Five wetsuits that make sense for your first few years of surfing, plus a thickness chart so you buy the right one for the water you will actually surf.
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A wetsuit is the one piece of gear where fit matters more than brand. A cheap suit that fits will keep you warmer than an expensive one with a gap at the lower back. So start with the right thickness, then pick the suit that matches your body.
TL;DR: For Portugal, Morocco and most of Europe from spring to autumn, buy a 3/2mm full suit. The O'Neill Epic is the value pick. Step up to a chest-zip like the Rip Curl Dawn Patrol once you surf regularly.
The numbers are millimetres of rubber: the first is the torso, the second the arms and legs. Match them to the water, not the air.
| Water temperature | What to wear | Extras | Typical places |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24°C and up | Boardshorts or swimsuit plus rash guard | Reef booties on sharp reef | Bali, Sri Lanka, Costa Rica |
| 20–23°C | 2mm spring suit or neoprene top | None | Canary Islands in summer |
| 17–19°C | 3/2mm full suit | None | Portugal in summer, Morocco |
| 14–16°C | 4/3mm full suit | 3mm booties | Portugal in winter |
| 10–13°C | 5/4mm hooded suit | 5mm booties, 3mm gloves | UK, Ireland, France in winter |
| Below 10°C | 6/5mm hooded suit | 7mm booties, mittens | North Sea, Scandinavia |
We go into more detail on seams and care in the full wetsuit thickness guide.
| Product | Best for | Thickness | Entry | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O'Neill Epic Full Suit | Best value | 3/2 or 4/3 | Back zip | View on Amazon |
| Rip Curl Dawn Patrol Full Suit | Mid-range all-rounder | 3/2 or 4/3 | Chest zip or back zip | View on Amazon |
| Billabong Absolute Full Suit | Chest-zip on a budget | 3/2 or 4/3 | Chest zip or back zip | View on Amazon |
| Patagonia R1 Yulex Front-Zip Full Suit | Non-neoprene option | About 3/2 (warmer R2 to R4 versions exist) | Chest zip | View on Amazon |
| O'Neill Reactor-2 2mm Spring Suit | Warm-water shorty | 2mm | Back zip | View on Amazon |
How we picked: we compared construction, sizing range, availability and long-term owner feedback. We have not tested these side by side, so treat this as a researched shortlist rather than a lab ranking. Model names and specs change each season, so check the current listing before you buy.
A long-running entry suit with sealed seams on the 4/3. Easy back-zip entry and a forgiving cut for a first wetsuit.
Beginners spend a lot of time standing in waist-deep water and falling off. You need warmth and durability more than stretch, and you want a suit that is easy to get into. A back zip does that.
One of the more affordable ways into a chest-zip suit, which flushes less cold water down your back than a back zip.
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Once you paddle for an hour or more per session, flexible shoulders start to matter. This is where mid-range suits earn their price.
Noticeably stretchier than budget suits and available in both zip styles. A sensible step up once you surf most weekends.
Made with natural rubber instead of neoprene. It costs more, so it only makes sense if you already know your size and surf often.
Our tested pick
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Short arms and legs for water in the low 20s °C, or for anyone who gets cold in the tropics at dawn.
In properly tropical water you only need a rash guard. See our picks for rash guards and water shoes.
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If your surfing is one camp week a year, rent. Camps such as Algarve Wave Retreat and Fuerteventura Surf Ranch include wetsuits in the right thickness for the season. Buy once you surf at home or want a suit nobody else has worn. Heading somewhere specific? Check the packing lists for Portugal and Morocco.
We may earn a commission if you book through these links — at no extra cost to you.
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Maya Torres
Founder & Surf Travel Editor
Maya has surfed in 34 countries over 15 years, reviewed 60+ surf camps in person, and now leads the Surfstore.com editorial team. Her mission: zero bad surf trips.
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