The Ultimate List of The Best Wetsuits for Kids For 2022

What’s in this guide to the best wetsuits for kids?

• Quiksilver 4/3mm Prologue Back Zip Boys – The best option for boys
• Roxy Girls Syncro 4/3 Back Zip – The best option for girls
• Rip Curl Junior Omega 4/3 Wetsuit – A good all-rounder for lots of ages
• O’Neill Youth Epic 4/3mm Chest Zip – Best chest zip wetsuit
• Billabong Absolute 5/4mm Hooded Boys Wetsuit – For proper winter surfing in Dec/Jan

The best wetsuits for kids…

Here we go folks…the best wetsuits for kids in 2022 are listed below. We’ve got choices for boys and girls and even littlest of surfers. Wherever possible we’ve tried to offer links to multiple places to buy em’, because lord knows stock of neoprene has been an issue right across the board in 2021!

Quiksilver 4/3mm Prologue Back Zip Boys – The best option for boys

Kids grow up FAST. You don’t need a Fleetwood Mac single to tell ya that, right? The downside for suit fittings means that could equal a new purchase year on year. That’s why we think the best wetsuit of the year should pack plenty of features but also be affordable. You might just find yourself making exactly the same purchase next season but in a size bigger.

That’s where we think the Quiksilver 4/3mm Prologue Back Zip Boys really comes up trump. It’s under £100 for the whole shebang but you also get a very reliable wetsuit from a tried and tested brand. Yep, the piece is armed with Quiksilver’s trademark  FreeMax neoprene and  StretchFlight tech. We’ve used both of those on adult suits in thick winter formats and we think it’s a solid choice that allows for good movement but prolonged warmth in UK waters.

This suit also has easy-in back entry, a great choice for beginner surfers who aren’t familiar with the more tight-fitting chest counterparts quite yet. We also love the effort that’s gone into making this a decent eco choice. It’s made from scrap rubber tyres and has a certified manufacturing process that cuts CO2 emissions by nearly a quarter.

All in all…a very solid choice for your little one’s first wetsuit!

Roxy Girls Syncro 4/3 Back Zip – The best option for girls

With Quiksilver claiming the top spot for the boys in 2022, it should hardly come as a surprise that their sister company Roxy come up trumps for the girls. We’ve plumped for the Syncro suit here because we love the extra features that you get for the little extra in the budget. They add a little more warmth into the mix but keep the price at a sub 130 pounds, which is just about right for a growing suit if you ask us.

It’s very lightweight and flexy, lending itself to the fluid movements of female surfers more than the brute-force of boy surfers, even at this young age. The front panel has the high-performance Roxy Warmflight thermo lining, which keeps the water-contact panel nice and toasty. There are also water-repellent seams to cut down flushing (the movement of cold water in and out of the suit). On top of all that we think it looks like a real nifty piece of kit. It’s a touch different to your usual jet-black wetsuit with its dashes of extra color.

Rip Curl Junior Omega 4/3 Wetsuit – A good all-rounder for lots of ages

Sizes start at age 6 and under for this suit and range all the way up to 16+ giving it a broad spectrum of potential surf groms. We make mention of it here because we see it as a very good entry-level wetsuit that offers fantastic bang for your buck. It’s warm and its flexible, but it’s also pleasantly no frills in that your little one should find it easy to pull on and off again without getting tangled up in too much tech. The main thing there large zip entry hole that will making changing (even in cold weather) something of a breeze.

There are also well-sticthed seams and extra fastenings on key panels. The latter point there should mean that the suit lasts longer, because the points where young surfers and newbie surfers often wear and tear on suits have been backed up nicely. On top of all that, there are rarely too many stock issues with Rip Curl – they have one of the more consistent supply chains. Last minute birthday pressie, anyone?

O’Neill Youth Epic 4/3mm Chest Zip – Best chest zip wetsuit

If the O’Neill Youth Epic 4/3 was a surf spot it would be Kuta, Bali! What do we mean? We mean oodles of surfers have cut their teeth on one of these. They’re probably the single most common entry-level grom suit out there. And, you know what? We can’t complain a dash.

True the O’Neill mantra of surfing for the masses, the Youth Epic manages to tick all the boxes without making things prohibitively pricy. For not much more than a fine-dining dinner for two you can score a steamer that’s both flexible and thermal, with some nifty features that mean you won’t be left behind by the A-lister surfing groms who can afford the height of the range.

There’s a rash-reducing Smooth Skin Fluid Flex Firewall Thermal Lining on the inside panels. It makes light work of the chilly autumn and winter water conditions, even if it’s perhaps not fantastic in December and January. On top of that, there are blind-stitched seams to cut flushing (the process of water running into the suit – cold!) and seamless panels on key paddle areas (making it easier for your little one to catch waves).

Billabong Absolute 5/4mm Hooded Boys Wetsuit – For proper winter surfing in Dec/Jan

Here’s the suit you’ll want to go for if you’ve got a hardcore surfing prodigy on your hands and there’s just no way to keep them out of the water in December and January. Yep, it’s built with an extra millimetre of neoprene the whole way up and down the suit, along with 4mm cuffs and seams for added thermal clout. On top of that, the most obvious addition here is an attached hood, which really is necessary in the UK and Europe anytime after the end of November.

The rubber is Billabong’s tried-and-tested Absolute stuff. It’s glued, blindstitched, and taped to help cut the flushing, and has a Superflex jersey inner lining which does help with flexibility a touch. Overall, though, this is – as is to be expected of a thicker winter model – a full suit that hardly puts range of movement as its priority numero uno. It’s more about getting out there for surfs at Christmas time and staying warm when you do.

Should I buy a summer suit or winter suit?

The key decision when you come to buy a children’s wetsuit (or even an adult’s suit for that matter) is whether to choose a summer suit or a winter suit. Just as their names imply, a summer suit is better for the warmer months. A winter suit is better for the colder months. The main difference between the two is going to be thickness. However, there can also be other tech involved that keeps you warmer in the winter and lighter in the water come summer.

• If you’re buying your child’s first ever wetsuit and don’t want to have to buy a second anytime soon, then we’d ALWAYS say choose a winter suit. The reason? It’s better to be too warm in the summer than too cold in the winter. The only other downside of winter suits is that they’re a touch heavier, don’t dry so fast, and aren’t as flexible. But those aren’t major issues – temperature is the number one concern! This is why the bulk of our selection is in the winter category (just look for any suit that’s got 4/3 in the name)
• If you’re buying for a surf trip somewhere then you should check what the average water temperatures are at that time of year wherever you’re going. The general rule is 62°- 68° (16-20) and it’s a summer suit, under <62 and you’re looking at a winter suit.
• If your son or daughter only surfs in summer then it’s probably better to go for a summer suit. Remember, though, surfing is addictive – the tykes might say they only want warm-water surf and then crave those winter sessions when the mercury drops. What’s more, most of the best swells (surfable conditions) come in fall and winter, so, again, a winter suit could be your best all-round option. In this situation, you’re likely to end up needing one of each. Sorry, wallet!