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i have read through a few of the older threads on this but they do seem a bit dated now..
what is the latest consensus on the best value/performance wetsuits? I have never owned one before and have no knowledge about them.
the other threads have a theme that we should aim at a £150 price point, is this still about right?
i was looking at this O'neill one which is only £85. https://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/o-neill-reactor-2-3-2mm-back-zip-summer-wetsuit-2018-blk.html
It will be used for very occasional dips and frolics in lakes, tarns and the sea in north wales; aswell as a bit of kayaking, jetski, wakesurfing etc, between around mid spring to mid autummn ish, so does not have to be too warm - just dont want an excuse not to dive in...!
That is a summer suit, its bang in the middle of the price point for a full 3/2mm. If you were after something for winter then it would typically be mostly 5mm and have more advanced tech materials hence you would want to pay £150 - £300 for one. A summer one is fairly basic so you can get them cheaper but that seems a good deal for a decent brand that looks to have decent features.
What @uwe-r says: that's a decent price for an entry-level summer wetsuit. It's pretty similar to the Wiggle suit I've got, and fine for triathlons. One thing to be aware of is that it'll be pretty delicate - it's easy to stick a fingernail through it if you're taking it off in a hurry (as you do in triathlons). I suspect you'll be needing to repair it fairly frequently if you're doing sports other than just swimming in it.
Had a Zone 3 Agile for a couple of months now from My Triathlon. Well worth looking at - especially at the £199 mark. Seems much better quality that the similarly priced Orca S7 I had before.
I wouldn't be buying a swimming wetsuit like the orca mentioned above.
They are great to swim in but are really delicate and you will kill it kayaking etc.
The most important thing with wetsuits is fit. If it is baggy and you get a shot of cold water up the sleeves or legs or down the neck then you won't find it as fun.
O'neill are a good brand, look at ones like picture or patagonia for more eco friendly options
Stitched seams on that O’Neill so it’ll leak like a sieve. Doesn’t really matter on a short arm summer suit but it won’t be a warm suit.
stock of anything decent is your challenge at the moment. Need essentials do good value suits, or if your a men’s medium I could sell you an immaculate finisterre hooded 6/5/4 for a bargain price that’ll keep you warm in any UK conditions…
Ps. It’s probably now what you’d consider mid spring? Water in the tropical SW is still ~10deg, I’m still in a hooded winter suit.
Who has stock will be a big issue too as all watersports kit seems to be flying off the shelves. Decathlon often have decently priced ranges so you can get an idea of what the different thicknesses feel like. Some of ours are from there and we got Gul ones from Tiso too all in the £60-80 area. 2-3mm sees the kids get a bit cold in the sea after a couple of hours at this time of year (8C), but as that's about the same as their attention span it works ok
Lots on Wiggle eg.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/zone3-advance-wetsuit-1 (I have an older version of this, it's superb)
The good thing about Wiggle is free returns, so you can order a couple of sizes.
DHB looks like a decent budget option
That point about the fragility of swimming wetsuits needs repeated. They will soon be wasted if mistreated. I have an older/cheaper wetsuit I use for kayaking and stuff - I guess what folk call coasteering (but mild in my case), scrambling on barnacled covered rocks etc
There is a lot of difference in water and air temperature between mid spring and summertime.
For mid spring the water could be 10 degrees, and I would be looking at minimum of 4/3mm glued and blindstitched suit, gloves and boots/socks if I was spending any time in the water
For summer a 3/2 overlock seemed suit should be ok
Most of your activities sound like they are above the water rather than in the water so at a push the summer suit might Be bearable, but the air temperature in mid spring could also be low, wind chill is a factor.
It has been about 10 yrs since I bought a wetsuit, they may have moved on and have wider temperature ranges now.
Lomo do good value wetsuits, I've had one for a few years and can't complain
thanks for replies. reccommended size L on the finisterre sadly.
whats the verdict on this one? https://www.wetsuitcentre.co.uk/o-neill-hammer-3-2mm-chest-zip-wetsuit-2018-black.html
@jam-bo I could be interested in your Finisterre.
