The 7 Best Summer Wetsuits For 2022

Vissla 7 Seas 3​/2 Chest Zip Wetsuit – *our top pick*

Highlights

• Very stretchy neoprene
• Seems lighter than other 3/2s
• Chest entry and good body contours

There’s a constant debate going on at The Surf Atlas as to who wins out when it comes to the top overall wetsuit brand. Two big names are always up there – Xcel (more on them later!) and Vissla. Let’s put it this way: This OC-based outfitter out of Aliso Viejo has a very loyal following and we can see why. They basically make fantastic suits, all of the time.

More than that, when it comes to neoprene for the warmer months of the year, we think they’re a trick ahead of the pack. Vissla’s Japanese limestone-based material is air-bubble light and feels, at least to us, just a little more flexy than other stuff at the same price point.

That might be down to the manufacturing principle – Vissla try to offer “everything you need in a wetsuit and nothing you don’t”. Or, it could be the Super Stretch infusion in the outers and the Brain Fuzz thermal lining, which is thinner but just as toasty as most of its competitors.

More generally speaking, the 7 Seas has established itself as one of the go-to midrange options on the market today. At just a touch over $200 apiece, you can spend a whole load more on gear if you’d like. But we’d ask why bother? You’re getting all the bells and whistles in a steamer that looks pretty slick and fantastic here. Oh, and did we mention that it takes like 20-30 minutes to dry in warm weather.

• Buy Vissla 7 Seas from evo.com
• Buy Vissla 7 Seas from Amazon US

XCEL Comp X Short Sleeve 2mm Fullsuit

Highlights

• 2mm all over makes it good for warmer destinations
• Great durability
• Short-sleeve construction for added range of movement

Best for? High performance surfing in places that get very hot.

Remember we mentioned the two big names of wetsuit making today? Well…here’s the other contender. Some of us simply won’t surf in anything other than an Xcel. Once you get a feel for the unique form of their tech-heavy suits, it can seem like nothing else will do. That’s certainly where our surf writer Tom Lacmundy is right about now. He says “the Xcel Comp is the pinnacle of summer surf suits and it’s been my choice on the French Atlantic coast from May to August virtually every season for the last three years”.

Big words. But they come backed up by some nifty technology, which is precisely what you’d expect of the top-of-the-range suit from the Xcel flagship. You’ve got the Thermolite linings, which harness body heat to get the inside membranes of the suit nice and toasty, nice and fast. On top of that, there’s trademark Xcel Japanese limestone, which we don’t find quite as light as Vissla’s but is probably a touch more durable. Swings and roundabouts, eh?

How it’s put together is the real key of the Xcel, though. This is one beautiful aesthetic of a suit, with a single front panel that helps to maximize your range of movement. There’s also blind-stitched seams throughout and a lovely, silky-feel that’s a godsend for anyone (AKA me!) who’s prone to neck rashes after long sessions in the sun.

Another main reason the Comp reigns highly on our list of the best summer wetsuits for 2022 is that it’s 2mm all over. It’s thinner and lighter than its 3/2 compadres, so it’s a great choice for the warmer summer destinations that still require neoprene – Portugal, Spain, Baja. That’s also backed up by the short-sleeve construction, which makes it perfect for places with less summertime wind.

• Buy XCEL Comp X from evo.com
• Buy XCEL Comp X from Xcel

XCEL 3​/2 Infiniti Wetsuit

Highlights

• Official Wetsuit of the Year range
• Lots of features that keep the vast majority of surfers happy
• Channel Flex is great for surfers who paddle and turn a lot

Best for? Really all surfers! This could easily have been our top pick.

When we dragged on the Xcel Infiniti winter suit this past cold season, we felt like yelling, “ah – they’ve done it again”. We later found out that the long-running range had garnered the prestigious Wetsuit of the Year accolade at the Surf Industry Manufacturers Awards (SIMA). At least we know we’re not alone in falling in love with this particular piece…

The Infiniti is a sort of sit-between that runs alongside the Comp and the Comp X suits that form the higher end of the range from Xcel. However, it’s a bit more of an all-rounder than those performance models in our opinion. One industry Mag even described it as the “Golf GTI” of suits. The reason? There’s lots of focus on what the everyman surfer wants. AKA: Strong thermal features meets loads of flex.

You’re sure to feel comfy thanks to the Channel Flex addition. It’s a crosshatch woven fabric that brings lots of fibres at different angles against each other. The result? A very bendy wetsuit surface that will fold that way for your next duck dive; this way for that drop-in. Radiant Rebound – a metal-like interior lining – is another thing that works almost without you noticing, but it does add considerable warmth on the key panels.

