The perfect wetsuit for scuba diving will keep you warm and comfortable and allow you to look good while doing it. Our team of test divers donned 20 5 mm wetsuits over a number of dives for this head-to-head scuba wetsuit review.

How We Test

Test divers ­evaluated suits in the ­following ­categories, ­assigning scores from 5 (excellent) to 1 (poor).

Ease of Donning
How easy was the suit to pull on, zip, adjust and prepare to dive? Can it be done without assistance?

Fit
Relative to other suits of similar size, how is the overall fit to your body, with attention to areas including the lower back, underarms and extremities?

Comfort
How is the suit’s ­overall comfort in and out of the water? With movement, is there discomfort at neck closure, wrists and ankles, zipper seal, crotch or underarms?

Effectiveness of Seals
How well do sealing surfaces at wrists, ankles, neck and zipper block water entry? At depth, is there excessive water while swimming or moving?

Warmth
What is the suit’s overall effectiveness as insulation, relative to similar suits? Does cold ­water move or flush through the suit with movement?

Ease of Doffing
How easily can the suit be removed after diving? Can it be done without assistance?

Range of Motion
Does the suit ­provide full and unfettered range of motion in and out of the water? Does it bind or restrict movement?

Divers also recorded their comments and observations about each suit, and listed their favorites in each category.

Test dives were conducted at Alexander Springs and Devil’s Den Spring in central Florida and at Blue Heron Bridge in Riviera Beach, Florida, with water temperatures in the lower 70s.

Suits were also evaluated for ­design, construction and ­materials used.

Cressi Otterflex

Unique among the wide variety of wrist and ankle seals in our test, those on the Otterflex have a band of stretchy liquid seal forming a ring just inside each cuff. Cressi calls the feature the Water Stop System, and test divers found the name appropriate. Only about ⅜ inch (10 mm) wide, the seals kept water entry to a minimum, were easy to get on and off, and were comfortable throughout the dive. That helped the Otterflex take excellent scores for effective seals, ease of donning and doffing, and comfort. “I could live in this,” commented one test diver. Made with neoprene slightly thinner in the arms and ankles, the Otterflex was rated very good for range of motion. Despite the thinner material and relatively smooth lining throughout, it was scored very good for warmth, thanks to the effective wrist and ankle seals, and neck and zipper closures. Chosen as a favorite of multiple test divers, the Otterflex is our ­Testers Choice for suits under $300.

Bare Revel

Extreme stretch and an ergo-friendly cut—especially through the shoulders—helped the Revel take excellent scores for comfort and range of motion. “Doesn’t feel restrictive at all,” commented one test diver. “Lots of stretch in this suit,” noted another. Divers also found it easy to don and doff the Revel, with the smooth lining and simple, hemmed wrist and ankle seals allowing it to slip on and off with little hassle. The seals were ­rated good ­overall, but individual scores ­depended on the fit, with snug contact at the end of the sleeves and legs required for an ­effective seal. The neck seal, while relatively low-profile, has a ­­1½-inch-wide smooth-skin lining that was comfortable and very effective at stopping water ­entry, and less restrictive than most of the other suits. The rubbery kneepads are ­paper-thin, but as stretchy as the neoprene and tougher than they look; they were ­unmarred after ­multiple dives.

Beuchat Optima

If we scored suits on appearance, the Optima would have done well; divers remarked on the suit’s flattering fit and style. Wrists and ankles are lined with smooth skin a few inches from the cuff, a design that can make a suit hard to get on and off. But the Optima was rated very good for donning and doffing; perhaps because the seals are scalloped along their interior edge, they slipped on quite easily, but they took some tugging to get off. The collar, with a smooth-skin lining about 2 inches wide, has a small notch on the front to relieve pressure on the throat while maintaining a comfortable seal. Stretchy neoprene along the underarms has a noticeably softer, more-flexible feel, helping the suit take a very good score for range of motion. The rear zipper flap is more than 2 inches wide but thin, and divers reported a bit of water entry along the back, though the suit was still rated very good for warmth. The stylish Optima was selected among test divers’ favorites.

