Best kids’ wetsuit 2021: Children can surf and swim for longer

Best: Overall

Rating: 9/10

Our 12-year-old tester put this wetsuit on independently and headed for the sea with her bodyboard. Of course we kept a close eye, but it was clear from the get go how comfortable and confident she felt in this junior wetsuit from Decathlon.

With a front chest zip we did question how easy this would be to put on, but thanks to the super stretchy neoprene this was surprisingly easy and meant she could tackle it herself. This stretchiness also lends itself to water play, as there’s no restriction of movement.

What struck us, was how everything has been considered with this wetsuit. From the blind stitching, for ultimate watertightness, to the absence of threads on the inside and additional comfort patches to avoid chafing and irritation. There are also reinforced knee pads, and silicone stoppers at the ankles and wrists to help stop water getting in. But what surprised us the most is the eco-friendly credentials of this wetsuit. Made from a limestone-based neoprene, the black colour is achieved by recycling used tyres. Even the glue that they use in combination with stitching, is water-based and solvent free.

While it is the most expensive of all the wetsuits we tested, for a wetsuit of this quality the price is very reasonable. At a 3/2mm thickness this wetsuit will be a fantastic sea friend from spring to autumn. Our tester didn’t want to take this wetsuit off and we don’t blame her, the comfort and flexibility is superlative.

Best: For older girls

Rating: 8/10

Surf brand Roxy has launched a sustainable collection, which sees 24 per cent less CO2 emissions used per wetsuit. And the eco credentials don’t stop there, the limestone-derivate neoprene is made from scrap rubber tires, which has been bluesign certified. With 104l of water conserved and 25 plastic bottles recycled per wetsuit, it’s safe to say we’re impressed by its green efforts. This wetsuit even uses a water-based lamination glue called aqua-a, so there are no nasty solvents.

But how does it fare in the water? Firstly, our 12-year-old tester was more than happy to give this wetsuit a go. She was instantly drawn to the bright and bold floral print, and the vertical front zip made it easy for her to put on and take off again. Perfect for warmer days, when kids just need a bit of extra coverage, the 1.5mm thickness kept our energetic tester in and out of the sea all day long. There were no complaints of rubbing, as the coil bound inner seam lays flat for comfort but also creates increased flexibility so there’s no restrictions when playing in the water. It’s a nice light suit because of its “StretchFlight 2” neoprene – designed for increased warmth and comfort without sacrificing the flex. And we found it didn’t feel bulky once wet, keeping our tweenager’s water fatigue at bay.

Best: For beginners

Rating: 8/10

Now a popular surf brand, Alder was created in the Sixties from the founders’ farm in the heart of Devon. Starting with board shorts, jackets and T-shirts, specifically tailored for surfers they now have a huge range of surfing clobber.

The Alder 3/2mm junior full wetsuit is a strong contender for those looking for a kids’ wetsuit. It has flatlock stitching, a rubberised panel at the chest and back to take off the chill from the wind, and “duratech” knee pads for added durability. With back zip entry, our only small gripe is that we’d prefer if the zip tag was a brighter coloured or had an identified logo, because as it’s plain black we faffed about a few times trying to find it. That said, our five-year-old tester seemed very at home in this wetsuit, proving its comfort and flexibility in the water.

Best: For sustainability

Rating: 7/10

Another suit from Roxy’s POP surf sustainable collection and boasting the same green credentials as the brand’s aforementioned marine bloom springsuit (£85, Roxy-uk.co.uk), is this long sleeve springsuit which is perfect for a sunny day at the beach.

At only 1mm thick it’s great for fair-weather swimmers or bodyboarders. Our 12-year-old tester found it super easy to take on and off, not just because there’s far less fabric to contend with than a shortie or full suit, but as the zip is at the front, she achieved it at great speed. Handy when you’ve a young girl who doesn’t want to be spotted undressing at the beach.

It’s made using StretchFlight 3 technology, meaning the neoprene used is warm as it minimises water absorption, but is still ultra-light and flexible, because it’s made using air cell-rich limestone rather than the traditional petroleum-based neoprene.

Best: For toddlers

Rating: 6/10

With a zip along the front, this neoprene wetsuit from JoJo Maman Bébé is ideally suited to particularly young sea splashers. Easy to put on, and to take off, it comes in sizes 1-2 years up to 5-6 years. Choose from bright pink and blue colourways, which stand out amongst the crowds. This shortie will certainly make young ones water experience a joyful one, ensuring they look the part, and will keep them in the water for longer.

Best: For fun design

Rating: 8/10

We love the ethos around Saltskin – to get kids outside, having fun in the ocean, more often and for longer – and you can see how this has been executed in this wetsuit. First things first, we just can’t get enough of the leopard print (there’s plenty of other animal designs to choose from too), and it took no convincing for our five-year-old tester to don this wetsuit.

At first we wondered if this was more about style than substance, but that’s certainly not the case. This wetsuit is well made, it feels pretty stretchy so movement isn’t compromised in the water, and also helps when putting on a wriggly child. Made using flatlock stitching, there’s plenty of durability and it lays flat on the skin for comfort. It’ll also ensure your wetsuit lasts longer too, if properly cared for.

On the knees there’s a double diamond knit for extra durability, which is an area that’ll get a lot of use when learning to surf. Something we didn’t anticipate is how helpful the print is when the sea is awash with little water babies. At 3/2mm thickness, there is two weighted neoprene used, 3mm around the torso and 2mm around the arms and legs – so this wetsuit is suitable from spring all the way through to autumn. A fun yet fully functional wetsuit.

Best: For stretch

Rating: 8/10

We felt confident to try this wetsuit on a rather overcast day in July (and again in a scorcher), and it certainly kept our 12-year-old tester in the water for much longer. Even before zipping it up we were positive this wetsuit would perform well, given its quality feel and flatlock stitching. This type of durable stitching not only enhances the lifespan of the wetsuit but, as it lays flat on the skin, it’s comfortable too.

Our tester commented on how easy it was to get this wetsuit on, which is thanks to the highly flexible neoprene which stretches four ways and improves movement once it’s on. For a full-size wetsuit at this thickness, it didn’t feel at all bulky as the neoprene used is super light, but this didn’t affect the insulation.

We like that the chest and back panels feel more robust to combat wind chill, and with 3mm thickness around the torso and 2mm around the arms and legs, kids will, once again, feel comfortable in this from spring through to autumn. Young surfers will also benefit from the double diamond knit in the knee area.

Best: For robustness

Rating: 7/10

For an all rounder, and under £30, we can’t knock TWF’s Xt3 kids 3mm shortie. And it’s safe to say that as a brand TWF has had plenty of practice, supplying wetsuits and beach accessories from Cornwall since 1969.

This wetsuit feels robust, and our five-year-old tester certainly put it through its paces, running in and out of the sea all day. At 3mm thick, she didn’t want to leave the beach, as this shortie kept her in the water for longer. There’s an adjustable collar for comfort, and the chest and back panels are lined with polyester and nylon. The long zip at the back meant our tester couldn’t put it on herself, but that didn’t seem to be an issue, and the stretchy shoulders made it a fairly straightforward task. This a flexible but strong wetsuit with an enhanced lifespan.