Best swimrun wetsuits reviewed for racing and training in 2025

Thinking about trying swimrun for the first time, and wondering if you really need to splash out on a new swimrun wetsuit? Well, in short, we would say yes.

Okay, you can do a race in an old triathlon wetsuit cut down above the knees (and possibly arms too), but it’ll likely be uncomfortable to run in and lack many of the features that specialist swimrun wetsuits do.

These include a front zip for flexibility, extra buoyancy in the legs and torso, stretchy nylon panels in the underarms and groin for easier running, and pockets for all your essential kit (you have to carry a whistle, map, compass and bandage in swimrun).

The good news? As the sport has grown in popularity so have the number of suits available.

Now, over to 220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster, swimrun coach Jude Palmer and former 220 staff writer Kate Milsom to reveal the results of their testing…

We’ve also rounded up the best open-water swimming wetsuits designed for staying warm during longer swims.

Meet our testers

Helen Webster is editor of 220 Triathlon, an open-water swim coach and experienced multisporter and gear tester.

Sarah Broadley also coaches open-water swimming alongside competing in triathlons and swimruns, and reviewing kit for 220.

Running coach and marathoner Jude Palmer has tested running gear, such as shoes, for 220 for several years.

Best swimrun wetsuits for men and women in 2025

1.Orca Vanir Flex

Price	$259/£199
Construction	Yamamoto 39 Neoprene and high-performance, high-stretch fabrics
Features	Front-zip; integrated 15×12 cm back pocket
Sizing	Women: XS, S, M, L, XL; men: 6-11

Orca claims the Vanir Flex is its most comfortable swimrun wetsuit, and the brand is not exaggerating.

The simple design of open-cell neoprene legs and bum area provide great flexibility on the runs and means the material is less likely to snag as you scramble in and out of swims.

The smoother neoprene on the top half not only improves the suit’s hydrodynamics, but also makes for a stylish look, while the removable arm sleeves fit well, stay in place and give great choice for staying cool on longer runs or in warmer waters.

Though it’s worth noting that Orca also offers a thermal swimrun suit, the more premium Aesir Thermal, for roughly double the price.

A front zip makes cabbing down (unzipping and peeling the top of your swimrun wetsuit down to your waist) easy and a soft neckline is much appreciated to avoid chafe.

The size (15cm x 12cm) of the back pocket on the Vanir Flex is a great sign that this brand understands the sport, as the large pocket is great for stashing mandatory kit or a filled soft flask.

Overall, the Vanir delivers great comfort and super flexibility, especially around the all-important shoulders and legs.

Plus, at $259/£199 it offers a great suit and a great price for newcomers to the sport or those looking for a versatile all-rounder.

I wore a women’s medium and found it true to size. However, Orca currently offers nine sizes for men compared to just five for women, and it would be good to see this improved upon.

Review by Helen Webster

2.2XU Pro Swim Run

Price	£375 (US pricing N/A)
Construction	Yamamoto SCS-coated neoprene; HyperFlex 1.5mm shoulder and underarm panels; 8mm leg buoyancy inserts
Features	Long front zip; large front and rear pockets
Sizing	Women: XS-XL; men: S-XXL

Fit is key with any wetsuit, but especially with one you have to run in.

The 2XU size chart initially had me in a medium but, after experiencing a lot of water ingress, I sized down to a small.

I loved the 8mm upper leg inserts that, combined with stretchy leg backs, gives good buoyancy but not at the expense of run mobility.

The arms are 1.5mm and felt plenty flexible enough for swimming, and there are cut guides with rubber grippers if you choose to remove them.

After sizing down I did find I had to unzip on longer runs or the suit felt restrictive across the body, but that snugness was welcome for warmth.

It has a large, zipped rear pocket and you get a quality whistle in a breast pocket.

It’s a stylish-looking suit, although for partner-visibility and safety I wish 2XU had opted for a brighter colour and not this girlie mauve (men’s in red).

