Orca Athlex Flex V2 vs Blueseventy Fusion: mid-range wetsuits do battle
Orca Athlex Flex V2 vs the Blueseventy Fusion: we put two mid-range wetsuits head-to-head to see which you should buy
The Orca Athlex Flex V2 and the Blueseventy Fusion are two closely matched mid-range triathlon wetsuits in terms of price and performance.
Both brands claim their respective wetsuit is fast in the water and quick to get out.
Open-water swim coach and 220 Triathlon gear tester Sarah Broadley recently reviewed these triathlon wetsuit as part of a bumper group test.
Both scored highly for comfort, flexibility and buoyancy, but is it worth spending slightly more on the Blueseventy?
With just $50 / £50 separating them, which you should choose?
Orca Athlex Float V2 vs Blueseventy Fusion specs
In that they both have hydrodynamic coatings, are made from supple Yamamoto neoprene and come in a wide size range, the specs of these wetsuits are similar.
The key difference is buoyancy. The Orca Athlex Flex V2 has neutral buoyancy whereas the Blueseventy has thicker neoprene in the legs. This should lift them higher in the water than the Orca.
To help you remove the wetsuit in T1, the Blueseventy has a few features to speed things up, such as transition cuffs. But I found the Orca was easy to pull off too.
| Orca Athlex Flex V2 | Blueseventy Fusion | |
| Price | $399 / £299 | $450 / £350 |
| Buoyancy | Not listed, medium | 5mm legs, high buoyancy |
| Features | Hydrodynamic coatings, highly flexible | Low neckline, quick transition cuffs, SCS coating, 39-cell Yamamoto neoprene |
| Sizes | Men: 4-11, orca sizing Women: XS-XL | Women: XS-XL Men: XS-XXL |
Orca Athlex Float V2 vs Blueseventy Fusion performance
In light of that buoyancy profile, the Athlex Flex V2 is a better option for more experienced swimmers who already have perfected their swimming position or those whose legs don’t sink.
Consider the latest version of the Orca Athlex Float if you want more buoyancy support on your legs.
The Fusion suits triathletes who could benefit from better body positioning. Its 5mm neoprene in the upper legs and hips provides significant buoyancy, helping to lift the lower body and reduce drag for a more streamlined swim.
Being slightly longer in the leg than most wetsuits, the Fusion will fit taller athletes better than many. If you’re shorter this could cause neoprene to bunch behind the knee, but this wasn’t noticeable in the water.
Meanwhile the Athlex Flex comes up quite large and you might need to size down.
Another area the Blueseventy has the advantage is features. It has a low-profile, flexible neckline, a VO2 chest panel to help chest expansion, and ankle cuffs. The Orca’s features list is short in comparison.
Multi-panel thickness to aid freedom of movement around the shoulders and hydrodynamic coatings combine to make both wetsuits feel fast when doing front crawl.
When you come to transition, the Orca has the edge, although the Blueseventy is also easy to get out of. I found the Athlex Flex V2 one of the easiest wetsuits to remove, thanks in part to its excellent zipper.
Orca Athlex Float V2 vs Blueseventy Fusion value for money
The Orca is cheaper than the Blueseventy, but the latter’s performance means you get more for more money.
Although both the Orca Athlex Flow V2 and the Blueseventy Fusion constitute good value for money, the best budget wetsuits do undercut them.
I awarded the sub-£200 Huub Surface wetsuit 79% in my review, so you can get a quality wetsuit for much less.
In terms of its score, the Zoot Kona 2.0 slotted in between the Orca and Blueseventy. Online, you can find it on sale cheaper than both.
Orca Athlex Float V2 vs Blueseventy Fusion verdict
We have a winner. The Blueseventy Fusion’s superior fit, uninhibting flexibility, supportive buoyancy profile and added features edge it over the Orca.
That’s reflected in its class-leading score of 91% and my highly positive verdict.
The Orca Athlex V2 is still a quality performer, getting 4.5 stars on account of its comfort, flexibility, ease of removal and neutral buoyancy. This last characteristic is a double-edged sword though, which might not suit swimmers whose legs sink. Its sizing also comes up a bit big.
Even considering the Blueseventy Fusion’s higher price ($450 / £350 vs $399 / £299), I think it’s the better choice.
How we tested
I tested these open-water wetsuits in a lake to assess their comfort, performance, buoyancy, durability, hydrodynamics, zipper, removal speed, value for money and visual design.
Being an open-water swim coach and triathlete (I recently completed Valencia 70.3) I swam in countless wetsuits and know what works well in a triathlon too.
Since the Blueseventy Fusion scored 91% in my review, that makes it a market-leading product. Scoring in the mid-eighties also means the Orca Athlex Flex V2 is an impressive bit of kit.
For more details, see how we rate and test products.
Sarah Broadley
