20 Best Wetsuits For Swimming In Cold Water (2023 Updated)

Overall, I’m disappointed with this wetsuit. I initially had issues trying to zip up the suit when first trying on. However, with help from the Cleanline staff I managed to get it zipped without too much hassle before going out yesterday (10/14/21) in north San Diego County.

But the real disappointment arrived when I was out in the water. After about 40 minutes I started to get really cold (and I wasn’t just sitting out there either; did a lot of paddling). The water temp was 60-62, and I have never experienced getting cold that soon at that temp in my old 4/3 Hyperflex.

Folks contemplating buying this suit should be aware that there is no lining on the back of the suit, just on the chest, which I think is a big mistake. While the neoprene is flexible, I would advise against buying it.

There are better wetsuits out there at around the same price point (e. g. , Buell) that do a better job of keeping you warm within the range stated at the top of this page (low 50s-60s).

I like the look and feel of the suit and it was comfortable in terms of warmth but I can’t rate it any higher than two stars because it takes in an absurd amount of water in the lower legs. So much so that it actually affects my surfing.

It’s like having a 20lb weight taped to each leg. I pop up and look like I have horrible swelling from the knees down. Based on the O’Neill sizing chart I bought the right suit. I am at the lower height range for it but it should be fine.

Weight, chest, waist measurements all correct. Also I have big calves and ankles so if anything the suit should be too tight in the legs, instead of too loose. Not sure if I can modify it to take on less water or release water it does take on.

If not, I will have to go to another brand. I grew up wearing O’Neill suits but this one isn’t working out. Bummer.

In Jacksonville, Florida: Fits great, easy to get on and off, doesn’t cause rash, but cold! This basic suit leaks through the cheap seams and doesn’t provide adequate warmth as most of the panels are only 2mm.

It’s basically a leaky (due to seam construction) 2mm suit. This suit is barely a step-up from a cheap springsuit. For most days that a decent 3/2 fullsuit is required, you will be cold in this suit.

For days that a decent 3/2 fullsuit is a little too much, this suit might be perfect.

Positives The neoprene feels really robust when I compare it to my friends suits that seem to rip and tear at the slightest pull. Dries very quickly so no damp suit next day. Easy to get on and off even though tight fitting, the cuffs work really well.

The buoyancy spread really lifts the torso and makes sea swimming much easier. Negatives I still can’t get the seal at the neck to work like my other suits. I still get a fair bit of water down it each swim, I’ve tried all combinations of pulling arms and shoulders up more, or less, tighter or looser neck seal, but it still doesn’t stop the water coming in.

Leaks through the zip. Neck rash. I get it more on this suit than any of my others, even with higher necked surfing suits. Overall a great looking suit that seems so much more robust than other suits, just expect a bit more water in it.

Great warm all round wetsuit bought for son who wears it for wakeboarding, pier jumping and swimming in the cold Scottish water. Bonus is he finds it easier to get into that previous 5/4mm suits hes had in the past.

Great price too! Thank you.

I was looking for a reasonably priced wet suit for some body boarding in Cornwall. This suit was perfect. Sizing was good for Large – 5 ft 11 and 13 st 6 lbs. suit is nice quality and allowed plenty of free movement.

No rubbing on the neck and warm enough to stay in the sea most of the day in September. Very pleased.

Great wetsuit, before and after experience with the integrated hood, water doesn’t enter on the neck when passing a wave! I first used it in Chapadmalal, Argentina with 12 degrees C water and it kept the body temperature perfectly.

Highly recommended. Buenas olas!.

Wetsuit itself seems fine. Easy to get into and out of. Sizing is awkward. I’m a petite 5’1” and although sizing chart puts me between an XS and S, I find the Small way too short in the torso. Tried it in the water to see if it would loosen up, and still not comfortable; very tight on crotch and shoulders.

Going to try a Medium, but worried that legs and arms will be too long.

I have not had an opportunity to test the warmth of this suit but I can speak to the sizing. Because I am short and more apple than pear-shaped, I was worried that a tall would be too long and that a small would not fit my waist.

But the material is very stretchy so it fits well! I have had farmer jane styles in the past and love the versatility. I expect this Canadian made garment will not disappoint once wet.

Perfect fit except too short in crotch area. Very sturdy fabric…looks great!! Enjoyed friendly banger with Mikey. Don’t like having this character counter, though.

When buying the sleeveless you need a good understanding as to what purpose you will use it for. It is great to give those who need a bit more freedom around the shoulders (those with shoulder injuries should seriously consider such a suit) or just a bit more warmth from the autumn or spring water chills.

However, if it is racing that you are looking at for this suit then note that it doesn’t give you anywhere near the same speed that the matching full C5 wetsuit offers (I have both). There is a noticeable difference in straight line speed between the two and I would definitely recommend the later for such purposes.

