O'Neill Wetsuits for all types of Watersports

Every suit
for every sport

O'Neill Watersports

Since 1952 O’Neill has delivered upon our promise of providing the best watersports products to enable you to do what you love for longer. Whether you enjoy a relaxing afternoon on your paddle board or a full day behind a speedboat on your wakeboard, at O’Neill we love all watersports! That is exactly why we provide you with every types of wetsuits fitting every of your favorite activities. So if you don’t exactly know yet what is the perfect gear that you need, here is some info that you might enjoy.

Surfing

If you’re a surfer, you probably spend lots of time with your body submerged in water. Water temperature is then absolutely important when it comes to choosing the right wetsuit. Air temperature also plays a significant role. Then basically, if the water temperature is warmer than the air, you might prefer a spring suit with short legs and full length arms. Conversely, if the water is colder than the surface temperature, then a short arm steamer is probably the way to go. Of course, in cold environments a full neoprene wetsuit would be wiser, so would be a UV blocking shirt in a tropical weather to protect you from the sun (and chaffing. Nobody likes chafing.)

wetsuits sports surf

wetsuit sports wakeboarding

wakeboarding

Wakeboarders generally like to keep their arms free and flexible, but you’ll definitely need some impact protection once you start getting serious air out there. A great combination to start with is a Long John wetsuit paired up with a heavy duty impact vest for protection. A 3/2 neoprene thickness will generally be a great fit to take you from spring to fall, since you’ll be working up a sweat, but you’ll definitely want some insulation from the wind rushing around you when you reach high speed. As always, personal preference is going to play a huge role in the wetsuit style you choose, so figure out how much skin coverage you’re comfortable with and then get out there to enjoy the rush!

Stand up paddle

Stand up paddleboarding has taken a big flight in recent years, as more and more people discover the awesome feeling of being upright on a board at all times! Since SUPers spend most of their time above the water’s surface, the main elements they have to contend with are possible wind chill and often intense sunrays, while water temperature is much less of a deciding factor. When choosing a wetsuit or skin protection for stand up paddle-boarding, take a close look at the climate you’ll be paddling in. If you’re extending your season from early spring to late fall, you might want to look at a full suit of thin to medium thickness; if you’re sticking to summer paddling in a warm climate, it’s a great idea to add on an UV protective lycra shirt to your regular summer wear.

wetsuits sports sup

wetsuit sports bodyboarding

bodyboarding

Although some surfers might disagree, bodyboarding is in many ways similar to surfing. Bodyboarders ride mostly the same waves in mostly the same conditions, so it’s no surprise most surfing wetsuits will be an equally solid choice for bodyboarding. With one small aside: since bodyboarders are even lower in the water, using a sleeveless or short arm wetsuit is a less advisable choice, even when surface temperatures are warm. But then again, it all depends on the combination of temperatures and your personal preferences.

Kitesurfing

Kitesurfers deal with a lot of the same circumstances as windsurfers do. They engage in intense full-body activity, making it easier to stay warm, but requiring maximum flexibility from a wetsuit in order to accommodate that wide range of motion. Again, wind chill factor is going to play a role in any sport that calls for windy weather and takes place mainly above the water’s surface. To protect your body from the elements and water impact, consider a springsuit or fullsuit. Something else to bear in mind: kitesurfing altitudes can be higher and the resulting crashes harder, so if you’re hardcore about your kiting, an impact vest is excellent safety protection.

wetsuits sports kitesurfing

wetsuit sports windsurfing

windsurfing

It’s all in the name: windsurfing only happens when it’s windy, making wind chill a bigger factor in choosing the right wetsuit, especially in cooler climates. Windsurfers are in nearly constant motion, which makes it so much easier to stay warm. That is why they might ultimately need a thinner wetsuit than surfers. That slightly thinner neoprene also lends maximum flexibility for the wide range of motion you need as a windsurfer. You might want to consider a light fullsuit (especially for a bit of impact protection), a long sleeved springsuit , or even a short arm steamer, depending on the level of freedom you’re looking for and the temperatures you’ll be dealing with out there.

SUN Warm rays can make a huge difference to your water sport experience. Sunshine has less of an impact when you’re spending most of your time immersed in the water, but it becomes important when you're out of the water. To be considered when choosing your wetsuit's neoprene thickness.

WIND Just like with any outdoor activity, wind (or lack of it) will influence your core temperature, usually cooling it down. In some conditions wind can warm you up, though, usually when the water is a lot colder than the air temperature.

WATER Of course the single most important water variable is temperature. The colder the water gets, the more insulation you’ll need from thicker neoprene and added body coverage. Time spent in the water should also be taken into account when deciding on the right wetsuit for any given activity.

Every suit for every sport