Review by Helen Webster

3.Head MyBoost Pro

Price	£445 (US pricing N/A)
Construction	4mm air cell neoprene; Glideskin chest and quad coating; 2mm neoprene on hips and thighs
Features	Long front and back zip; large front and rear pockets; front and back tow loops
Sizing	Women: XS-XL

Head was one of the original swimrun innovators and the brand has raised its game again for 2019 with the newly-designed MyBoost Pro – and it shows.

The suit fits perfectly and true to the size guide. In the swim it kept me buoyant (although you have the option of adding more buoyancy inserts into clever internal pockets if you need them) and was the suit on test with the least water ingress on the neck.

Here you get a full front zip, but Head has added a small third-length zip on the back of the neck to add flexibility and to make removal easier, which is a neat touch.

Stretchy panels are perfectly placed to make running easier and neoprene cuffs on the arms and legs keep them snugly in place.

Added features include a whistle on the zip, a large zipped rear pocket large enough for all our essential kit and a tow-loop on the front for linking to your partner in the swim.

Review by Helen Webster

4.Zone3 Evolution

Price	$687.70/£399.99
Construction	SCS 1.5mm Yamamoto neoprene; 3mm buoyancy panels; high visibiity strips;
Features	Long front and back zip; Six pockets; removable arms
Sizing	Women: XS-XL; men: S-2XL

The Evolution was the first swimrun specific wetsuit to become popular in the UK and it’s great to see it having a welcome refresh.

Although not the lightest here, the Evolution is lighter than previous models and feels comfortable both in the water and on the run.

I wore a women’s size medium and found it true to size. Flexibility on the legs and shoulders is good and it comes with arm sleeves for colder swims (many competitors wear these folded at the wrists, then pull them up for swimming).

This wetsuit looks good and it’s great to see it move away from the gender bias colours to orange highlights.

Orange is the most visible colour underwater, so there’s science here, too!

If you want plenty of storage, the Evolution is for you as there are two separate zipped back pockets, thigh pockets, plus two inside the torso.

With slightly thicker neoprene on the chest area, the Evolution offers more buoyancy to the swimmer and the rougher fabric on the lower half makes it less likely to catch on obstacles.

Review by Jude Palmer

5.Orca Aesir Flex

Price	$659/£449
Material	Yamamoto and advanced stretch fabric
Buoyancy	2mm arms / 3mm core / 2mm thighs
Fit	True to size
Storage	1 internal rear pocket (no zip)
Sleeves	Detachable sleeves
Sizing	Women: XS-XL Men: 4-11 (orca sizing)
Colours	Black and green

The Orca Aesir Flex is called the most elastic wetsuit in Orca’s range, and it delivers on its promise of suppleness and flexibility.

This wetsuit is lightweight, feels premium, and is exceptionally easy to get on and off. Once worn, it conforms closely to the body, feeling like a true second skin.

Its construction utilises advanced materials, including Yamamoto fabrics, to achieve its high flexibility. This makes it particularly perfect for swimrun, offering an overall fabulous fit.

The suit is true to size, and when fully zipped and secured with the neck Velcro, it provides an excellent seal to prevent water ingress.

The Aesir features clever construction with more hardwearing fabric utilized in the shorts, proving very durable in testing. There was no evidence of abrasion from contact with rocks during training and racing, and no wear was observed on the inner legs. The seams in this area are also reinforced, contributing to long-term durability.

My only point of criticism for the suit concerns the storage. It has just one internal pocket (located inside the back). While comfortable, as items sit securely in the small of your back, the pocket lacks a zip for secure closure.

Review by Sarah Broadley

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6.Zone3 Versa

Price	$362.70/$219
Material	50% Yulex and 50% Speedflo neoprene
Buoyancy	1mm arms and legs / 3mm torso
Fit	Slightly tight around armpits
Storage	1 large rear zip pocket ; 2 internal waist pockets
Sleeves	Detachable sleeves
Sizing	Women: XS-XL Men: S-2XL
Colours	Black and orange

The Zone3 Versa has vivid shoulders to help you be seen in the water and the 50:50 ratio of Yulex Natural Rubber and Speedflo neoprene is a good compromise for swimrun.