If you feel the cold in the water then you need to think carefully about a sleeveless (and the C5 is no better or worse in this respect). I do feel the cold but can still swim comfortably for an hour or more in 12-13 degree c in this suit (but you will feel it on your arms).

Quality is good throughout the suit and it won’t fall apart. However, from a value perspective it doesn’t come cheap. That is especially the case where it is outgunned in race conditions by most comparably priced full wetsuits.

However, if you do have specific needs requiring a sleeveless. then this is a good sleeveless suit. Most who buy this product wont be concerned about pricing in any event and will probably be used by them as a secondary suit for specific conditions.

You just need to consider carefully what your requirements are before purchasing this suit. If in doubt, my recommendation is to go for the full C5 wetsuit.

I love this wetsuit. My old wetsuit finally needed to be thrown away, so I decided to try this brand out and it did not disappoint. I did a Ironman a few weeks ago and finished my swim in 1h 20m. I dropped 7 minutes from my old wetsuit.

I also ordered the size according to my weight which was a large, but when I tried it out at the lake it was to big. I called customer service and they were great to work with. My race was coming up, so they just had me purchase another wetsuit but the next size down which was ML, and then when it arrived I tried it out and it fit a lot better, I then sent the first one back and was refunded.

I compared this in the water to the basic Roka Maverick (cost $250). This outperformed Maverick with shoulder flexibility, buoyancy, and aiding with my stroke. I was much faster in the suit than without it.

I am giving 4 stars because the velcro that closes over the zipper top is bulky and bunches on my neck, which seems like it would have been an easily avoidable flaw, but is tolerable for the other quality measures of the suit.

Although I’m no expert on the thickness of rubber, right out of the bag this suit “felt” cheaper than the last one I bought (same model) a couple of years ago. The rubber was noticeably thinner to the touch, especially around the armholes, outer chest area, and neck.

In fact the collar area does not have the same nice padding as my older model. While I have not gained any weight, this suit, size M, does not fit as well and is tighter than my older model – tighter not in a good way.

It is also shorter in the legs, again, not in a good way. The suit even smells “rubbery. ” This is something I never noticed with my older suit. I assume (hope?) that over time the smell will go away.

My older suit has the usual inner “white area” where you can write you name and contact information if you happen to leave your suit behind. This suit does not even have that feature. Next time I’m looking for this type of suit, I’ll probably stick with ROKA, BlueSeventy, TYR, etc.

It’s too bad that NeoSport let the quality slip on this one. But for around 85. 00 bucks I guess I got what I paid for and I will use the suit this summer. I would have rated it 2. 5 stars but did not have this option on the drop down menu.

I’ve bought several wetsuits for my kids over the years and I’ve never had one like this. I sized up so it would have some room to grow but it has the smallest wrist holes I have ever seen in a wetsuit.

It’s takes a ridiculous amount of time to get my sons arms through and he’s not comfortable. I could almost live with the obvious defect except there’s also a problem with the neck. Every time it leaves the worst rash on the back of my sons neck and it’s too high for a rash guard to help.

We bought it for his birthday and didn’t use it right away and now it’s past the return date or else I would definitely not keep it. It makes me much more hesitant to buy any wetsuit online again. I would recommend seeing one first and looking for at the quality before you buy it.

Things just aren’t made like the used to be.

The 1st time I put it on; I was sure it was way to small, and was afraid of tearing it by the amount of work it took to get it on. 20 – 25 mins. I would pull the zipper up 2-3 teeth then bend and stretch- then a couple more until I got to the top.

I bent and stretched as much as possible and I felt comfortable in it. The 2nd time it went easier by pulling everything into place as it progressed up. And was able to pull the zipper straight up. Again it felt snug but good when finished.

12-15 mins Because I believe it is the right size; (and I will be keeping it) I will try some talcum power and some soap on the zipper. 3rd try was less than 5 min to get on and 1 min to get off. And that was without acting as though I was in a race with another 70 yr old.

I got the red one and love that it’s not a basic black wetsuit. I’m 5’6” and 130lbs and the size 8 fits true to size. (I used to wear a 10 Roxy so this brand fits more true to size). It’s my first chest zip wetsuit and now I will never go back to back zip.

I like that’s there’s no Velcro for my hair to get stuck in or to snag on the wetsuit fabric. The only think about the color is that it shows the dirt and wax. I wear 4/3 wetsuits all year in Southern California and it keeps me warm down to 55 degree water.

There’s an elastic loop in the front for a key since my car uses a card key, I attached a plastic badge cover to hold it. It’s much easier to get my key out ( compared to tucking it in the back with a back zip wetsuit).

