Best Women’s Open Water Wetsuits (2025 Guide)

Open-water swimming asks a lot from your gear — especially your wetsuit. For women, the right cut, shoulder flexibility, and buoyancy balance can make the difference between feeling restricted, and feeling smooth and powerful in the water. This guide breaks down the best women’s open water wetsuits available today, what to look for when choosing one, and which suits perform best across different conditions and skill levels. Throughout the years, I have tried numerous wetsuits from Zone3, Orca, ROKA, Deboer, TYR, Huub and Blueseventy so have lots of thoughts on which ones work best.

What Makes a Great Women’s Open Water Wetsuit?

Before you choose a wetsuit, here are the features that matter most for female athletes:

  •  Shoulder Mobility - Women often feel restriction across the shoulders in unisex wetsuits. Prioritize suits designed with women-specific shoulder panels so your arm turnover stays smooth.

  • Balanced Buoyancy - More buoyancy isn’t always better. Choose a suit with even lift across the torso and hips so you maintain natural body position (you don’t want to feel like you’re swimming downhill).

  • Comfortable Neckline - Neck chafe is one of the top complaints from newer swimmers. Softer, lower-profile collars (in the back as well) help dramatically.

  • Fit Through the Hips & Torso - Women typically benefit from suits with a longer torso and more shaping around the hips for comfort and better mobility. Make sure the suit doesn’t limit your ability to rotate.

  • Temperature & Distance Suitability - Colder water → thicker neoprene; Warmer water or long-distance → flexibility matters most

How I Chose These Wetsuits

These recommendations are based on:

  • Female fit and comfort

  • Long-distance suitability (5K–10K+)

  • Flexibility and mobility

  • Value for money

  • Performance

Best Overall Women’s Open WaterWetsuit - Zone3 Vanquish-X Women’s Wetsuit

The Vanquish-X hits the sweet spot between performance, comfort, and flexibility. It has incredibly soft shoulder panels, balanced buoyancy, and women-specific shaping that doesn’t feel restrictive. This is the wetsuit I landed on after trying at least 20 other wetsuits over the years.

Why it’s great:

  • Fantastic shoulder freedom

  • Smooth, lower neckline

  • Excellent for both beginners and experienced swimmers

  • Ideal for all swim distances

Best for: Most women wanting a high-quality, all-around wetsuit.

Best for Shoulder Flexibility - Orca Women’s Athlex Flex

This wetsuit is known for upper-body freedom that works for most people, making it perfect for women who feel tightness in their shoulders or upper chest in standard wetsuits.

Why it’s great:

  • Flexible arms and chest

  • Natural body rotation

  • Great for longer swims or higher-cadence stroke rates

Best for: Women with a good technique who do not need extra buoyancy. and want freedom of movement.

Best Budget-FriendlyWetsuit - Zone3 Agile Wetsuit

Affordable, reliable, and comfortable, this is the best choice for newer swimmers or anyone wanting an accessible entry-level suit. Sleeveless wetsuits also offer more budget friendly options (I swam in sleeveless for many, many years).

Why it’s great:

  • Strong value

  • Good durability

  • Comfortable and warm for moderate distances

Best for: Beginners and budget-conscious swimmers.

Best for Cold Water - Zone3 Thermal Aspire

If you regularly swim in colder lakes or coastal areas, a thermal suit can transform your experience. The fleece lining adds comfort and warmth without making the suit stiff.

Why it’s great:

  • Warm without sacrificing mobility

  • Excellent for autumn/winter swimming

  • Smooth inner lining is comfortable against the skin

Best for: 10–15°C water.

Honorable Mentions

ROKA Maverick X.3 - Not cheap, but for extra buoyancy and speed, ROKA’s Maverick wetsuits are fantastic. The X.3 made me FAST, but with my swimming background the buoyancy was just too much for me. Amazing customer service and one of the only companies that allows you to try your wetsuit in the water and still return it if it is not a fit.

TYR Hurricane Series - All-around solid, balanced wetsuits. The sleeveless Cat 5 Hurricane was my go-to during my triathlon career.

Common Fit Issues (and fixes)

  • Neck chafing: First Body Glide, then TriSlide anti chafe spray. A lot of people also wear by this neck protector.

  • Shoulder tightness: You likely need a more flexible suit and/or a brand that better fits your shoulders.

  • Feel of Swimming Downhill: Might be too buoyant.

  • Trouble breathing: Too tight.

 Final Thoughts

A well-fitting women’s wetsuit can make open water swimming feel smoother, faster, and more enjoyable (and an uncomfortable one can make it miserable, as I’ve experienced). Whether you’re prepping for a 1K or taking on a 10K race, the right suit makes a huge difference.

If you want to see everything I personally use, check out: My Open Water Swim Kit (coming soon).