Cressi Pentagon

Designed with an eye toward affordability, the Pentagon is made of uniform neoprene throughout, with a smooth lining and basic wrist and ankle cuffs. While not as stretchy as some suits here, it was flexible enough to take an excellent score for range of motion. The wrists and ankles have no smooth skin or other seals at the cuff; while they were rated very good overall at blocking water entry, they rely on a precise fit for effectiveness because any gap between skin and suit will let in the water. The neck seal, a little taller than average, has a wide smooth-skin strip on the interior that did a good job blocking water entry and was very comfortable. The slippery lining and nonbinding seals made it a snap to get the Pentagon on and off, and divers gave it excellent scores for ease of donning and doffing. “Pretty ­comfy, pretty warm,” one diver noted of the Pentagon—notable praise for the least-expensive suit in our test.

IST Sports WS805

The wetsuit’s wrist and ankle seals—with no smooth skin or the like—require a pretty snug fit to block incoming water, so the ­zippered cuffs are a welcome feature. The zippers, along with the WS805’s smooth lining, make it easy to slip on and off. While the suit’s main material is firmer than many of the others in this test, it features well-placed high-stretch panels in the underarms and at the lower back, and that helped it earn an excellent score for range of motion. This wetsuit was also rated very good for comfort, with test divers noting the tall, soft collar and thick zipper flap along the spine. While the suit was rated good for warmth overall, divers noted some water entering at the wrists and ankles, and a bit of water movement throughout the suit. The thick, waffle-pattern kneepads are cushioned enough to protect your knees as well as the suit, but still flexible enough to be comfortable without binding.

Mares M-Flex

With a design that eliminates unnecessary seams and elements, this suit manages to be budget-friendly without compromising high-quality neoprene. Divers rated the suit very good for comfort, with a satisfying fit that didn’t bind out of the water and seemed to snug up at depth. “Good fit. Comfy out of the water,” one diver noted. The suit earned good scores for seals and warmth, but test divers had varying views on the suit’s simple tapered cuffs—some were pleasantly surprised by their effectiveness, while others experienced a fair amount of water entry. The suit’s range of motion was rated very good, with no binding or tight spots. “No impediment to range of motion whatsoever,” commented one test diver. “Hardly felt like I was wearing a suit.” The smooth lining and slip-on cuffs helped the ­M-Flex earn top marks for hassle-free ­donning and doffing—“very easy, even when wet,” one tester noted.

Bare Elate 5 mm

Bare says the Elate’s anatomical design was inspired by the comfortable, highly flexible suits favored by multisport enthusiasts. Whatever its inspiration, the Elate impressed test divers with the way its high-stretch material and form-fitting cut kept the suit comfortably against their skin without inhibiting movement. “Moves with me, not against me,” one test diver commented. The Elate’s wrist and ankle seals are basic neoprene rings sewn to the cuffs, and the lining is relatively smooth and flat. But the suit’s stretchy, body-hugging fit kept the seals and lining close enough to do their job, helping it earn a very good score for warmth and an excellent score for effectiveness of the seals. Where the Elate excelled was comfort, from the anatomical collar with a wide smooth-skin lining to the flexible fit throughout. Divers also praised the suit’s flattering design. Comfortable, warm and stylish, the Elate is our Best Buy for suits under $300.

Aqua Lung Aquaflex

Super-stretch neoprene and a design that eliminates seams in the underarms helped the Aquaflex take an excellent score for comfort. “One of the most comfortable suits I’ve tried,” noted one tester. Divers also found it very easy to get on and off, with smooth lining in the arms and legs, and the zipperless, tapered X-Tend cuffs eliminating most of the tugging and plucking that stickier suits required. But while the tapered seals were comfortable and convenient, they were rated about average in sealing effectiveness, with a quite snug fit required for them to work effectively. The Aquaflex was rated very good for warmth ­relative to other suits, helped by a double overlapping zipper seal nearly 3 inches wide, plush lining on the chest and abdomen, and a lumbar pad that adds insulation to an area where BC straps can compress the neoprene. Divers also praised the suit’s construction, noting the quality materials used throughout.

