13 Best Wetsuits For Open Water Swimming- Expert Guide

Are you in search of an open water swimming wetsuit to give you a boost in the water while providing some added warmth and insulation? Well, in that case, you’ve come to the right place because in today’s article we’ll be taking a look at the 13 best wetsuits for open water swimming.

Wetsuits designed for open water swimming are vastly different from traditional surfing or diving wetsuits. Open water wetsuits are made specifically for swimmers and triathletes with a lot of the suits having extra performance features packed in providing added buoyancy, compression, and flexibility to help you to swim faster. 

There are lots of different open water and triathlon wetsuits available which can make it very hard to choose the best option for your what you require. That’s why I’ve put together this article- to help you make the best decision possible.

We’ll be covering a wide spectrum of open water wetsuits ranging from basic training suits all the way to high-end competition suits as well as some good in-between options ensuring that you find the suit that is just perfect for you.

What is the best wetsuit for open water swimming?

Here are the best wetsuits for open water swimming-

  • Blueseventy Reaction
  • Roka Maverick X
  • TYR Hurricane Cat 1
  • HUUB Axiom
  • Blueseventy Sprint
  • Zone 3 Vanquish
  • Roka Maverick Pro II
  • Orca Alpha
  • Zone 3 Aspire
  • Xterra Vortex
  • Orca Open Water Smart
  • Arena R-Evo One Open Water
  • Orca RS1 Open Water Sleeveless

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Open Water WetsuitUsageFabricPrice RangeLowest TempretureView On SwimOutletBlueseventy ReactionCompetition/ TrainingYamamoto #39 NeopreneMid-Range55℉/ 12.5℃>View PriceRoka Maverick XCompetitionYamamoto SCS #40-, Areodome #39 NeopreneTop-Range55℉/ 12.5℃>View PriceTYR Hurricane Cat 1Training/ Competition100% Slickskin Neoprene.Budget50℉/ 10℃>View PriceHUUB AxiomTrainingSmoothskin NeopreneBudget55℉/ 12.5℃>View PriceBlueseventy Sprint.CompetitionHigh-Quality Yamamoto Neoprene.Budget55℉/ 12.5℃>View Price Zone 3 VanquishCompetitionYamamoto SCS #40 NeopreneTop-Range50℉/ 10℃>View PriceRoka Maverick Pro IICompetition/ TrainingYamamoto SCS #40-, Aerodome #38 NeopreneTop-Range55℉/ 12.5℃>View PriceOrca AlphaCompetition/ TrainingYamamoto #44-, Yamamoto #39-, Hydrolite NeopreneTop-Range50℉/ 10℃>View PriceZone 3 AspireCompetition/ TrainingYamamoto #39 SCS NeopreneMid-Range50°F/ 10°C.>View PriceXterra VortexCompetition/ TrainingSuper GKA NeopreneMid-Range50°F/ 10°C.>View PriceOrca SmartCompetition/ TrainingYamamoto #39 NeopreneMid-Range50°F/ 10°C.>View PriceArena R-Evo OneCompetition/ TrainingZ-RaptorMid-Range68°F/ 20°C.>View PriceOrca RS1Competition/ TrainingYamamoto #39-, Hydrolite NeopreneBudget60°F/ 15°C>View Price

1. Blueseventy Reaction Open Water Wetsuit- Best Value For Money Wetsuit.

13 Best Wetsuits For Open Water Swimming- Expert Guide

If you are looking for a great bang for your buck when it comes to wetsuits, then look no further than the Blueseventy Reaction Wetsuit. Featuring a high-quality design, great features, and a fair price while being competition and training compatible, this wetsuit is going to be the perfect fit for most open water swimmers.

Design: The Blueseventy Reaction wetsuit is constructed using Yamamoto #39 Cell Neoprene fabrics. This fabric combined with the design of the suit allows for high flexibility, good insulation, and a superior fitting wetsuit.

The suit features a curved closure flap which effectively lowers the rear collar height of the wetsuit allowing for increased comfort around your neck as well as reduced chafing commonly caused by wetsuits.

On the back of the wetsuit, you’ll locate a conveniently placed zipper that is going to secure you into your suit while making the suit very easy to take on and off. Additionally, the 4-way stretch Aquaseal cuffs are going to ensure that water doesn’t enter your suit and will also make the wetsuit easy to remove.

This wetsuit is also available in 2 options, namely a fullsleeve and sleeveless option. Fullsleeve wetsuits provide more insulation while sleeveless wetsuits are better when it comes to range of motion in the shoulders and arms.

Performance: The Blueseventy Reaction has a ton to offer when it comes to performance. Firstly, Reactive Stretch Technology in the suit is going to ensure optimal range of motion allowing for reduced arm fatigue and the effective execution of each stroke and kick that you take.

In terms of buoyancy, the wetsuit features a 4:5:4 buoyancy profile which is going to create a hip lifting effect that will optimize both your body position and stroke efficiency while swimming, ultimately helping you to swim as fast as possible.

On the arms of the wetsuit, you’ll find S-Grip panels designed to increase your grip and feel for the water so that you can maximize propulsion and speed with every stroke that you take.

Lastly, is one of my favorite features, namely the central split VO2 chest panel. This panel is going to allow for greater chest expansion ensuring unrestricted and efficient breathing while you are swimming.

Wetsuit Specifications-

  • Usage: Competition/ Training.
  • Fabric: Yamamoto #39 Neoprene.
  • Range Of Motion: Reactive Stretch Technology; Unrestricted.
  • Buoyancy Profile: 4:5:4; Raises Hips For Optimal Technique And Efficiency.
  • Zipper: Back Zipper.
  • Lowest Temperature: 55℉/ 12.5℃.
  • Price Range: Mid-Range.
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