£160 posted. 18 months old but only worn about ten times and then went back to a thinner, more flexible suit.
How is the sizing? I'm right on the boundary between M an MT on their size chart.
whats the verdict on this one?
looks a bit better, doesnt seem to say what the seam construction is. ideally blindstitched & taped, avoid anything with liquid seams.
if you can stretch to it, the latest hyperfreaks are amazing wetsuits. i surf all winter in a hooded 4/3 and its just as flexible as my older 3/2 patagonia summer suit.
I have a mint C-Skins ReWired 3/2 for sale. Hardly used.
Size M/L.
£175 posted.
How is the sizing? I’m right on the boundary between M an MT on their size chart.
I'm a large in a patagonia and oniell. 5'10, 85kg, probably should have got the large finisterre.
if you can stretch to it, the latest hyperfreaks are amazing wetsuits. i surf all winter in a hooded 4/3 and its just as flexible as my older 3/2 patagonia summer suit.
I have an O’Neill Techno Freak 4/3 and it’s a lovely suit. The Hyper Freak is quite a bit more fragile so take care with it.
I'm doing a triathlon in 2 weeks' time at Dorney Lake. Never done one before.
I was going to try sea swimming last weekend cos the pools were still closed, I bought a hat, gloves and socks for swimming in but in the end I had to fix the car instead.
If at all possible, try a few on. Or at the very least, buy several from somewhere that allows for convenient, cheap returns.
Like any 'clothing' different manufacturers cut the product differently and inevitably the wetsuits from one manufacturer will fit your body shape much better than those from another. Fit, along with good wrist/ankle neck seals is key to avoiding constant flush through when moving around in the water.
I agree about fit being the most important thing but a close second is sealed seams.
I invested in a couple of wetsuits 2 years ago. Both Billabong and used exclusively for windsurfing. The 5/3 winter one is the warmest I've ever had. The 3mm summer suit is freezing when you're standing on the beach because the seams aren't sealed. I went back to my ancient short sleeved Sola. But the flexibility of modern neoprene is brilliant.
Try Boardwise in Cannock (Wetsuit Warehouse) for a selection.
DHB Well worth the money imo.
Most of your activities sound like they are above the water rather than in the water so at a push the summer suit might Be bearable, but the air temperature in mid spring could also be low,
I'm not sure how cold a tarn is but I'm guessing its melt water and usually quite deep? So probably very cold.
wind chill is a factor.
I think this will be particularly important on a Jetski at 30+mph or even on a wakeboard etc.
Thanks Jam-bo. Sounds like a great suit for somebody but I'm just a bit too tall.
@molgrips is that the Eton super sprints? If so, good choice for your first one.
Even if it's only a 400m swim you should try a bit of open water before, just to get used to sighting. IIRC you used to be close to Farnborough during the week? There are a couple of open water swimming places nearby, I go to Horseshoe Lake in Yateley:
https://horseshoelakeactivitycentre.co.uk/product-category/swim-products/
Or there is The Quays at Mytchett (might not be open yet):
leaning towards this one based on the blind stitched and glued seams for the price! plenty of stock too...
https://www.wetsuitoutlet.co.uk/2021-billabong-mens-intruder-32mm-back-zip-gbs-wetsuit-043m18-black-p-33335.html?a={8}59
im not really interested in spending more than this at the moment, happy to upgrade in future if i get much use out of it...
ok so just pushed the button on a O'Neill Epic 3/2mm suit for just under £150 delivered. its like the one i posted above but with the jazzy seams!!
thanks for all the intel!!
@molgrips is that the Eton super sprints? If so, good choice for your first one.
Yes. I'm no longer in Farnborough though.