I bought this in may, since none of my old wetsuits fit anymore. This wetsuit is so comfortable, the material is very soft! It stretches so well, it’s easier to get on than other chest zip suits. It’s a bit pricy but SO worth it.

15/10 purchase, I have since purchase three more sisterrevolution wetsuits.

I’m pleased I ordered the XL, I’m a size 14 to 16 and this is a good fit, a little tight, but I know they give after a few times of wearing. I have recently started cold water swimming and kayaking and this is brilliant for both.

I bought this for our forthcoming trip around the north coast of Scotland, so I’ve not used it yet. It is a really good fit and true to size. Feels good quality. A reasonable price too. Am very happy with purchase.

I bought this to go cold water swimming. I love it, it keeps my core warm while allowing the beneficial effects of the cold water on legs and arms. Perfect fit I am a size 14 and bought exl. Good value and excellent quality.

Item as described, very comfortable, pleasant to contact with the skin. Although it is highly subjective, it is easier for me to dress than two other companies that I have tried on recently, which is why I leave this one for myself.

There was a delay of several days in relation to the originally declared date, but in general I recommend this shop / site 100%.

The product is exactly as a description. I am 183cm, weight 82, took XL size. Fits perfectly.

Amazing suit, oozes quality !

TranslateShow in original languageLa première chose à prendre en compte après le déballage de la combinaison c’est que le (scrach) arrière de la combinaison s’accroche à la matière intérieure de la combinaison et l’abime dès que vous voulez l’enlever.

Précaution à prendre, surtout si vous n’avez pas la bonne taille (heureusement j’avais la bonne. )et que vous devez renvoyer le produit. La deuxième point celui qui me préoccupe le plus est que le néoprène du ventre et du bas de la combinaison n’est pas lisse comme celui du haut et pour ma part j’ai TRES DIFFICILE faire glisser le bas de la combinaison pour l’enlever, qu’elle soit sèche ou mouillée.

D’un autre côté, la combinaison rempli très bien sa fonction question flottaison. Elle est très souple et très agréable à porter. On oublie mème qu’on la porte quand on nage tellement elle est souple.

Pour ma part je vais la garder pour l’entrainement mais pour une course j’ai trop difficile à l’enlever elle ne glisse pas sur les jambes et a plutôt tendance à s’enrouler. Je possède une ancienne combinaison Orca Sonar qui par contre se défile très bien, mais le néoprène est lisse.

A chacun de poser son choix. Un peu dommage que le débat ne soit pas ouvert! Pour terminer, le prix est très attractif et le produit est très bien si on a le temps pour se déshabiller !.

TranslateShow in original languageKahden avovesiuinnin kokemuksella sanoisin, että puku ihan miellyttävä pitää päällä, se on joustava. Kaula-aukko ei paina, puku kelluttaa jonkun verran. Se on helppo pukea päälle, kangas luistaa aika hyvin kuivalla iholla.

Selässä oleva tarra tarttuu usei puvun sisäpintaan alkaa nopeasti nukkaamaan sitä. Siihen tuli joku suojapala mukana, mutta taisi kadota jo ensimmäisellä uintireissulla. Jäin kahden koon väliin, otin pienemmän.

Se on ainakin uidessa tarpeeksi napakka. Hihat ovat aika pitkät. Itselläni yltävät reilusti ranteeseen, pitäen ne hyvin lämpimämä, mutta sporttikellon kanssa piti sitten vähän taitella/rutata toista hihaa pois tieltä.

I purchased a size large. I am 6’0″, 198lbs, athletic build. The sizing was accurate, but the arms are slightly small in circumference all the way up the arm. I have broad hands and big wrists, but overall do not have unusually large arms for my body type.

Getting the arms of the suit on is difficult, to the point that some of the branding rubber on the forearm tore the first time I tried on the suit. This did not affect the integrity of the seams or the suit overall in the slightest – just an aesthetics issue.

It is a minor detail, but was worth noting. It makes me wish the arms had the same zipper that the ankles have. Overall, this suit fit similarly to how a Henderson 5mm in XL fits me. The neck is a bit tight because the base of the neckline rides farther back on my collar than where my neck muscles meet my collar in the front.

It isn’t enough to choke me, It is just noticeable. The Reactive layer inside works like a dream. It functions almost too well when I’m not in the water – If I wear this in a warm climate with cool water, I will need to dress just before entering the water, and be prepared to remove or drop the top to the waistt when exiting the water.

I bought the hooded vest as well, so I could wear this in water typically cold enough for semi-dry or drysuit diving. with the hooded vest (that also has the reactive mineral tech) I am 100% confident I can dive in 45 degree water with this.

I purchased this to support my participating in open water swimming post summer and chose this item as it was stated to have neutral buoyancy and was at a good price. Unfortunately I am of medium height but have a barrel rather an a 6 pack, so options appeared somewhat limited.

