Swimming trunks, beach, long hair - that sounds like hang loose. Protective clothing somehow doesn't fit the classic cliché of a surfer. No rock-hard slopes made of ice or earth - no ramps made of concrete or plastic. Just water and wind and pure freedom. But water can be pretty tough. You realise this when you try your first front loop, which often ends up flat on your back. Or during a catapult at full speed, where you splash across the water like a stone.
And then there's the second major source of danger, which everyone immediately has a lot more respect for. You don't want to come into uncontrolled contact with them in the first place: large, hard carbon or aluminium parts, razor-sharp fins - and now even the foils.
In addition, the manoeuvres are becoming ever more radical, the boards and sails ever faster. It is probably a combination of these developments that is leading more and more windsurfers to turn to protective clothing.
Market overview of protectors for windsurfers
We would like to give you a brief overview and a few explanations and tips on how and with what you can best protect yourself on the water these days. However, we will leave helmets out of this. That's too big a separate topic in itself. We have already tested and presented various helmets in the past.
Some people will probably wave it off, skip the topic and stick to the classic swimming trunks feeling - and that's fine, because this is generally just about self-protection. Everyone has to weigh that up for themselves.
The majority of professional skateboarders perform risky manoeuvres without helmets or protectors, jumping over wooden or concrete ramps. Quite normal for skating. But a mountain biker without a helmet - even on the easiest trail? Unimaginable! How will this develop in windsurfing? Will helmets and impact protection become fully established? Or will the cliché of light-heartedness, ease and freedom in windsurfing - similar to skating - continue to prevail?
1. impact protection waistcoats
Impact protection waistcoats are offered by many manufacturers in water sports. The main purpose of the padded waistcoats is to protect the torso and especially the ribcage (ribs) from rough impacts. Whether it is the surface of the water, the material or the sand that acts on the body at the moment of impact: Anyone who has ever suffered a slight rib contusion knows how unpleasant the days or weeks following such an impact can be. Laughing and sneezing become torture - uncontrolled movements on the water are then usually out of the question. An impact protection waistcoat does not offer 100 per cent protection here - but it minimises the risk of serious injury enormously.
There are generally different variants on the market: waistcoats with and without zips or with different padding. Impact protection waistcoats that are padded in the entire torso area are referred to as "full padded". Waistcoats where the padding is limited to the upper torso area are usually marketed under the label "half padded". The half-padded version is more suitable for windsurfers, as the padding on the stomach and lower back can otherwise cause it to bunch up under the harness strap. In addition, the shell of the harness already protects the lower back quite well. Depending on the model and manufacturer, the price range is approximately between 80 and 150 euros. For example, the Prolimit Mercury waistcoat is available at Amazon for 150 euros.
surf tip protector waistcoat:
A waistcoat with a zip is much easier to put on and take off. It should always be fairly tight around the body so that it doesn't ride up in the event of a fall. Pulling a tight waistcoat without a zip over your wetsuit on your own can be a sweat-inducing task.
In additionIn addition to the protective function, impact protection waistcoats offer enormous additional benefits in terms of thermal insulation in the cold season, without noticeably restricting freedom of movement. Regardless of the wetsuit used, you can push your personal cold limit down a few degrees with a waistcoat - just give it a try!
Important noteEven if impact vests offer some buoyancy, in most cases they are not officially approved as life jackets. Most manufacturers also label this extra large on the inside of the waistcoats - and this should definitely be noted.
2nd protector trousers: Ball Slapper shorts for men
ION markets the padded boxer shorts as impact protection for wearing under the
under the wetsuit. The thick trousers are particularly useful when practising jumps. Then you don't have to worry so much about the impact of an unsuccessful landing in the air, where you often hit your bum or even your crown jewels. The price for the shorts is 54.99 euros >> e.g. available here.
surf tip: Especially recommended in warm water areas, where you might only be surfing in board shorts for a change. If you are used to the 5mm neo as a standard protective layer and then suddenly underrotate the first speed loop with board shorts, you will definitely want an (invisible) protective layer the next time you try it.
Alternative: An old, padded pair of cycling shorts should also fulfil the
fulfil the purpose. However, they may not look as cool without neoprene, as the waistband is usually
is usually cut higher.
3. impact wetsuits
Who doesn't know it? The legendary, striking blue shorty from Philip Köster in Pozo? An impact suit specially designed for windsurfing. Even though Köster usually does almost all his rotations dry, you never really see him without his padded wetsuit. Severne no longer offers the successor (Impact V2) in the chic "Köster blue", but also in 3/2mm with long arms and legs.
Although the Impact Suit was originally developed specifically for Philips Triple Loop training, any amateur looper should also benefit from the all-round pads in the event of an unsuccessful landing.
surf tip: The thickness of just 3/2mm may put some North and Baltic Sea surfers off. However, an impact suit feels thicker overall thanks to the padding - and is at least as warm as a normal 4mm wetsuit.
Forward WIP, a brand that specialises in protective clothing for water sports enthusiasts, also has a neo with integrated protectors on the market with the Steamer MK2. This is available in 5/4mm. We have already tested it and found it to be very good: Although you are not invulnerable even with integrated pads, the Steamer MK2 protects some vulnerable areas particularly well. Apart from that, the warm and flexible neo leaves nothing else to be desired.
You can find the entire test about the Forward WIP here here->
The padded Neos are not much more expensive: at Severne you pay between 250 and 380 euros depending on arm and leg length, the MK2 costs 349.99 euros. Info is available here->
In additionImpact wetsuits have also become established in surfing in recent years, especially in the big wave sector. Many manufacturers - such as Patagonia or Vissla - offer padded wetsuits in different variations. The only problem, as with the "full padded" impact wetsuits, is that there is usually not enough room for the harness strap.
4. protector trousers
Protective trousers for wearing underneath are offered by numerous manufacturers from various action sports sectors. The one shown here is from Body Glove, an American manufacturer specialising in water sports clothing. The particularly lightweight foam pads are designed to provide good protection for the entire thigh and coccyx area. The price for the padded trousers made of mesh material is 79.95 euros>> available here.
surf tip: If you don't want to buy a special impact wetsuit, but only want to pad yourself now and again during a particularly extreme session - such as the first attempts at a new manoeuvre - you can put together a modular impact suit from a normal wetsuit (or shorty) plus impact protection waistcoat and protector trousers.
The neo should not be too tight so that the protector trousers fit well underneath. The impact vest can also be worn under the wetsuit if it is wide enough. Then you almost look like Köster and Campello.
5. shin guards
Foil: ION's shin guards protect you against the sharp edges. Whether it's just a cut from kicking off during a water start - or a real crash on the foil: the new robust Curv material, a composite material (polypropylene) woven into fibres and pressed into layers, is designed to adapt well to the shin and protect against sharp objects. Price: 39.99 euros