Body Glove Atlas

One of just two suits with a diagonal front zip here, the Atlas protects the spot where neck meets zipper with a soft internal flap of neoprene that slips over the head to pad all around the neck where the outer layer of the suit makes contact. It’s a comfortable, easy-entry design, though divers noted a bit of water entering the neck and zipper seal. The wrist and ankle seals—with smooth-skin double cuffs and zips—were very effective at blocking water entry, if just a little bulky. With plush lining and seams double-sealed with liquid seal on the exterior and rubbery tape on the interior, the Atlas was rated very good for warmth. The neoprene seemed a little firmer than some other suits, but still very flexible, and was rated good for range of motion, with compression hinges at the inside of elbows and knees to keep things from binding up. The handy thigh pocket is a useful size, and has two compartments and web loops for gear attachment.

Body Glove Triton

While the Triton is a rear-zip suit, it ­otherwise shares many similarities with Body Glove’s front-zip Atlas. The seams are coated with liquid seal on the exterior and fully taped on the interior, which has plush thermal lining throughout the torso and thighs. Wrists and ankles have double cuffs with interior smooth-skin seals, and the wide smooth-skin collar has a double Velcro closure that allows for a secure, precise adjustment. Test divers noted a bit of water entry—apparently at the rear zipper—but the Triton’s seals were rated very good for effectiveness overall. Compression hinges on the insides of elbows and knees keep the neoprene from pinching with movement, helping the suit earn a very good score for range of motion. “Not at all restrictive,” noted one test diver. Ruggedly built throughout, the Triton has abrasion-resistant reinforcement panels on the kneepads and the seat.

Camaro Alpha 5 Pro

The long front zip on the Alpha makes it ­relatively easy to get into, although the ­grippy, thick lining and stretchy neoprene requires a bit of tugging to pull into place. It also was rated good for ease of doffing (though divers noted it was easier with help pulling it off the shoulders). The zipper is slightly angled, and the neck closes with a double collar and inner flap that attaches across the throat before zipping the suit. The arrangement is a little finicky at first, but if done carefully, as one diver noted, “it’s super comfy and a great seal.” The zippered double cuffs at wrists and ankles have long inner cuffs of soft, open-cell ­neoprene, and were rated very good for the effectiveness of their seals. The lining dried surprisingly quickly given its thick, plush texture, and helped the Alpha take excellent scores both for comfort and warmth. Chosen among the favorites of multiple test divers, the Alpha 5 Pro was a top contender in its category.

Fourth Element Xenos

Designed for the quick-change demands of repetitive diving, the Xenos has smooth, slippery lining in the arms and legs, and ­thicker, quick-dry thermal lining in the torso. That made it relatively easy to don and doff for a suit with such form-fitting material and cut, earning excellent scores for comfort, fit and range of motion. The form-hugging fit also made it one of the more flattering suits in the test. “Terrific fit and comfort,” commented one diver. The neck closure and the rear zip, with a double smooth-skin seal, were effective at keeping water from entering, and ­divers reported little water ­movement in the suit. The wrist seals are narrow, cone-shaped sections of smooth skin inside the cuffs, which are scalloped to fit around the wrist; divers found them more effective than the ankle seals, which have strips of sticky seam seal to keep them in place. Overall the seals were rated very good for effectiveness.

