LOOSE / Style guides / surf style guide
style guide · surf
Surf style guide: function first, then flex
Good surf style starts with gear that works in the water. Once that's sorted, the rest is salt-faded and lived-in. Here's how to build it without looking like a catalog.
In the water: match the suit to the temperature
Wetsuit brands publish similar rules of thumb. These ranges are compiled from the brand guides linked below. Treat them as a starting point, then go thicker if it's windy, your sessions are long, or you run cold.
| Water temp | Typical setup |
|---|---|
| Warm (roughly 70°F / 21°C+) | Boardshorts or bikini, plus a rash vest or surf tee for sun |
| About 59–65°F (15–18°C) | 3/2 mm full suit, the everyday cool-water suit |
| About 52–58°F (11–14°C) | 4/3 mm with sealed/taped seams, and booties as it drops |
| About 45–51°F (7–10°C) | 5/4 mm hooded suit, booties and gloves |
Southern California runs warm in late summer and cold in spring. Portugal's Atlantic stays cooler than most people pack for. Check local water temps and see our Lisbon and Huntington Beach guides.
Boardshorts that work
- Length: they should sit just above the knee so they don't bunch when you pop up.
- Fly: a lace-up fly with a key loop or pocket stays put better than an elastic waist.
- Fabric: quick-dry stretch with no cotton.
Out of the water: the post-surf uniform
- A changing poncho or towel robe: practical and very much part of the look.
- A heavyweight hoodie or a sherpa/corduroy jacket for dawn patrol car parks.
- Worn-in tees and walk shorts in faded, sun-washed colors. Thrifted beats new.
- Sandals or slip-on canvas shoes you don't mind getting sandy.
- A cap or beanie, plus a reef-friendlier sunscreen.
Make it yours
Keep the basics plain and add one personal thing: a shaper's tee, a local surf shop hoodie, a hand-painted fin. Surf style rewards things that look like they've lived through some sessions.
On LOOSE (demo): in the app you tap a surfer mid-wave to freeze the clip and see what they're wearing. Everything in the demo is fictional sample data, and no purchases happen.
Like this style guide? Meet riders like you.
LOOSE is a community marketplace for surf, skate, BMX and punk. Get matched with riders worldwide by shared interests, buy and sell gear and merch, book lessons and local guiding, and team up on collabs that split earnings. No follower counts, no endless feed. It's in early access: the app is a demo with fictional sample riders and no real payments.
Free early access. No spam. Privacy.
Keep exploring
Sources
Facts on this page come from these public sources (checked Oct 2026). The wording is our own.