm with a good interior covers the year; in winter, the hood helps.
K1H or K2H? If the water where you surf drops below 10 °C or you do long winter sessions, the K2H. For 10–14 °C, the K1H.