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Going scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, or sailing becomes a truly worthwhile and exhilarating experience when you are properly suited up for the occasion.
For this reason, you need to invest in the most appropriate attire aside from your gear. For many watersports, this includes a good drysuit.
How to choose a drysuit? When choosing a drysuit, consider the following points:
What the material is made of (usually it’s either the thicker, neoprene material or the lighter, laminated material)
The amount of thermal protection you need (in terms of dryness and warmth)
Style (you might want to look good too!)
The kind of water sport that you do, including the kinds of water you get into
Before going shopping for a drysuit, first, keep in mind the basic purpose of one, or why it has been invented in the first place – to keep your body away from wetness (of course!), and make you feel warm and protected from harmful elements in the water, not to mention sun exposure.
A drysuit is important if you do water sports regularly and in cold temperatures. It will prevent you from getting sick, spending long hours in the water, and will keep you feeling comfortable and warm all day.
Now that you have an idea of the factors to look out for when choosing a drysuit, we’ll help you choose a drysuit that’s right for you. Below, we list our top 7 drysuits that we have personally tried or heard great feedback from.
The Best Drysuits to Choose From – Our Top 7 Picks
What these drysuits have to offer all boils down to their common objective of helping to keep you dry, warm, and protected while you’re doing your water adventure.
Also, for an excellent drysuit, take a look at our top pick, the SEAC Men’s Warmdry 4mm Neoprene Drysuit:
Avid recreational divers will be pleased with this product because of its reasonable price and great features. It includes a glide skin collar, snug wrist, 1000 Denier Cordura pockets, heavy-duty material, and semi-hard boots.
The suit comes with a handy storage bag, hose, straps, and hood. If you’re after a drysuit that’s easy on the pocket but provides maximum protection and dryness, then this an excellent choice.
See for yourself in this SEAC drysuit review:
2. Gill Men’s Waterproof Breathable Pro Drysuit
This 100% nylon fabric is a 3-layer waterproof yet breathable drysuit. Its outer layer is made of polyester and finished with a polyurethane coating for maximum water protection.
And speaking of protection, the Gill Men’s Waterproof Breathable Pro Drysuit is highly durable because of the ankle covers on the latex seals plus reinforced seat and knees for resilience.
It has a pre-marked glide skin collar as well as cuffs. Even more, it has adjustable elastic braces inside for comfort and movement. This is an excellent choice for extreme underwater and sailing conditions.
3. SEAC Unifleece Insulating Undergarment for Dry Suits
The Stohlquist Amp Drysuit with a relaxed fit is a waterproof and breathable suit with a 4-layer twin sensor. Designed with a MasterSeal cross-chest entry, it provides the wearer with relief zippers for when nature calls.
The SEAC Unifleece Insulating Undergarment for Dry Suits is a lightweight and breathable two-layer undergarment designed to keep divers warm in cold environments. The outer layer is equipped to repel water, aiding in keeping the wearer dry.
The double-ended front zipper ensures quick and easy entry and exit from the undergarment. Ankle stirrups are incorporated to prevent bunching when putting on a drysuit.
Additionally, the undergarment features easy-access zippered pockets, providing a convenient solution for carrying extra gear during dives. With a focus on functionality and comfort, this undergarment enhances the diving experience in colder conditions.
The Semi Dry Suit by Drryfsh is an excellent choice for water enthusiasts seeking reliable protection in challenging conditions. Constructed from durable 3-layer fabric with a membrane, this drysuit offers water, wind, and damage protection, making it suitable for various water activities.
With a high water resistance of 20,000 mm and breathability of 7000g/m2/24h, it ensures comfort and performance. The waterproof front entry zipper facilitates easy donning and doffing, and the men’s relief zipper allows for convenience during nature breaks.
The double-layer twin waist enhances the dry seal, particularly in a kayak with a spraydeck. Neoprene wrist and neck gaskets, along with black fabric socks, provide comfort and prevent abrasions, while splash-proof thigh pockets with YKK aqua seal zippers add functionality.
Reflective patches increase visibility in low-light conditions, and an adjustable bungee drawcord at the waist and “hook and loop” ankle closure offer a secure fit.
