Orca Athlex Flex V2

The Athlex Flex V2 triathlon wetsuit from Orca is designed with athletes who already have a good natural body position in the water.

It’s aimed at confident swimmers who don’t need lots of added lift through the hips and legs and instead want freedom of movement and a balanced feel.

The suit uses Yamamoto neoprene, well regarded for its flexibility and comfort, and features strategic paneling in various thicknesses to offer medium buoyancy and excellent flexibility where it’s needed most.

Features and design

Straight out of the box, the suit feels soft and pliable. The material is lightweight and stretches easily in the hands, giving the impression of a wetsuit that won’t fight against your stroke.

It doesn’t have that stiff or rubbery feel you sometimes get with thicker or less advanced suits.

The fabric quality feels high-end, and there’s a consistent smoothness to the exterior thanks to the SCS (Super Composite Skin) coating, which is there to improve hydrodynamics and help water slide off more efficiently during the swim.

Visually, the suit also stands out. It has a clean, modern look, with turquoise graphic line designs on the arms and along the rear zip line that give it a sharp edge without being overdesigned.

These small details don’t just look good in promotional photos – they’re clear enough to help with arm visibility during a race start or mass swim, which can be useful for sighting and body awareness.

A practical detail I really appreciated: the suit comes with a pair of protective gloves included in the packaging.

These are a small but very helpful touch, as they allow you to put the suit on without damaging the delicate surface coating, especially if you’re trying to hurry into it with damp or cold hands.

The panel construction is a strong point of the Athlex Flex. Orca has used multi-thickness zones to support the body and enhance performance.

The most flexible panels are placed in the upper arms, shoulders, back, and inner thighs, which translates to a suit that moves easily with your stroke and kick.

The zipper is also well designed. It ran up easily and securely, and I was able to put the suit on fully without needing any outside help.

For solo swimmers or those training alone, that’s a real convenience – not having to rely on someone else to get zipped in makes it much easier to just get in and go.

Performance and fit

I found the suit to be one of the easiest I’ve ever had to get on. The glide and stretch in the material meant I didn’t have to wrestle with it or spend ages pulling and adjusting.

The fit through the legs and hips was generally good, and I was pleased to find that there was plenty of torso length, which is something I always look out for as someone with a longer upper body.

That said, I could probably have gone down a size. I noticed that the hip and pelvis area felt slightly loose, with a little too much excess material and some water ingress in that region during my swim.

Going down a size would likely solve this, as the suit is flexible enough to still offer a good range of motion.

During front crawl, I felt no restriction through the shoulders or upper arms – the fit was snug but not tight, with good contact in the armpits and along the upper torso.

Even over a 5km swim – the distance I tested it to – I didn’t experience any fatigue or discomfort due to resistance from the suit.

The suit also does a solid job in terms of thermal protection, despite being on the thinner, more flexible side overall.

The slightly thicker panels on the front torso and upper legs help to keep your core warm without creating the overpowering buoyancy you get in some beginner suits.

The balance feels right for experienced swimmers who want comfort but don’t want to feel like they’re being forced into an unnatural position.

That neutral buoyancy is one of the main characteristics of the Athlex Flex. It’s supportive but not intrusive, allowing you to swim with your own form rather than the suit dictating it.

The SCS outer coating, in addition to improving hydrodynamics, also helps to reduce water absorption, which is useful not just for swimming speed but also for comfort and ease of movement once you’re out of the water.

One of the standout features of this suit is how easily it comes off. The combination of hydrophobic materials, flexible upper body panels, and smooth inner linings means you can peel it off quickly and efficiently.

That makes a big difference in triathlon transitions, where every second counts – and when you’re already pushing hard, anything that reduces the effort of T1 is welcome.

The bottom line

For an entry-level triathlon wetsuit, the Athlex Flex delivers a really impressive combination of comfort, flexibility, and usability.

It’s quick to get on, quick to take off, and performs well over long distances. If you’re a confident open-water front crawl swimmer and don’t need significant help with buoyancy, this would be a great option for the season ahead.

Just consider sizing down if you’re borderline on the size chart – the flexibility of the suit gives you some wiggle room without compromising fit or movement.

Price	$399 / £299
Buoyancy	Not listed, medium
Features	Hydrodynamic coatings, highly flexible
Sizes	Men: 4-11, orca sizing Women: XS-XL