In the beginning, wetsuits were only designed for men. Women who wanted to surf or swim in open water would just have to wear a wetsuit designed to fit a man, and put up with having too much fabric around their shoulders when they really needed it around their hips.
Thankfully things are different now and there’s a great range of wetsuits for women who want to stay warm while doing watersports this summer. You might wonder why you need a wetsuit in summer, but around the UK the water rarely gets above 18 degrees even in a heatwave, and while you might be able to surf or swim for a short time in lower temperatures, wearing a wetsuit keeps you in the water doing what you love for longer.
How is a woman’s wetsuit different to a man’s wetsuit? To reflect a woman’s shape, a woman’s wetsuit will be wider at the hips and thighs, and slightly narrower around the shoulders. It will also have more fabric around the chest.
What do you need to think about when buying a wetsuit? First, of course you need to consider what you’ll be using it for and how frequently you’ll be doing it.
If you surf once a year, it’s probably not worth buying the most expensive wetsuit. But equally if you live by the sea or swim or stand up paddle regularly in open water, it’s worth investing in a decent suit as it will last you for many years.
Fit is incredibly important, as a wetsuit that is too big simply won’t keep you warm, while a wetsuit that is too small will restrict your movement and be a nightmare to get on and off. If you compete in triathlons, you should look for a wetsuit that is easy to get off quickly in a race.
We’ve included a shorty and long John option for high summer or holiday surf use. And we also love wetsuits with some bright colour on them as it makes us feel safer and more visible in the sea.
Some of the brands only go up to size 12, which we don’t think is great as a broad range of sizing would encourage more women to enjoy being in the water this summer.
These wetsuits were tested in Wales and Brighton, in water temperatures around 13-14 degrees.
Zone 3 Women’s Vision Wetsuit: £240, Zone 3
Swim/Triathlon
I felt like a machine in this slick-looking wetsuit from UK specialist tri brand Zone 3, in a good way that is, and it certainly felt like the fastest of the wetsuits on test to swim in thanks to the smooth neoprene throughout and the streamlined fit and buoyancy of the suit, which helped me keep a good position in the water.
It has narrow ‘pro speed’ cuffs, which you need to stretch on first wear, but they did make the suit very speedy to take off, which would be important for the contest triathletes this wetsuit is designed for. Overall, it felt like a triathlon wetsuit a pro might wear, at recreational triathlete price point. Available in sizes XS to XL.
Alder Women’s Impact Full Wetsuit 3/2: £69.99, Ann’s Cottage
Surf
This is a great value entry-level wetsuit for surfers from UK brand Alder; it would also work well for stand up paddlers and swimmers. It felt good on, with decent stretch and flex around the shoulders, and it kept us warm enough when the sea was around 14 degrees.
It took the edge out of the wind chill too, and we liked the bright blue colouring on the arms so we could be easily spotted in the sea. Available in sizes 8-18.
Patagonia Women’s R2 Yulex Front-Zip Full Wetsuit: £370, Down The Line
Surf
This may be the most expensive wetsuit on test, but it’s also made from revolutionary Yulex, an exciting natural rubber alternative to the petrol-based neoprene, that wetsuits are usually made of. Eco credentials aside, it’s light, stretchy and extremely comfortable, plus the front zip makes it far easier to get on and off.
It also felt hard-wearing and super-warm. This Patagonia wetsuit is suitable for temperatures between 13-16 degrees so should work well in the UK from late spring until autumn. Available in sizes six to 12.
Orca Open Water One Piece Wetsuit: £129, Orca
Swim
This is a top quality open water wetsuit at a really reasonable price. We love how it comes with little white gloves, so you can put it on without snagging the smooth neoprene with your nails. We also loved the bright orange arms and back legs, which made us super-visible in the choppy Brighton sea, as corroborated by our friend watching from the beach. The suit felt flexible on the arms and good to swim in, and we especially liked the low stretchy fabric around the neck to prevent chaffing.
It was easy to get on and off thanks to the extra stretch in the ankles. Available in sizes XS to XL.
Roxy Pop Surf 2mm Long Sleeve Shorty Wetsuit: £104.99, Surfdome
Surf/SUP
Shorty wetsuits are good for surfing, stand up paddling and swimming in warmer waters and UK heatwaves. We love the brightly coloured Japanese woodcut and Polynesian-inspired design of this Roxy Pop shorty.
The shape was flattering and the long sleeves kept us warmer than a shorty normally would, thanks to a suit thickness of 2mm. Available in sizes six to 14.
O’Neill Bahia 1.5mm Jane Wetsuit: £84.95, O’Neill
Surf/SUP
We really liked this long John-style wetsuit from O’Neill, as it performed well, freeing up our arms for easy paddling, while keeping our bodies warm, but it also looked stylish and flattering. And the zip is on the front so it’s very easy to get on and off.
It would be a good choice for surfing at a place where the air is warm, but the water is cold, such as Portugal or Morocco, and occasionally this country too. Available in sizes six to 12.
Subea SCD 100 Women’s 3mm Full Diving Wetsuit With Back Zip: £49.99, Decathlon
Scuba diving
Even if you’re diving in warm water, you’ll need a wetsuit as your body loses heat quickly below the surface. Subea is Decathlon’s underwater brand and this is a good value women’s specific product with generous width around hips.
The thickness was 3mm, though it felt fairly supple and easy to swim in. It was easy enough to get on and off for a wetsuit with a back zip and had knee protectors for added durability, though the neoprene didn’t seem quite as hard-wearing as some of the other suits on test. Available in sizes XS to XL.
The Verdict: Women's wetsuits
The Zone 3 Women’s Vision and Orca Open Water One Piece were the standout open water swimming options, especially for the price. For surfing, we loved the eco credentials and feel of the Patagonia Women’s R2 Yulex Front-Zip Full Wetsuit, the great value of the Alder Women’s Impact Full Wetsuit and the fun high summer options from Roxy and O’Neill.