Henderson AquaLock Quik Dry

Henderson says its new hydrophobic ­quick-dry lining dries to the touch in minutes. During repetitive test dives in cold, blustery conditions, we were pleased to discover they were right. “Super warm, soft lining” is how one diver described it. Our test divers were equally impressed with the seemingly tailor-made fit, rating the suit excellent for fit and comfort. “Love the tall size,” one tester commented about one of the suit’s many available sizes. “First suit that’s ever truly been long enough in the arms and legs.” Donning and doffing with the zipperless AquaLock double wrist and ankle cuff “took some doing,” as one test diver put it. But time spent finagling to adjust the stretchy cuffs just so was worth it for the water-­blocking seal they provided, rated excellent by testers. Comfortable, warm and nicely dry on repetitive dives, the AquaLock was among the favorites of multiple test divers and was a top contender in our test.

Pinnacle Tempo XT 5 mm

The merino wool in the lining of the Tempo XT is pajama-soft—and warm. It was the rare suit that divers could don when they and the suit were wet, and still get warmer throughout a long dive. “Hate to take it off” was a typical tester comment. Effective seals added to the warmup; the zipper has a wide overlap of thick, smooth-skin-lined neoprene that stopped water entry and added extra insulation along the spine, and the rolled smooth-skin O-rings at the wrists and smooth-skin gussets inside the ankle zips sealed just as well. The Tempo XT was the only suit to take excellent scores for comfort, warmth and effectiveness of seals. The rugged suit has heavy, abrasion-resistant kneepads and shoulder pads, and reinforcements at internal seam junctions. While comfy once donned, and rated very good for range of motion, it required a bit of tugging to get on. But for warm comfort, no suit scored higher. The Tempo XT is our Testers Choice.

Scubapro Definition

“Sexiest suit ever!” was how one female test ­diver described the sleek and stylish ­Definition. It was also comfortable, with a spine pad that cushioned and insulated the back, and super-­soft, heat-retaining Infrared ­lining on the front and back of the torso. Divers scored the suit very good for comfort, helped by the short zipper on the collar that can be easily adjusted up or down to tighten or loosen the fit around the neck. Overall, divers found the suit very warm with good seals, though some reported a fair amount of water flushing in the suit, especially with exaggerated movement. Donning and doffing were easy, though some testers struggled to close the rear ­zipper without help—not because of its slightly ­diagonal orientation, but because of the short zipper pull. High-stretch materials in the torso, arms and legs, plus a stretch panel in the chest, helped it earn a very good score for range of motion.

Seac Komoda

Constructed of neoprene that felt more ­elastic than most, the Komoda provided an excellent fit that test divers found body-­hugging without being restrictive or unpleasantly tight. “So comfortable, I could wear it all day,” noted one test diver. The forgiving fit helped the ­Komoda earn an excellent score for range of ­motion, while also keeping water movement inside the suit to a minimum. The smooth-skin seals on the zippered wrists and ankles were rated very good for stopping water ­entry, as was the suit’s wide, double smooth-skin ­barrier along the rear zip. Rubbery appliques protect the shoulders and knees from BC straps and abrasions while adding a bit of eye-pleasing ­contrast to the design. The suit has a smooth, soft lining throughout that dried quickly ­between dives and helped it earn a very good score for warmth. Stretchy, comfortable and stylish, the Komoda was chosen among test ­divers’ favorites.

Waterproof W4 5 mm

Those not offput by the W4’s science-fiction exterior will find its interior warm and ­comfy thanks to the gender-specific ­anatomical cut with pre-curved arms and legs and a plush lining. This is a suit that requires a precise fit, with seemingly stiffer neoprene and very rugged materials throughout, ­including the toughest 3D-molded kneepads in our test. Still, divers found it surprisingly ­flexible due to corrugated panels inside the knees and ­elbows. The heavy materials and long, smooth-skin seals at wrists and ankles proved very warm, but also made donning and doffing difficult. One diver noted the suit “took some major tugging” to get on. The suit shows a serious attention to detail, including a collar zip for comfort on the surface, two computer retainers, anti-slip reinforcements on the seat and shoulders, and a removable zippered cargo pocket. “Love the craftsmanship of the suit,” noted one test diver.

