Wetsuit Finder

Six quick questions. We match your swim level, water temperature, and budget against 42 checked triathlon wetsuit — and read your size off each brand’s own chart.

Which cut of wetsuit?
How would you rate your swimming?
What water will you mostly race in?

If you're not sure, most temperate-climate races fall in the moderate band.

Sleeve preference?
What's your budget?
Your size

Used to recommend the right size in each brand's chart.

How to use the Wetsuit Finder

The quiz asks six questions. Answer them honestly and the ranking does the rest.

  1. Cut. Pick men's or women's. This decides which half of each brand's size chart we read from, so choose the cut you'd actually buy, not the one you think fits your sex on paper. Women's suits are shaped differently through the chest, hips and shoulders, and plenty of people fit one better than the other.
  2. Swim level. Beginner, intermediate or advanced. Be realistic here. If swimming is your weakest leg, say beginner, even if you've done a few races. This question shifts the ranking between buoyancy and shoulder freedom more than anything else.
  3. Water temperature. Pick the band you'll race in most often. If you race in a range of conditions, choose the colder end — you can open a zip in warm water, but you can't add neoprene in cold water.
  4. Sleeves. Full sleeve, sleeveless, or no preference. If you're not sure, choose no preference and let the results show you both.
  5. Budget. The quiz filters to suits inside it first. If nothing fits, it says so and widens the search rather than showing you an empty page.
  6. Height and weight. Pick the bands that contain your numbers. We use them to read your size off each brand's own published chart, not a generic one.

Your results show up to five suits, each with the reasons it ranked where it did and the size the brand's chart suggests. Suits whose chart has no size for your build are left out, because a suit you can't get into isn't a recommendation. If your height fits a size but your weight doesn't (or the other way round), the suit stays in the list but drops down it.

Each result links to the Wetsuit Size Calculator with your answers already filled in, so you can check the fit on that one chart in more detail.

How to choose

Three things matter most, in this order.

Fit. A wetsuit that doesn't fit is slow, cold and miserable, no matter what it cost. It should feel snug, even tight, on land: no loose folds at the lower back or under the arms, and the neck should seal without choking you. Water pockets slow you down and chill you. If you can't reach fully overhead in it, it's too small or the wrong shape for you.

Buoyancy versus flexibility. Every suit trades one against the other. Thicker panels on the legs and hips lift you higher in the water, which helps if your legs sink — common for newer swimmers and runners with heavy legs. Thinner, stretchier shoulders matter more once your stroke is good enough that restriction costs you more than sinking legs. That's why the quiz asks your swim level: beginners usually gain most from lift, strong swimmers from freedom of movement.

Water temperature and sleeves. Full-sleeve suits are warmer and, for most swimmers, faster, because the arm panels give you a better catch and less drag than bare skin. Sleeveless suits suit warm water and swimmers who feel restricted through the shoulders. If you race mostly in cool water, start with full sleeves.

Budget comes after all of that. A well-fitting entry-level suit beats a poorly fitting expensive one every time. Spending more generally buys thinner, more flexible neoprene and better panelling, which matters more to an advanced swimmer than to someone doing their first race.

Before you buy, check whether your races are actually wetsuit-legal. Races and federations set a water-temperature cutoff above which wetsuits aren't allowed (or are allowed only for some athletes). The race's athlete guide will tell you. If you mostly race warm-water events, you may need a swimskin rather than a wetsuit.

Common mistakes

Once the wetsuit is sorted, the Gear Checklist builds the rest of your race-day packing list.

FAQ

How tight should a triathlon wetsuit be?

Snug, even tight, on land. It should hug you everywhere with no loose folds at the lower back or under the arms, and the neck should seal without restricting your breathing.

You should still be able to lift your arms fully overhead and take a deep breath. If you can't, it's too small or the wrong cut for you.

Can I use a surfing wetsuit for triathlon?

You can, but it's not ideal. Surf suits are built for warmth and paddling on a board, so they tend to be thicker in the arms and shoulders and less buoyant in the legs. That makes swimming harder work.

For a first race, a surf suit is better than nothing if the water is cold. If you're going to race more than once, a triathlon-specific suit is worth it.

Full sleeve or sleeveless?

Full sleeve for most people. It's warmer, and the arm panels usually make you faster rather than slower.

Sleeveless makes sense in warm water, or if you've tried full-sleeve suits and still feel restricted through the shoulders.

Do I need a wetsuit for my first triathlon?

Not always. It depends on the water temperature and the race rules. In cold water, a wetsuit makes the swim warmer, calmer and easier. In warm water it may not be allowed at all.

Check the race's athlete guide for its wetsuit rule. If you're unsure, renting one for your first race is a sensible way to find out whether you like swimming in one.

What if my height and weight point to different sizes?

That's common. Open the suit in the Wetsuit Size Calculator, which shows which way each measurement points and what the brand advises. Most brands publish a note on which way to go when you're between sizes.

How long does a triathlon wetsuit last?

It depends on how often you swim in it and how you treat it. Rinse it in fresh water after every swim, dry it in the shade, and store it folded loosely or on a wide hanger. Sun, heat and fingernails are what kill wetsuits early.