We all know that wetsuits can be pricey items of kit, so it’s important to know you’re making the right choice before committing to buying one to take your open water
swimming to the next level.
To help you narrow down your choices, the Outdoor Swimmer team headed to Clevedon Marine Lake to put four Orca open water wetsuits to the test – a wetsuit for event swimmers, one for breaststroke swimmers, one for winter swimmers and one for water sports lovers. Keep scrolling to find out how they got on!
Watch the OS team trying out Orca’s swimming wetsuits
💦 So, how do I choose the right wetsuit for my swimming? 💦
Firstly, yourself some questions – what kind of open water swimming do you want to do? What stroke are you going to swim? Are you doing long distance, or shorter leisurely swims?
Different wetsuits
are designed with different thickness, panels, buoyancy and flexibility to cater for different swimmers’ needs and abilities.
Orca’s wide selection of swimming wetsuits is a great example of how neoprene thickness, flexibility and bouyancy vary depending on the type of swimmer you are.
Orca wetsuits are all from Yamamoto neoprene – a softer, lighter and durable neoprene that offers supreme elasticity and warmth.
🏊♂️ Orca's wetsuit options for swimmers 🏊♀️
For the open water trainer: the Vitalis TRN
If you want to train for longer in open water and perhaps do an open water event, the Orca Vitalis TRN is ideal. This lightweight and flexible wetsuit will keep you warm and buoyant, and can even be used in a triathlon or a swimrun. Abi wore this wetsuit for her first swim event last year and she was impressed by how light, insulating and supportive it was.
Key features of the Vitalis TRN
💦 3mm panels in torso and legs for warmth and buoyancy 💦 High flexibility in shoulders 💦 Combine with neoprene accessories for colder temperatures 💦 Up to size XL. Also available in MW and LW for larger chest sizes
For the breaststroke swimmer: the Vitalis Breast Stroke
Are you more of a breaststroke swimmer? The Vitalis Breast Stroke wetsuit is designed purely for the movements of breaststroke, and allows you to maintain a natural swimming position without too much buoyancy in the legs. Jo loves the flexibility of this wetsuit, and the clever distribution of thickness in the neoprene for easy, supported swimming.
Key features of the Vitalis Breast Stroke
💦 Flexible 39FS technology 💦 Pattern specifically developed for movements of breaststroke 💦 Thin material in leg area for lower buoyancy 💦 Up to size XL. Also available in MW and LW for larger chest sizes
The Vitalis Shorty is
designed for swimming but it’s also suitable for other water sports, like paddleboarding and kayaking. Rowan loves to take her paddle board out with her when she swims, so this is a great wetsuit for her adventures. Its hi-vis panels help keep her extra visible in the water, and the DuraSkin outer fabric in the legs makes this wetsuit super durable.
Key features of the Vitalis Shorty
💦 Designed with short sleeves and legs, suitable for water sports as well as swimming 💦 DuraSkin fabric in legs makes it resistant to wear 💦 Easy to take on and off 💦 Up to size XL
If you want to take your training into colder temperatures, perhaps even do a winter event, then the Zeal Thermal is the wetsuit for you. This wetsuit has a high level of heat retention and flexibility. The thermal X2 lining gives exceptional insulation and the high thickness panels help keep you neutrally buoyant. This conserves your energy in really cold temperatures. In this wetsuit, Abi was
able to train in her local lake last winter!
Key features of the Zeal Thermal
💦 Thermal X2 inner lining for supreme warmth 💦 Yamomoto
40X+ for maximum elasticity 💦 Closely fitted neck and limb areas and Batwing hood prevent water ingress 💦 Up to size XL