Bare Nixie Ultra 5 mm

The lining in the Nixie uses thermo-reactive minerals designed to reflect body heat back to the diver. Perhaps that’s why one diver noted, “couldn’t feel my feet, but my body was toasty warm.” Internal flip seals—rings of smooth skin—are located at midcalf and midforearm, and slip on and off easily with the wrist and ankle zips. The seals were rated very good for blocking water entry, and helped the suit take an excellent score for donning and doffing. The tall collar is lined with smooth skin that extends down several inches at the throat, and has a gusseted zipper; divers were grateful for the quick relief of pressure at the surface, but noted it seemed bulky when zipped. The soft lining, high-stretch fabric and a cut that places seams away from the underarms earned the suit an excellent score for comfort. “Comfortable in and out of the water,” noted one diver. Among the favorites of testers, the Nixie Ultra was a top contender in our test.

Pinnacle Siren 5 mm

The cut-for-a-woman shape and styling make the Siren quite distinct from ­Pinnacle’s ­Tempo XT for men, but they share many ­design ­elements: Both have merino-wool ­lining, ­titanium-lined neoprene throughout, and a ­rugged, heavy-duty build. The suit’s seal design is also the same, with smooth-skin O-rings at the wrists, zippered smooth-skin ­gussets inside long ankle zippers, and a neck ­collar with a rolled section of smooth skin that moves with the neck, sealing without pulling uncomfortably. But in our test sizes, females diving the Siren didn’t have the same excellent fit as the male divers, and while they rated the suit very good for warmth and effectiveness of the seals, the Siren’s lower scores for comfort and range of motion are more a reflection of fit than design. With time to explore the suit’s available wide range of sizes (including talls and shorts), we suspect we would have found a better fit.

Truli Wetsuits Truli-Ful the Beautiful

Despite the fanciful name and Funfetti design, this women’s-only suit turned out to be seriously comfortable and warm, with thoughtful features divers appreciated. With a soft, low collar of rolled smooth skin above the hidden zipper closure, the suit has no Velcro to catch on hair or bathing suit. A long ribbon sewn into the inside near the zipper top lets you pull the suit off your shoulder without stressing your joints or the suit’s seams. The ankle cuffs have an ergonomic notch at the back to relieve pressure and keep the cuff flat against the skin. But what divers liked most was the fit of the tailored-for-women shape. “Definitely cut with a woman in mind,” one tester ­commented. “Nice fit!” noted another. Soft, fleece lining extends throughout the suit, helping it take an excellent score for comfort, and very good for warmth. Divers debated the polka-dot pattern, but not the made-for-a-woman comfort. The Truli-Ful is our Testers Choice for women’s suits.

Sealing the Deal

There were nearly as many different wrist- and ankle-seal designs as there were suits in our test.

The most basic were those with a sewn-in ring around the end of the cuff, like the Bare Revel. Though simple, the design is easy to get on and off, and can block water entry surprisingly well—if the fit is just right. Seals that are too loose will let water flow in; too tight and it’s ­uncomfortable.

Tapered wrist cuffs like those on the Aqua Lung Aquaflex are very comfortable, ­hassle-free to don and doff, and seal well because they have ­relatively large contact area. But again, fit is key; any gap between suit and skin is an open path to water entry.

The Water Stop System on the Testers Choice-winning Cressi Otterflex has a ring that reminds us of a thick rubber band glued to the inside of the cuffs. It sealed well in our test, was comfortable throughout the dive, and was easy to don and doff.

Ask Roger
Q: How do testers’ fit ratings apply to me?

A: We used our testers’ fit scores a little differently than we did the scores for factors such as comfort and warmth. Of course we scored for fit in part simply to gauge a suit’s relative size and shape—whether it was bigger or smaller, overall or in particular spots, than other suits of the same size. But because of the importance of a proper fit, we also used each diver’s assessment of how a suit fit to help gauge what kind of performance to expect from it. So, when a diver said a fit was perfect, we gave greater weight to that diver’s assessment of how comfortable and warm the suit was, how well the seals performed, and whether it restricted range of motion.