A swimming wetsuit is not the same as a surf wetsuit. A swimming wetsuit adds buoyancy to keep your body flat in the water, and it has very flexible shoulders for a freestyle stroke. A surf wetsuit is built to be tough and warm on a board. Here are our picks, then how the two differ and what to look for.
The Best Wetsuits for Swimming
- Synergy Men's Volution 3/2mm Triathlon Wetsuit: A true triathlon and open water suit with a full sleeve. The best choice if you mainly want to swim. Check price
- Synergy Women's Volution 3/2mm Triathlon Wetsuit: The women's version of the same suit. Check price
- O'Neill Men's Reactor-2 3/2mm: A proven back zip surf suit. Choose it if you want one suit for surfing and the odd swim. Check price
- Hevto Men's 3/2mm Wetsuit: A cheap front zip suit for surfing and swimming. Check price
How Swimming Wetsuits Differ From Surf Wetsuits
Buoyancy
Swimming wetsuits add buoyancy in the core, hips and thighs. This lifts your legs, so you stay high and flat in the water and create less drag. Swim suits often use 5mm neoprene in these areas and as little as 1.5mm elsewhere. A surf suit floats too, but it doesn't place the buoyancy to help your swimming position.
Flexibility
A freestyle stroke needs a big range of motion in the shoulders and upper back. Swimming wetsuits use very stretchy neoprene in the shoulders and arms, often Yamamoto neoprene, so your arms don't tire. Surf suits are flexible, but not to this degree.
Durability
Surf suits are built to survive board friction, reef, rocks and wipeouts. Swimming wetsuits trade some toughness for speed. Their smooth coatings and thin neoprene tear more easily, for example on a fingernail or a rough pool edge, so handle them with care.
Fit and Panels
A swimming wetsuit fits skin-tight to keep water out and reduce drag. Its panels follow the swimming position. Surf suit panels are designed for paddling on a board and standing up.
Why a Surfer Would Use One
- Cross-training: Open water swimming builds fitness, shoulder strength and endurance. A swim suit keeps you warm enough to train in cold water.
- Triathlons and ocean swims: Many events require a wetsuit in cold water, and a swim suit makes you faster.
- Paddle fitness: Swimming builds the lung capacity and shoulder endurance you need for paddling.
- Exploring: You can swim across a bay or around calm coves in comfort.
What to Look For
- Varied thickness: A common layout is 5mm in the body and legs, 3mm in the lower legs and back, and 1.5 to 2mm in the arms and shoulders.
- Flexible shoulders: Look for stretchy neoprene in the shoulder and arm panels. Yamamoto neoprene is graded #38, #39 or #40, from less to more flexible.
- Coating: SCS (Super Composite Skin) and similar smooth coatings cut drag and make the suit easier to take on and off.
- Fit: It should fit like a second skin, with no loose areas in the arms and shoulders, but it shouldn't restrict your breathing. Try it on if you can.
- Zipper: Most swim suits have a back zip that closes from bottom to top, so it can't open while you swim.
- Brands: ROKA, Orca, Zone3, TYR and HUUB all make swim suits from entry level to elite.
Care for a swimming wetsuit as you would a surf suit. Rinse it in fresh water after each use, dry it out of direct sunlight, and store it flat or loosely folded.
The Bottom Line
If you mainly want to swim, get a triathlon suit such as the Synergy Volution (women's version). If you want one suit for surfing with the odd swim, a flexible 3/2mm surf suit such as the O'Neill Reactor-2 will do.