It’s one of the best days of the year: the first surf in your 3/2 summer wetsuit, preferably a shiny brand new one. Freed from the shackles of your winter wetsuit, you feel lighter, liberated, a weight has been lifted from your shoulders. Suddenly the world seems like a much nicer place.
Usually, that day happens sometime in June. The 3/2mm fullsuit – 3mm in the body, 2mm in the arms and lower legs – is suited to water temperatures in the 14–18°C range (roughly speaking), and realistically it’s the type of wetsuit you’re most likely to be wearing in the UK during summer (plus September and maybe October). In France, Portugal, and elsewhere on the continent, it’ll do for spring and autumn too.
But with so many to choose between, how to decide? Every summer wetsuit we have in stock here at Surfdome is a wetsuit we believe in, but we do have our favourites, and we’ve picked out five of them to give you a few ideas. We’ve tried to cover all bases – not just warmth and flex but also style and affordability – so there should be something here for everyone.
Vissla High Seas
Here’s a cast-iron guarantee to go with your 1-year warranty: the sexiest wetsuits in the water this summer will bear a jade Vissla logo. When it comes to sleek design, impeccable style, and all-round sophistication, no brand does it better.
We’re big fans of the brand’s 7 Seas collection, Vissla’s mid-range offering and a paragon of elegant simplicity, but we couldn’t resist plumping for the new High Seas 3/2. It’s a stunning summer wetsuit, but it also features some great tech: I-Foam neoprene is limestone-based and wonderfully supple; “Thermal Brain Fuzz” is the best-named wetsuit lining on the market, and every bit as warm as it sounds; the minimal-seam design, engineered body lines and zipperless entry contribute to the smooth fit and unrestricted feel.
There’s an impressive eco aspect to this suit, too – scrap rubber tyres have been used in the neoprene, and Dope Dyed yarn is used in the taping and jersey lining.
Rip Curl Flashbomb
If you want a high-end summer suit that’ll keep you warmer for longer and feel amazing to wear, Rip Curl’s flagship wetsuit model has few if any worthy rivals. The world’s fastest-drying wetsuit is probably also the best.
The Flashbomb justifies its price tag and then somewhat you get in return is a wetsuit that keeps in heat and keeps out water more effectively (and less intrusively) than any other. The zipperless entry system pioneered by Rip Curl has now been perfected, the E5 Flash lining is better than ever, and meanwhile, tasteful greys have taken the place of bold fluoro colours (we very much approve).
Xcel Comp
Some of you are probably wondering if you really need to fork out for top-level warmth in a summer wetsuit. It’s summer, after all, and the water’s relatively warm – surely flex and performance should take priority?
That’s the idea behind the Comp. We’re always raving about Xcel, and the Comp series of wetsuits is typical of the brand’s intelligent approach to wetsuit design: no gimmicks, just a clean, clinical, beautifully made wetsuit. The extensive thermal lining retains sufficient heat, but it’s lightweight and low-bulk so as not to impede performance.
As for sustainability, the limestone-based neoprene stays clear of petrochemicals, and the Dope Dye fabric used in the stretch-jersey lining not only reduces water pollution but is far more resource-efficient than non-eco equivalents.
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C-Skins ReWired
A streamlined version of the more heavy-duty “Wired” model, this 3/2 wetsuit is low-bulk, high-performance, and perfect for summer.
C-Skins’ Diamond Flex is about as light and flexible as neoprene can be while still keeping you warm, and has been used throughout the upper body. The idea is to give you maximum flex and freedom of movement where you really need it – the arms and shoulders, for smooth paddling and effortless pop-ups – and the execution is faultless. Other useful features include the pre-bent knee pads, ergonomic seam placement with large single panels, liquid wrist seals, and the neatly concealed, smooth-action chest zip. The ReWired is a top-quality wetsuit at a highly competitive price.
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O’Neill O’riginal
The trusty back zip: it still works, and it’s still easy to use. Arguably it also looks better than the chest zip – certainly it’s more in keeping with the vintage aesthetic of the O’Neill O’riginal 3/2 fullsuit.
In any case, many surfers still prefer it, team rider Jordy Smith among them. Perhaps partly for this reason, O’Neill has kept faith with the design more than other brands, and know how to do it right – the Smoothskin Carbon-Firewall and signature Z.E.N. closure ensure both a secure and comfy seal, preventing the chafing and irritation that can otherwise occur.
The classic all-black design, with old-school O’Neill logos on the right breast and left shoulder, is a nod to the early ‘50s, when Jack O’Neill invented the first ever wetsuit in a garage in San Fransico. This timeless wetsuit honours and continues that legacy, glancing respectfully backwards even as it pushes forwards with ever more sophisticated tech.
Feel free to also check out the full range of men’s wetsuit from the best brands or to read through our wetsuit buying guide.
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