Flatlock seams are comfortable and reinforced in high-stress areas. Getting the Versa on and odd isn’t that easy due to its relative stiffness.

However, it’s better in the water, with its blend of buoyancy, suppleness and warmth.

The downside on the run is that after draining pretty well the suit can get warm and chafe your armpits.

Review by Sarah Broadley

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How we tested swimrun wetsuits

We tested these suits during a number of hot weeks in the summer, performing multiple loops around our local lake and wooded run trails.

We considered warmth and buoyancy in the swim, flexibility and comfort in the run, and also what additional features, such as removable sleeves, an easy-to-peel-off top and storage pockets, are included.

Any score over 90% is class leading, 80-89% is still impressive and one of the best you can buy, while 70-79% is a decent performer. Anything below that starts to become a little average.

Features to look for in a swimrun wetsuit

Getting the right swimrun wetsuit can really make or break your day. Your suit needs to fit well enough that you can swim and run in it comfortably (trickier than it sounds) and it also needs to hit that sweet spot between keeping you warm enough in the water, but offering enough ventilation or options to unzip (or ‘cab down’ in swimrun terms) when you get warmer while running.

Swimrun wetsuits offer a range of options based on ability, too – do you want one which is super-lightweight for racing, but at the expense of buoyancy? Or are you a slower swimmer who needs to think about completing, rather than competing? Here are the key features to look out for:

Fit and comfort

A swimrun wetsuit needs to offer a good fit both while swimming, across the chest and range of movement in the arms, and while running – flexibility and lightness around the hip flexors and a zip-down option for when running gets hot. There’s a lot that goes into a swimrun suit, consider also that the fit around the neck is snug but with enough margin to avoid chafe.

Thickness vs buoyancy

A swimrun wetsuit should have varying buoyancy and will typically be thinned than a full-body wetsuit. Normally, neoprene around the legs is quite thin (1-2mm) to allow for flexibility while running, with the wetsuit being thickest at the core (3-5mm) for buoyancy and warmth, and thin (1-2mm) again at the arms for range of movement.

There’s a touch balance to strike in a swimrun suit, often buoyancy comes from external features like a pull-buoy you can attach to your upper thigh while running and additional foam insets to the suit or calf sleeves.

Materials

Look for suits with high-quality neoprene as the adventure aspect of swimrun typically puts you and your gear through the wringer (it’s fun, we promise). Yamamoto or GlideSkin offer great flexibility and buoyancy, while reinforced abrasion resistance panels at high-friction areas add to durability.

Swimrun-specific features

This isn’t your run of the mill wetsuit, a swimrun suit is packed with tech and handy features. A front (and sometimes back) zipper makes it easy to roll down the suit during run segments.

Meanwhile, internal pockets are where you can stash nutrition like a collapsible cup and snacks and separate arm sleeves make the suit more versatile to racing in different seasons.

Loops help to keep the cord in place between your partner at yourself. Some suits also have panels to slide in additional foam inserts.

Additional accessories to consider

Alongside a swimrun wetsuit, you’ll also need certain accessories in order to compete and train the swimrun sport. While some of them are optional, like hand paddles, others are not.

Consider paddles for additional propulsion while swimming (most suits have a paddle pocket for stashing them while running), additional foam inserts to leg sleeves or thigh panels for sinky legs alongside a pull-buoy, a whistle and wearable tow-float for solo racers.

How much should I spend on a swimrun wetsuit?

Most brands now offer a range of prices and specs, with entry-level ones from as little as $140 / £125 online and if that’s still too expensive, there’s bound to be someone in your local tri club who can lend you one for your first adventure.

In this test we’ve focussed on swimrun wetsuits across the price points, so there’s something for you if you’re looking for an upgrade and there’s an option if you’re unsure if this is the sport for you.

For this money we’d be looking for well-thought out features, excellent fit and flexibility, speed and adaptability for different conditions.