Basically this is the sort of solid buy that will last you several summer seasons and check all the boxes. You really can’t go wrong.

• Buy Xcel Infiniti from Xcel
• Buy Xcel Infiniti on evo.com
• Buy Xcel Infinity from Amazon US

O’Neill 3​/2 Reactor II Back Zip Wetsuit

Highlights

• Graphene-coated yarn to increase warmth
• Affordability
• Great entry-level suit

Best for? Your first ever summer wetsuit

If you’re watching the dollars and cents but still want in on the action when it comes to the best summer wetsuits for 2022, we really don’t think there’s much scope to go wrong on the O’Neill Reactor range. For starters, the name’s been around since, well, the very beginning of wetsuits. What’s more, they are among the most solid entry-level products on the market and have been for some time (not to mention that O’Neill produce consistently reliable higher-end suits to boot).

Okay, so the price point isn’t going to quite beat a $100 second hander, but you will feel the benefit from the Wind-proof Smoothskin tech that helps to cut out gusts when you’re practicing the pop up out in the ocean. . That will trap in the warmth and means the suit does a good job during those summer onshore sessions. You also Krypto Knee Padz, which really is something that should appeal to starter surfers who might spend a lot of time in contact with rough foam decks or hard epoxy.

We also find these O’Neill Reactor suits to have a generally all-round standard fit. They are tight (we wear medium-tall but are probably more towards the medium side of the scale) and come in like a glove if you’re a skinny surfer (ya, we need to eat some more Danishes).

• Buy O’Neil Reactor from evo.com
• Buy O’Neil Reactor from Amazon US

XCEL Axis 2mm Short Sleeve Springsuit

Highlights

• Best pick for hot weather
• Uber flexy
• No front zips for the bodyboarders

Best for? Shorties like the Xcel Axis are the best summer wetsuits for the hotter destinations where the sun gets scorching!

Sometimes when things get super hot in August and September, you need even less coverage than you might of thought. These are the days we dream of, when the surf sunscreen is scrawled over the skin and the rays are beating down. AKA – shorty time.

A shorty is essentially everything you get in a standard summer suit, only the arms or the legs have been lopped off. Nope, it’s not down to an unfortunate factory mishap. It’s to help with heat management in the hotter destinations – places like Portugal, Morocco and Mexico – where the ocean still calls for neoprene but the mercury likes to soar.

As shorties go, we simply can’t shake our love for the Xcel Axis. It’s got a hint of the tri suit or diver’s suit about it, but there’s mega flex involved and the whole thing comes in at sub-$100. We also like that it’s back zip to keep things flat on front for the foamers. Oh, and it has the trademark Performance Stretch Neoprene from Xcel – stretchier than a rubber band that stuff!

• Buy Xcel Axis from evo.com
• Buy Xcel Axis from Xcel
• Buy Xcel Axis from Surfdome
• Buy Xcel Axis from Amazon US

Sisstrevolution 3​/2 Summer Seas Back Zip Wetsuit

Highlights

• Fantastically fitted suits
• Glideskin neck entry to reduce rubbing
• Looks great

Best for? Sisstrevolution make the best summer wetsuits for women right now in our opinion.

If the Xcel Infiniti has been hitting the headlines for its SIMA award and that’s one special suit, it makes sense to see what it beat in the final. Cue relatively-new-to-the-market Sisstrevolution. An offshoot of Vissla and based out of sunny California, they’re in a good place to create some seriously groundbreaking stuff. And that’s precisely what they’ve done…

The Sisstrevolution 3​/2 7 Seas is a gorgeous all-rounder of a summer suit for women. It adds curved body fits to panels of soft limestone neoprene that’s eco-friendly and very stretchy. There’s Glideskin on the neck for extra comfort around high-contact zones and you’ll definitely feel the protection from the Supratex knee pads, which are well hidden in the body of the suit.

We also reckon the Sisstrevolution also look fantastic. The 7 Seas version is also available in plain, slick black, or there’s a floral panel version with something to look at on the uppers.

• Buy Sisstrevolution 3​/2 from evo.com

O’Neill 3​/2 Reactor II Back Zip Wetsuit

Highlights

• Affordable!
• Reliable industry name
• Back zip for easy entry

Best for? The women’s entry level suit for beginner and intermediate surfers.

