When you’re wetsuit shopping and looking at neoprene thickness and different styles, something you may not even notice or think about are the seams of the suit. Yep, the stuff that holds it all together. Your wetsuit’s seams are actually pretty important and can make a difference in how comfortable and warm you are on your dive.

Let’s begin with the most common stitches you’ll see––flatlock seams and glued and blindstiched seams. Flatlock seams are stitches that lie flat on the suit so that they make the suit more comfortable, but the downside is that they are not watertight, so the warm water in your suit may seep out or cold water may sneak in. This won’t be a huge deal if you’re diving in warmer waters, but a flatlock stitch would possibly make your cold water dives less comfortable. Glued and blindstitched seams use two methods of connection for a more watertight stitch. They are glued together first, then threaded on the inside. This causes them to hold more warm water in, though they do tend to give in to wear and tear a bit more than other types of seams do.

If you’re cold water diving and looking for watertightness to the max, the most watertight seams are taped seams, whether with liquid tape or neoprene tape. Neoprene tape tends to be more flexible and durable than liquid tape, but with either one, you’ll feel completely secure that your seams won’t leak water. So, pay attention to the types of seams the suits you’re shopping for have. You’ll be surprised by what a difference they may make.