{"id":9963,"date":"2023-12-21T07:41:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T07:41:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stand-up-paddling.org\/en\/?p=9963"},"modified":"2026-08-25T08:03:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-25T08:03:12","slug":"best-wetsuits-for-paddle-boarding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stand-up-paddling.org\/en\/best-wetsuits-for-paddle-boarding\/","title":{"rendered":"The 9 Best Wetsuits for Paddle Boarding"},"content":{"rendered":"

A paddler stays mostly dry until the moment they do not. That is the whole problem a wetsuit has to solve: keeping you warm enough to get back on the board after a fall in cold water.<\/p>\n

The number on the label is the neoprene thickness in millimetres, torso first and limbs second. A 3\/2 means 3 mm over the chest and 2 mm at the arms and legs.<\/p>\n

Most paddlers over-buy. Unless you are surfing in winter you are standing in the air, not swimming, and a full 5 mm suit will cook you inside twenty minutes of paddling.<\/p>\n

We compared nine suits, from a 42 dollar neoprene vest to a 245 dollar 4\/3 winter full suit.<\/p>\n

9<\/span>suits compared<\/span><\/div>
$42-245<\/span>the price range<\/span><\/div>
1.5 to 4 mm<\/span>the thicknesses here<\/span><\/div>
4<\/span>criteria we checked<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n
Top pick<\/span>
O'Neill Reactor-2 3\/2 Back Zip<\/a><\/div>
\"O'Neill<\/a><\/div>
The standard spring and autumn suit, and the one most paddlers should own.<\/div>
<\/svg>Check price<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>
Best for cold water<\/span>
O'Neill Epic 4:3 Back Zip<\/a><\/div>
\"O'Neill<\/a><\/div>
Four millimetres over the chest for winter sessions.<\/div>
<\/svg>Check price<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>
Best value<\/span>
GoldFin Women Shorty 3mm<\/a><\/div>
\"GoldFin<\/a><\/div>
Under 45 dollars for a summer shorty.<\/div>
<\/svg>Check price<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n

The best wetsuits for paddle boarding at a glance<\/h2>\n
Suit<\/th>Thickness<\/th>Cut<\/th>Standout feature<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
O'Neill Reactor-2 Back Zip<\/a>Top pick<\/small><\/td>3\/2 mm<\/span><\/td>Full suit, back zip<\/td>Seamless paddle zones under the arms<\/td><\/tr>
O'Neill Epic 4:3 Back Zip<\/a>Best for cold water<\/small><\/td>4\/3 mm<\/span><\/td>Full suit, back zip<\/td>Krypto Armor knee pads and UltraFlex neoprene<\/td><\/tr>
O'Neill Women's Epic Back Zip<\/a>Best women's full suit<\/small><\/td>3\/2 mm<\/span><\/td>Full suit, back zip<\/td>Blind stitched and triple glued seams<\/td><\/tr>
O'Neill Reactor-2 Spring<\/a>Best spring suit<\/small><\/td>2 mm<\/span><\/td>Short sleeve spring<\/td>Short arms, so nothing binds the paddle stroke<\/td><\/tr>
GILL Pursuit Shorty<\/a>Best women's shorty<\/small><\/td>3\/2 mm<\/span><\/td>Shorty<\/td>Mesh Skin chest and back with thermal lining<\/td><\/tr>
O'Neill Reactor-2 Jacket<\/a>Best top layer<\/small><\/td>1.5 mm<\/span><\/td>Long sleeve jacket<\/td>Front zip and a boardshort connector<\/td><\/tr>
Hevto Men Wetsuit<\/a>Best value full suit<\/small><\/td>3\/2 mm<\/span><\/td>Full suit, back zip<\/td>A full 3\/2 for under 75 dollars<\/td><\/tr>
Lemorecn Wetsuit Top<\/a>Best vest<\/small><\/td>3 mm<\/span><\/td>Sleeveless vest<\/td>Front YKK zip, so it goes on and off wet<\/td><\/tr>
GoldFin Women Shorty<\/a>Best value<\/small><\/td>3 mm<\/span><\/td>Shorty, back zip<\/td>Flatlock seams at 42 dollars<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>\n

The nine wetsuits in detail<\/h2>\n
#1<\/span>

O'Neill Men's Reactor-2 3\/2mm Back Zip Full Wetsuit<\/a><\/h3>Top pick<\/span><\/div>
\"O'Neill<\/a>
<\/svg>Check price<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div>