The O’Neill Reactor has already had an honorable mention on our selection of the best wetsuits for men above. It’s got the same here, coming in as a forever-reliable entry-level steamer that should carry most beginner surfers through their first few warm seasons and then some. The key here is less is more. Simplicity reigns supreme with single chest and back panel construction, coupled with an easy-pull zip for quick closing and fast changes.

While it might be on the budget end of the spectrum, the Reactor does have some nice tech. Ultraflex Neoprene means there’s some good movement range in there. And then there are the Flatlock Seams, which will help the suit stay new for longer by minimizing contact zones on the foam or epoxy.

We won’t wax lyrical too much about this one. At heart it’s a simple wetsuit that comes in at a happy price point. We’ve used many in our time and they are still our No.1 recommendation to starting surfers looking to get serious.

• Buy O’Neill Reactor womens from evo.com
• Buy O’Neill Reactor womens from Amazon US

Vissla 7 Seas 3​/2 Chest Zip Wetsuit – *our top pick*

Highlights

• Very stretchy neoprene
• Seems lighter than other 3/2s
• Chest entry and good body contours

There’s a constant debate going on at The Surf Atlas as to who wins out when it comes to the top overall wetsuit brand. Two big names are always up there – Xcel (more on them later!) and Vissla. Let’s put it this way: This OC-based outfitter out of Aliso Viejo has a very loyal following and we can see why. They basically make fantastic suits, all of the time.

More than that, when it comes to neoprene for the warmer months of the year, we think they’re a trick ahead of the pack. Vissla’s Japanese limestone-based material is air-bubble light and feels, at least to us, just a little more flexy than other stuff at the same price point.

That might be down to the manufacturing principle – Vissla try to offer “everything you need in a wetsuit and nothing you don’t”. Or, it could be the Super Stretch infusion in the outers and the Brain Fuzz thermal lining, which is thinner but just as toasty as most of its competitors.

More generally speaking, the 7 Seas has established itself as one of the go-to midrange options on the market today. At just a touch over $200 apiece, you can spend a whole load more on gear if you’d like. But we’d ask why bother? You’re getting all the bells and whistles in a steamer that looks pretty slick and fantastic here. Oh, and did we mention that it takes like 20-30 minutes in the sun to dry.

XCEL 3​/2 Infiniti X2 LTD Wetsuit – The best if you have the moolah!

Highlights

• Official Wetsuit of the Year range
• Lots of features that keep the vast majority of surfers happy
• Channel Flex is great for surfers who paddle and turn a lot

Best for? Serious surfers after top-of-the-range sruff! This could easily have been our top pick.

When we dragged on the Xcel Infiniti winter suit this past cold season, we felt like yelling, “ah – they’ve done it again”. We later found out that the long-running range had garnered the prestigious Wetsuit of the Year accolade at the Surf Industry Manufacturers Awards (SIMA). At least we know we’re not alone in falling in love with this particular neoprene…

The Infiniti is a sort of sit-between that runs alongside the Comp and the Comp X suits that form the higher end of the range from Xcel. However, it’s a bit more of an all-rounder than those performance models in our opinion. One industry Mag even described it as the “Golf GTI” of suits. The reason? There’s lots of focus on what the everyman surfer wants. AKA: Strong thermal features meets loads of flex.

You’re sure to feel comfy thanks to the Channel Flex addition. It’s a crosshatch woven fabric that brings lots of fibres at different angles against each other. The result? A very bendy wetsuit surface that will fold that way for your next duck dive; this way for that drop-in. Radiant Rebound – a metal-like interior lining – is another thing that works almost without you noticing, but it does add considerable warmth on the key panels.

Basically this is the sort of solid buy that will last you several summer seasons and check all the boxes. You really can’t go wrong.

Hurley Advantage Plus 3/2mm Full Suit Wetsuit

Highlights

• Something a little different
• Lightweight neoprene and suit design
• Always looks great

Best for? Everyday surfers who want something that drys quick and looks great.

Once upon a time, Hurley was the make that surfers loved to hate. It sort of straddled that strange line between hip urban wear and proper water gear. It just seemed like they were too concerned with getting the alignment of those ubiquotous suit stripes right to consider dropping in any serios thermo tech or whatnot. Not any more. Seriously, we’re about to recommend you go out and by a Hurley summer suit, and we can’t quite believe it.

Truth be told, things have come a very long way for these guys. New 100% neoprene construction with a trademark Exoflex material has really upped the bendiness of the rubber. They’ve dropped in some super-well-concealed kneepads that give good protection but hardly bring a bump to the leg panels. Oh, and we also love the chest-panel key storage, an innovation we can’t quite understand hasn’t been adopted across the board by now.

