At Flatrock Surf, we only swap the steamer for a wetsuit top or a springsuit once the water is 20°C or warmer. Below 20°C, neither is enough and you want a 3/2mm steamer. From 20 to 21°C you're right on the changeover, so a top or springsuit works, and a 3/2mm steamer is still the call on a windy morning or if you feel the cold. From 21 to 25°C, a 1.5mm wetsuit top or a springsuit is plenty, and above 25°C a top is all you'd add, if anything. Between the two, pick a springsuit if you want your body and the tops of your legs covered in one piece, and a top if you'd rather wear your own boardshorts.
That's the short version. Below is the chart we use, what summer water actually looks like around Australia, and how to choose between the two once you're in top-or-springsuit territory.
Wetsuit top or springsuit: what does the water temperature say?
Match the suit to the coldest water you'll surf, not the warmest day of the summer.
| Water temp (°C) | Top or springsuit? | What we'd wear |
|---|---|---|
| Below 14°C | Neither | 4/3mm steamer with boots (below 11°C, a 5/4mm or thicker with a hood, boots and gloves) |
| 14 to 20°C | Neither | 3/2mm steamer |
| 20 to 21°C | Either, if you run warm | 1.5mm wetsuit top or springsuit, or a 3/2mm steamer if it's windy, early or you feel the cold |
| 21 to 25°C | Either | 1.5mm wetsuit top or springsuit |
| Above 25°C | A top, if anything | Boardshorts, or a 1.5mm wetsuit top for wind and sun |
On our chart, the wetsuit top and the springsuit sit in the same band: 20°C and above. The water temperature tells you when to put the steamer away. It doesn't pick between the top and the springsuit for you. That comes down to what you want covered, which we get to below.
Is Australian summer water warm enough for a top or springsuit?
In Sydney, on the Gold Coast and in Perth, yes. In Victoria and Tasmania, no. Going by seatemperature.org's long-term monthly averages for December to February, as of spring 2026:
- Sydney, NSW: 22.2 to 23.7°C. A 1.5mm wetsuit top or a springsuit. November averages 20.5°C, so that's the month the steamer comes off.
- Gold Coast, QLD: 25.5 to 27.2°C. A top, if anything. Most days this is boardshorts water.
- Perth, WA: 20.7 to 22.6°C. A top or springsuit. December, at 20.7°C, is within a degree of the line, so pack the steamer for early starts.
- Margaret River, WA: 19.7 to 21.6°C. December averages 19.7°C, which is still 3/2mm steamer water. January (20.8°C) and February (21.6°C) are on the changeover, so it's a judgement call.
- Torquay, VIC: 16.8 to 18.3°C. Neither. A 3/2mm steamer all summer.
- Hobart, TAS: 15.9 to 16.9°C. Neither. A 3/2mm steamer all summer.
For the full year in each spot, see our guide to which wetsuit thickness is best for Australia, or the month-by-month wetsuit guide.
What's the difference between a wetsuit top and a springsuit?
- Springsuit: a one-piece wetsuit with short legs, and short or long sleeves. There's no join at the waist, because it's all one suit.
- Wetsuit top: just the top half. You wear it over your boardshorts, so your legs are as covered or as free as your boardies make them.
Wind, a dawn patrol and a long sesh all make the water feel colder than the number says. If you're sitting within a degree of 20°C, lean warm if you feel the cold.
When should you pick a springsuit, and when a top?
- Pick a springsuit if you want the tops of your legs covered as well as your body, and you like one piece of gear with no gap at the waist.
- Pick a top if you want to keep surfing in your own boardshorts, keep your legs completely free, and have something light to throw on when a rashie isn't quite enough.
- Pick neither if your water is under 20°C. That's 3/2mm steamer water, even in summer, and in Torquay and Hobart it stays that way all season.
Our guide to what to wear in 20°C+ water goes through the springsuit, the top and the steamer one by one.
Which Flatrock Surf wetsuit fits an Australian summer?
We don't make a springsuit, so if that's your pick, you'll need to look elsewhere. We'd rather say so than sell you the wrong suit. What we do make for warm water is the Men's 1.5mm Wetsuit Top V2, which goes over boardshorts on the days a steamer is too much and a rashie isn't enough. Our tops come in S, M and L.
If your summer water sits under 20°C, or you surf at first light, the Men's 3/2mm Steamer V3 is made for water between 14 and 20°C, with a 3mm core and 2mm arms and legs.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wear a wetsuit top or a springsuit in 22 degree water?
Either works. Flatrock Surf's chart puts 22°C water in the 20°C-and-above band, where a 1.5mm wetsuit top or a springsuit is enough. Choose a springsuit for one-piece coverage with short legs, or a top if you want to wear your own boardshorts.
Is 20 degree water warm enough for a springsuit?
Just. Flatrock Surf's chart starts the top and springsuit band at 20°C, so 20°C is the changeover. If it's windy, early or you feel the cold, a 3/2mm steamer is the warmer choice.
Do I need a wetsuit in an Australian summer?
It depends where you surf. Summer averages run from 22.2 to 23.7°C in Sydney and 25.5 to 27.2°C on the Gold Coast, so a top or springsuit, or just boardshorts on the warmest days. In Torquay (16.8 to 18.3°C) and Hobart (15.9 to 16.9°C), you still need a 3/2mm steamer.
Does Flatrock Surf make a springsuit?
No. Flatrock Surf makes the Men's 1.5mm Wetsuit Top V2 for water of 20°C and above, and the Men's 3/2mm Steamer V3 for 14 to 20°C.
Sources: summer water temperatures from seatemperature.org (Sydney, Gold Coast, Perth, Margaret River, Torquay, Hobart), monthly averages derived from many years of historical sea surface temperature data, checked October 2026. Thickness bands and suit specs from our FAQ and product pages.
