FREESPIRIT Kids' Short Wetsuit

Product Information

Although it’s also available in a highly recommended and warmer 4/3mm design that will extend your surf season, we’ve chosen this 3/2mm chest-zipper design because it’s lightweight and has a surprising amount of stretch. It also features a 3D knitted liner that’s not only soft and comfortable against the skin but makes it so much warmer than you’d imagine – it’s rated for temperatures between 13°C and 18°C, which makes it ideal for using in UK seas from late spring through to autumn.

The second alternative to neoprene is the greenest: Yulex. This 100% plant-based natural rubber produces 80% less CO2 emissions than neoprene, and its production requires no mining or drilling, or non-renewable resources like petroleum or limestone. It’s also impressively stretchy and performs as well as neoprene, but, you guessed it, choosing it will cost you more. Fancy a spot of open-water swimming? Maybe you’ve become obsessed with stand-up paddle boarding? Or perhaps you’re hoping to get gnarly in the surf? However you enjoy the open waters, a good quality wetsuit will keep you warmer for longer, which means more fun for you and the kids.ITIWIT Canoe Kayak and Stand-up Paddle 2mm Wetsuit: Best value wetsuit for paddling and water sports Strictly speaking, no you don’t. Wild-swimmers and cold-water therapy enthusiasts may even scoff at the idea. However, should you not be gifted with such resilience, a wetsuit can make the experience of getting into cold water much more bearable. And however hardy you think you are, the added warmth provided by a wetsuit can also help you to spend longer periods of time in the water. How do wetsuits work? A full wetsuit is what most people picture when talking about wetsuits. They’re designed to cover your full body, with long sleeves and full-length legs. For full coverage, you can also get hoods, gloves and boots to keep you warm in the coldest of conditions. However, bearing in mind that very cheap neoprene can be surprisingly stiff, it might be worth spending a bit more to save having to wrestle yourself – and possibly the kids – into them every time. Specific swimming wetsuits are also available, which feature extra layers of neoprene in specific areas to increase buoyancy in the water. These can be found in full, sleeveless or shorty designs.

While none of the options on our list quite reach the top end of the price spectrum, it’s a good idea to invest a little more if you’re going to be engaging in watersports or open-water swimming on a regular basis. But if you’re only likely to have the occasional cold-water dip, or just need something for a summer surfing holiday, there are still some very affordable entry-level wetsuits, which we’ve included below. Is neoprene eco-friendly? As the name implies, wetsuits are not waterproof and are designed to get… well, wet. Made from stretchy neoprene – although alternative, more eco-friendly options are available (see below) – wetsuits keep you warm thanks to bubbles in the material that trap warm air, and thermal linings. When you enter the water, a small layer fills the suit and is then heated up by your body temperature to act as more insulation. This is why the fit is so important – if your suit is too baggy, too much water will flush through, making you cold. What types of wetsuit are there? However, the main reason to highlight the Nieuwland collection is that they’re made with Yulex, the greenest alternative to neoprene available. Made from this natural rubber, along with recycled spandex and polyester, it has a generous four-way stretch and looks great. Yulex feels almost identical to neoprene, though we did notice it was extremely tight to begin with, compared to a synthetic suit, but Finisterre assures us it will loosen after a few wears. Amazingly, Roka sells this premium wetsuit as an ‘entry level’ option, but unless you’re a professional triathlete, or have plans to swim the Atlantic, this has all the features you need to improve your outdoor swims.

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A “shorty” refers to a wetsuit with the arms and legs cut short. It’s a good choice for the warmer months when the sea can still be cool, but not so cold that you need a full wetsuit. Don’t forget, you can also get too hot in a wetsuit. During our August testing, we found a 3mm wetsuit was simply too hot to use on an inflatable obstacle course on an inland lake, but was ideal in the sea.