Where the Hurley excelled for us was in fast drying. Now that’s not such an issue in the summer months when you might have more sun to toast the wetties after a sesh (or, more importantly, before the next sesh). But it still makes a difference in places like Wales and Scotland when rays aren’t 100%, and means you’re less likely to be pulling on that damp mush when the swell gets kicking.

Billabong 2/2mm Absolute Flatlock Full Wetsuit

Highlights

• 2mm all over means it’s great for hotter parts of the country/Europe
• Affordability
• Great entry-level suit

Best for? Your first ever summer wetsuit

When Billabong thought up the Absolute range the aim was to create a premium suit without the premium prices. On the whole, we’d say they’ve done a cracking job of that. Yes, we often pull one on in rental outlets in Europe (they seem to be all the rage in Portugal) and think, jeez this is stiff. But 10-20 minutes into the surf that neoprene really loosens up and there’s very little sacrifice with thermal insulation to boot.

We’re not going to start spinning off the tech like you’re buying a £300 flagship here. You aren’t. This is a simple, less-is-more option for surfers on the hunt for something solid that will not break the bank. That’s what you get: Superflex fabric that’s good for medium-length surfing, a Silicone stretch lining to give versatility to the fit, and even a nod at new environmental concerns with partially recycled fabrics. Not bad at all for just a whisker over 100 quid!

Xcel Axis 3/2mm Back Zip Mens Wetsuit

Highlights

• Value for money!
• Panel thicknesses change seamlessly
• Same limestone neoprene that’s used in Xcel’s flagship models

Best for? Bargain hunters

Price wise, we think you’d be very hard pushed to find any wetsuit on the market that can even come close to the Xcel Axis in 3/2. Yes, there might be some marketplace second hander that’s less. But don’t lose sight of the fact that the limestone neo that’s used in these starter models is the very same stuff that’s used in the £300+ suits that sit at the very top of the Xcel range. It’s a no brainer if you’re after something simple but are low on dosh.

We sure you’ve heard us gush over the quality of the Xcel rubber before so we won’t bore you with that love-in again. Suffice to say that it hits that perfect balance between flex and thermal properties and allows for a fantastic range of movement. On top of that, you’ll get flatlock seam construction to keep the suit nice and trim, along with good transitions from the 3mm and 2mm panels.

Downsides here are that the suit rarely seems to be in stock (high demand, eh?) and that it can take a little longer to dry than other Xcel models. Also, don’t go thinking this is a forever suit. It’s not. A few seasons at most. Did we mention it was under £100?

Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 3/2mm Back Zip Womens Wetsuit

Highlights

• Fantastically fitted suits
• Very reliable make – you’re in good hands here
• E3 neoprene with E4 thermo (see below)

Best for? Solid all-round suit with an eye on performance surfers

Rip Curl are seriously consistent performers in the world of wetsuits. The only reason they’ve not been mentioned yet is because we’ve got something of an in-house obsession with the current tech coming from Xcel and Vissla. But then we asked women riders what they had their eye on this summer and there was one standout mention: the 3/2 Dawn Patrol. It’s a name that seasoned surfers will have heard before and with good reason…

Yep, this is a very solid all-round suit that’s packed with RC’s excellent E3 and E4 neoprene – a combo that gives almost unparalleled warmth and flex balance at this price point. If we had to say, we’d reckon this was aimed at aggressive intermediate surfers who do medium to long summer sessions in the UK and northern Europe. But the truth is it’s a cross-level, cross-location steamer that’s good to go no matter what.

Roxy 3/2mm Syncro Womens Wetsuit

Highlights

• Affordable!
• Reliable industry name
• Back zip for easy entry

Best for? The women’s entry level suit for beginner and intermediate surfers.

There’s some seriously punchy tech on offer in the Roxy 3/2mm Syncro Womens Wetsuit. It’s all classic Roxy stuff – a 100% StretchFlight rubber that means good range of movement, blind-stitched seams to keep the whole thing trim and easy to pull on and off, and Supratex knee pads to protect key contact areas (lovely for foam boarders and those on stiff fiber).

But it’s the Vapor Stretch that puts this one up there with the finest of the fine summer wetsuits for women. That’s specifically designed to harness UV heat from the sun and channel it back into the suit. We’ve found it hard to tell how well it works because there’s also an in-built infra-red warming channel, but let’s put it this way: We have NEVER shivered on the way out of the water between May and September if the Syncro was in the bag!