After an exchange of emails I opted to try a size 10 and 11, and settled on the 10 despite it being slightly snug. However it was the right move as I have dropped some pounds over recent weeks. The fit is really good once you have shoed yourself in sufficiently and is very comfortable to swim in; I tend to breaststroke with the occasional crawl.

The water temp has not been too low over recent weeks (17-19) and this has been more than sufficient for me to swim 1k or longer without being cold (minimum 40 minutes in the lake). If I can stick to my weight loss plan I will definitely go for another Orca, if not the same model as it represent good value for money.

This wetsuit works for me, however, not one size fits all so do try an few sizes and take the advice of the Sigma Team.

Purchased earlier in the year (2021), only used 3 times. Every swim the suit opens up at the neck after approximately 400 metres and allows fresh water to flow through. Not ideal for a thermal wetsuit to keep you warm from cold water.

I contacted Orca directly to question the sizing and if I was wearing the suit incorrectly. I sent photos of the suit with it on as requested, Orca suggested I pull the sleeves up further! A very disappointing response, and sadly Sigma aligned with this feedback, complete disappointment.

I generally lead out of the water in races, including 70. 3 and ITU world champs (AG), having raced for 30 plus years I always wear high end suits. This is the most disappointed I have been in 30 plus years.

I would suggest this suit is ‘not fit for purpose’. There are better fitting thermal suits on the market.

Not as warm as I was expecting. The Orca suit was to replace a Lomo, which was much warmer, although let too much water in at the neck. The neck fits really well on the Orca, but find the the fit around the forearms and lower leg slack, so there is an ingress of water.

The legs finish high above the ankles, so there is a gap between the tops of my wetsuit socks and the leg bottome. I think it is more to do with my body shape, as I have tried many swimming wetsuits, and this is the best fitting so far.

I do like the stretchyness of the neoprene acroos the chest and shoulders.

The wetsuit quality is quite decent. Fit is generous as described so size down if you’re in between sizes. Overall very pleased with this item.

The fit is good for a 10 US size. I find the arms to be a bit loose. The zipper is easy to manage and the neck is snug to keep water out. I would rate it a 7/10

We needed a wetsuit for occasional use, didn’t want to spent too much and this fits the bill perfectly.

I now have a couple of R1 Yulex wetsuits: An R1 with short legs and an R1 Lite steamer. I love them both. Previously I used a Rip-Curl E bomb which eventually wore so thin I can see sunlight through the shoulders and I’ve have an Oneill 5/4 which is a few years old, and not aging to durably to be honest………….

so when I make statements about wetsuit quality it’s based on experience of top-of-the-line equipment being used to death. As soon as I found out Patagonia were making responsible wetsuits (and as soon as I needed a new one) I jumped in and bought one, despite my surfing buddies warning me against buying a rubber suit instead of ‘a proper one’.

They buy a new one every two years by the way……. The R1 is an L, and took a couple of weeks to ‘break in’ around the shoulders, but the R1 lite is size LT and didn’t need any breaking in at all. Both suits get punished a couple of times per week, there’s so much board wax and surf-mud on them they are barely black any-more, but they are both fully functional and reliable in every way.

These suits rule.

Very Disappointed with this wetsuit, Started falling apart after a few months. Fit , Freedom & Warmth were good otherwise. just poor quality Patagonia would not replace under warranty, despite their feel good advertising The ankle cuff ripped near all round after a few months the tape started coming away on both ankles after a few weeks I was expected to send the wetsuit away, at the start of winter!!! for an undisclosed period!!! Then wait for the next ankle to fall off and send it away again, despite the tape coming away from both disappointing because, My Patagonia Spring Suit is fantastic, best summer suit ever, 3 seasons in, hardly any signs of wear & tear based on that bought the steamer.

Steamer is very poor quality compared to Spring suit Shopping for a backup suit now for a surf trip and ended up on here, from a comparison site, but its hard to justify the spend at Patagonia again when the quality is 50-50 just like the other guys.

I’ve owned now for only 1 month. Size guide was spot on for fit, so make sure you check it, sizes differ from other makes. When you first try it on, it’ll be tight, this is normal, within 2 weeks of use (3 + times a week) it’ll be exactly right.

I’m in Newcastle, NSW and can’t fault the suit’s warmth or performance. Good to get something environmentally aware as well. Hand and feet cuffs are very well thought out, chest zip is also well thought out to avoid failure (my biggest issue with suits).

Inner lining is warm. Only issue I’ve had is one of the outer seams on the leg is coming loose. I’m told that Patagonia fix this issue for free, for the life of the suit under warranty. I’ll return it for repairs when the water gets warmer.