Short, Regular or Tall Wetsuit? Compare the Measurement Rows

A wetsuit marked medium short is not simply a regular medium with permission to cut the sleeves. Short, regular and tall labels describe choices within a manufacturer’s sizing system. For snorkeling, start with the current chart for the exact garment and compare all the requested measurements before deciding which version to try.

Translate the maker’s label, then read its chart

O’Neill Australia’s FAQ explains MS as Medium Short and describes specialty sizes such as MT, LS and LT. It also cautions that being around six feet tall does not automatically mean choosing a tall suit. This is an explanation of that maker’s system, not a cross-brand size conversion.

Patagonia’s wetsuit chart explicitly warns that sizing has been updated and may differ from past-season products; not every displayed size is offered. The useful lesson is to match the garment generation as well as the brand.

Make a measurement record before comparing offers

• Identify the model, garment category, season or revision and regional chart.
• Use the chart’s own measuring directions and record the units beside each requested measurement.
• Enter your measurements next to the candidate size ranges; mark any row that falls outside or across a boundary.
• Ask which measurements the manufacturer prioritizes when the rows point to different sizes.

Do not silently replace an unavailable short size with a larger regular size. That changes more than length and needs a fresh fitting discussion. Equally, a size previously worn in a different thickness or product range is a useful reference, not confirmation of the current fit.

Turn a borderline chart into a focused fitting question

Send the supplier the relevant chart version and the conflicting rows through a suitable private channel. Ask which documented option to try and what an acceptable fitting assessment involves. Avoid posting body measurements or personal photographs in public comments. A fitting appointment can resolve questions that a product silhouette cannot.

Before buying remotely, clarify whether a clean, unused suit may be tried on and what condition is required for an exchange. Record whether short or tall sizes are actually offered in the selected model. A chart can describe a range without establishing today’s availability.

Ask for an identified garment

Use the TRIMIX buying guide to organize an inquiry, then ask about the actual wetsuit model and its current size chart. Include the sizing conflict you need resolved. These examples establish neither a listed TRIMIX wetsuit nor a personal fit, and this guide gives no alteration instructions or individual thermal recommendation.

Evergreen equipment guide checked November 2, 2026. The linked source pages are undated unless a printed revision is stated above; current availability is not established by this guide. Manufacturer descriptions are documentation examples, not TRIMIX hands-on tests or guarantees of personal suitability.