I'm looking around at wetsuits and know the difference between the two construction methods. I get that flatlock creates little holes along all the seams; what I'm wondering is how much of a difference that makes in the real world. If you had two identical suits, one blind-stitched and glued and the other flatlocked, is one going to be notably warmer than the other? I get that "warmer" is subjective and what's fine for one person might be miserable for another. I seem to see the flatlock mostly in thinner, 3/4mm suits. Thanks for any input/guidance.
How important is blind stitch/glued v. flatlock?
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johndiver999
Contributor
The flatlock stitch leaks a lot. It is definitely not warmer. I think it is most commonly used in 1.5-3 mm suits, which are not that warm anyway, so some additional leakage is not a big deal. I think it may be a stronger method of stitching, but I'm really not sure.
Well, for what it's worth, other family members in their flatlock 3mm suits seem to get colder faster than I do in my blind stitched\glued 3mm suit (water in low 70sF). It varies so much by individual, though, it's hard to tell. As you say, most 3mm suits don't have the blind stitched\glued seams. That makes them less expensive and they will usually be used in warmer water anyway.
A simple solution to leaking seam stitching is to coat seams with wetsuit contact cement. An additional advantage is it prevents threads from unraveling.
Alaskan Scuba Dude
Banned
Understanding the Types of Stitching Used in Scuba Wetsuits
Don't understand the difference between flatlock and blind-stitching to create the seams in a scuba wetsuit? Before buying a new one, get educated.
Wetsuit Stitching: There seams to be more to it.
Often overlooked but certainly the most important aspect of a surfing wetsuit is the seam as it's the major factor in warmth, stretch and comfort: the three main types being Flatlock, Glued and Blindstitch [GBS] and Taped/Welded. This is because a seam has the greatest impact on a suit’s overall...
wetsuitwarehouse.com.au
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