Whether you’re into fishing, boating, sailing, or other water sports, the Drryfsh Semi Dry Suit is a versatile and high-quality choice with various size options and a satisfaction guarantee.
5. O’Neill Men’s Boost 300g Drysuit
The O’Neill Boost drysuit, which features 300g trilaminate nylon, has been a favorite of water sports enthusiasts for quite a while now.
Made of high-quality nylon, its loose fit allows for more breathability and layering. Simultaneously, its 100% waterproof horizontal back dry zipper and taped seams provide utmost protection and dryness.
This O’Neill Drysuit has fully integrated suspenders that give better support while moving and playing in and around the water. It also has smooth skin, dry neck seal for a comfortable and protective fit.
See how a Surfer wearing the O’Neill Boost Drysuit hits the water confidently:
The Hollis Neotek Semidry Suit is one of the best drysuits for your watersport adventures. It’s a combination of 8/7/6mm of compression-resistant and super stretch neoprene fabric.
With its exclusive “ThermaSkin” inner liner, you are assured of maximum protection, warmth, and dryness as you do your maneuvers in and on the water.
It features a G-lock horizontal front zipper plus an inner bib and internal dams on the wrists, ankles, and neck. Double-glued and seat-joined seams provide the utmost durability. What’s more, the suit has spacious pockets too.
7. Level Six Emperor Drysuit
Our last but not least drysuit deserves to be on our list. The Emperor Drysuit by Level Six has a dual layer of Cordura seat and knee panels.
It boasts of neoprene-made and adjustable neck, ankle, and wrist over-gaskets. Its eXhaust 3.0 ply waterproof fabric is highly breathable, and the suit itself has an adjustable DCS double tunnel and waist cinch system.
The TiZip rear opening, integrated 3.0 ply locks, relief zippers, and hard-warming pockets with emergencywhistle complete this top-rated ensemble.
See how the Emperor drysuit looks and works:
As a bonus, here are some things to remember for drysuit newbies (and maybe also for experts who’d care to be reminded about how to wear one!).
At this point, you might be asking yourself questions like what undergarments to use when donning a drysuit and how to care for it to make it last properly. Well, below are a few nuggets of wisdom.
What Undergarments to Wear Once You Choose a Drysuit
Undergarments are important in absorbing sweat and insulating your body from the cold, no matter what drysuit you have on top. We suggest you wear a layer of comfortable, lightweight undergarment if the temperature in and out of the water is moderate.
Meanwhile, wear two layers for freezing weather: with the first layer being full-length underwear made of silk, polypropylene, or polyester, while the second one (the insulating part) being made of a pile or synthetic fleece.
Remember, you would want to keep warm from neck to ankles.
How to Care for Your Drysuit
Once you’ve spent your hard-earned money on a drysuit, you’d want to take care of your investment so you can use it for many years and on countless water adventures.
Caring for your drysuit involves mainly two things: washing it and storing it.
Washing Your Drysuit
Rinse the suit with a hose after each use. Before storing it, hand-wash it thoroughly inside and outside using only mild detergent/soap and warm water to remove chemicals and oils from the gaskets.
Do not dry clean it and never put it in the dryer.
Wash the outside first before you do the same thing on the inside. Open the zippers and brush the teeth using a soft brush.
Once you’re done with the washing (outside and inside), dry it indoors, hanging inside-out using a hanger for suits. Do the same for the outside once the inside is dry.
You should not iron your drysuit.
Storing Your Drysuit
When not in use, your drysuit should be kept in a dark, cool place, where the room temperature will never rise (like attics during summer).
To preserve the suit’s gaskets’ life, use a protectant or unscented talcum powder and never expose them to extreme heat, direct sunlight, or lights.
If you aren’t using it for a while, leave the zipper open to let air in. If you don’t have enough storage space to hang the suit, fold it loosely, taking care not to bend or kink the zippers too much.
Once folded, store it in a bag and place it in a spacious cardboard box.
Conclusion – How to Choose a Drysuit
To revisit our initial question, “How to choose a drysuit?”, you must take into account the following factors:
Material used
Thermal protection
Style
What you will use it for
Whether you’re here to choose a drysuit for the first time or thinking of getting another one, the following 7 drysuits will make your water adventures so much better:
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