I usually go for a long swim at the beach whenever we go so I've got the hang of sighting. I have not however got the hang of not getting gobfuls of water all the time. Is my technique bad or is this just what happens?
ok so just pushed the button on a O’Neill Epic 3/2mm suit for just under £150 delivered. its like the one i posted above but with the jazzy seams!!
thanks for all the intel!!
Looks good. I've got a 5/3 E-bomb for the winter which I assume makes the Epic the zipped version?
If you find it cold, do not be tempted to put lycra layers (like a rash vest) on top, they just wick moisture and make it even colder. The surface of the suit is designed to shed water quickly to prevent this.
Ditch the rash vest and put a polypropylene version under it, they're magically warm as they're hydrophobic so will remain fairly dry (and full of air) as long as the suit is fairly watertight. I used to wear a 3/2 suit all year round with polypropylene leggings and top (and a hood, and gloves, and really thick boots).
I usually go for a long swim at the beach whenever we go so I’ve got the hang of sighting. I have not however got the hang of not getting gobfuls of water all the time. Is my technique bad or is this just what happens?
Some's going to get in your mouth, but it shouldn't be "all the time". Can you breathe on both sides? If you're in the sea it's helpful to breathe towards the shore, as you don't get the waves hitting you in the face so much. Or if you've got a competitor just to one side and s/he's splashing a lot.
I have not however got the hang of not getting gobfuls of water all the time. Is my technique bad or is this just what happens?
Ha ... wait til you are in a mass swim start, with the other 200 people in your wave, and there is loads of "biff" going on. ... (best part of a race, if you ask me)
Good luck
Timely thread. I have just bought a Two Bare Feet Winter suit which I'm trying to understand if the fit is right. Firstly I'm new to these and living in the NE Scotland opted for a 5/4 suit (link below) which will hopefully give me an idea if this is something I want to do more of and if so will invest in a more costly version in the future.
The fit is good all over and pretty much skin tight (shudder) the only place I'm unsure is on the neck where it is very snug. I can still talk and breathe but its tight, how much could I expect it to stretch? I opted for an XL as 188cm and 84kg seemed about right everywhere other than possibly the neck...
have you worn it wet yet? they loosen up a bit.
Hi, no, not worn it yet other than trying on at home.
Is my technique bad or is this just what happens?
As above, bi-lateral breathing to keep waves/wash/elbows away from your mouth. Presume you are breathing to the side rather than lifting your head and breathing while looking forward? Exhale underwater, roll to one side with face half out of water, inhale as that arm returns to forward position, roll back to centre.
From what I remember starts at Eton supers are pretty tame, but if it's your first one steer clear of the front/centre as it can get <ahem> untidy.
I do breathe to the side (on both sides) as you describe. Water still gets into my mouth. Rather unpleasant in the sea after a while.
Try lifting your head out more, if it is choppy i tend to lift my head out a lot more than half way to get my mouth clear.
The other thing is make sure you have some air left then blow out from your mouth as your mouth comes out of the water. Should stop any water that was in your face coming in
The fit is good all over and pretty much skin tight (shudder) the only place I’m unsure is on the neck where it is very snug. I can still talk and breathe but its tight, how much could I expect it to stretch? I opted for an XL as 188cm and 84kg seemed about right everywhere other than possibly the neck…
Depending on the cut, on some suits you can trim down the neck.
They do give slightly, once you start moving and a bit of moisture gets in/builds up then the rubber stretched into position better.
That said, back zip suits are often a bit tight at the front of the neck and the front of the suit can stretch, but the back zip cant.
The fit is good all over and pretty much skin tight (shudder) the only place I’m unsure is on the neck where it is very snug
Make sure you put some lubricant on your neck before using the wetsuit!
so just pushed the button on a O’Neill Epic 3/2mm suit for just under £150 delivered. its like the one i posted above but with the jazzy seams!!
thanks for all the intel!!
Good choice - I've worn O'Neil for many years. The neoprene on the latest suits is so flexible it makes areal difference both in terms of fatigue and warmth.
I suspect any swim starts before June will be time trial rather than mass?