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12 best wild and open water swimming wetsuits, tested by the WH Lab experts
Take the plunge and get your fitness fix in the great outdoors
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A sunrise wild swimming shot looks great on the ‘gram and an al fresco dip can offer a plethora of health benefits, but that doesn’t change the fact that the UK's picturesque lakes and rivers can be absolutely freezing. Fortunately, with a trusty open water swimming wetsuit, you can take the plunge without immediately regretting your choices.
These rubbery onesies provide a much-needed barrier between you and Britain’s icy waters – plus a bit of extra buoyancy – so you can enjoy your aquatic fitness session for longer. And wetsuits designed specifically for wild swimming (or open water swimming) are made with extra flexible material, allowing for a fluid front crawl, backstroke or breaststroke.
So, we set the Women’s Health Lab team a challenge: find and trial the top wetsuits on the market (that aren't ridiculously spenny).
They found eight second skins worth a purchase – see our round up below and read on for more detail.
How do wetsuits work?
You probably know that wetsuits aren’t designed to keep you dry. Instead, they trap a thin layer of cold water between the neoprene and your skin, which is quickly heated up by your body to form an insulating layer that keeps you warm as you splash about.
However, be warned: cold water will rush into any gaps caused by an ill-fitting suit, causing a decidedly unpleasant sensation known as flushing. The knees, shoulders and hips are high-risk zones, so ensure a glove-like fit before jumping in.
How do I choose the best wetsuit for me?
When shopping for a wetsuit, it pays to have some know-how under your belt. Not sure where to start? Luckily, WH is in your corner with the inside scoop on the features to consider.
Fit: If you’ve read the section above, you’ll know that a baggy wetsuit is like us before 8am on a Monday – pretty useless. Make sure you find one that fits snugly, without any gaping.
Thickness: Finding the right thickness depends on when you plan to use your wetsuit. Thickness tends to be written as two numbers separated by a colon or slash (for example, 3:2 suits are among the most popular). The first number states the thickness of the torso section in millimetres; the second, the thickness of the neoprene across your arms and legs. The second figure is usually lower, as the thinner material allows for greater flexibility.
As a rough guide, wetsuits with 3mm torsos are best suited to summer swims, a 4mm body will keep the cold at bay during spring and autumn, and a 5mm thickness makes for the best wetsuit for swimming in cold water in the UK.
Buoyancy: Thanks to their buoyant neoprene material, wetsuits will also help you stay afloat and push you higher in the water.
Some, like the Zone3 Azure, have added buoyancy in the legs and hips. Ideal for beginners, this will lift your lower half into a better swimming position for a speedy front crawl.
Others, such as the Orca Openwater Core Hi-Vis and the Orca Openwater Core TRN, offer a neutral buoyancy. Preferable for stronger swimmers who need no help with their positioning, this enables a more natural swimming experience as it doesn't push your legs up.
How we test
Our Women’s Health Lab expert found a total of 10 wetsuits to put to the test, with our panellists taking each suit for a series of swims in rivers, lakes and the sea, before delivering a no-holds barred review on their performance.
To make our hotlist, suits had to keep us warm in the water with no sagging where flushing could occur. They also needed to be comfortable and easy to put on, with bonus points awarded for any innovative features.
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The best open water swimming wetsuits for 2024
Ready to pretend the English Channel is the Maldives? These top-qual affordable wetsuits will help you keep that dream alive.
Priyankaa is our senior health and wellness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. From walking boots to running machines, Priyankaa has written about hundreds of products and is passionate about providing in-depth, unbiased reviews. Plus, as an avid runner and gymgoer, she knows exactly what to look for when finding the right gymwear, fitness tracker or earphones.
Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges.
She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more.
Outside of work, Priyankaa can usually be found trying out a new gym class, seeking out London's best eats or watching a Spanish TV show in a bid to keep up her language skills.
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
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Yanar has spent 15 years as a health and wellness editor and writer for national titles such as Women’s Health, Men’s Health and Runner’s World. Yanar is a 580-hour yoga therapist, 200-hour yoga teacher and level 3 personal trainer at Yanar Mind & Movement. After years of running races and marathons, she discovered CrossFit and Olympic lifting in her mid-30s and fell in love with training and competing. She now advocates strength training for women to build a stronger body for life and the benefits of nervous system regulation for better physical and mental health. When not training, teaching or writing, she can be found experimenting in the kitchen.
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