Women's Wetsuit Fit Guide

For all you ladies who want to surf in an area where a wetsuit is necessary, there is a suit out there for you! You might be thinking, how do I find a suit that fits my odd waist, my flat chest, my broad shoulders, or my short legs? Sizing for a wetsuit can be overwhelming with the many different brands and styles to choose from, but with the right information, it doesn’t have to be. That's why we've created this comprehensive guide to help women find the best size and brand for them.

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How to Measure for a Women's Wetsuit
Wetsuit Fit FAQ
Fit By Brand
Brand Comparison Table
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How to Measure for a Women’s Wetsuit

For us ladies, before selecting a wetsuit size, it’s really important to know your height, weight, chest, and waist measurements. It might not be such a big deal for men, but with our curvy bodies, those measurements are crucial in finding the best fit. Having a proper fitting suit makes all the difference in staying out in the water longer and catching more waves.

Steps

• Height: Measure from the top of the head to the bottom of the feet
• Weight: In pounds
• Chest: Measure around the fullest part of your chest
• Waist: Measure around the natural waistline
• Hip: Measure around the fullest part of your bottom at the top of your legs

Before we go into the fit differences between wetsuit brands, let's first go over some more commonly asked questions:

Women's Wetsuit Frequently Asked Questions

Why isn’t my clothing size the same as my wetsuit size?

Wetsuit sizing runs completely differently from clothing sizing! Some wetsuit brands start at size “2” and work up from there, whereas other brands start at size “4”. Many clothing brands start at size “0”. Don’t be surprised if you wear a size 4 jean but end up being a size 8 wetsuit!

What’s the difference between women’s and men’s wetsuits?

The cuts of men’s and women’s suits have noticeable differences. Women’s suits are cut to accommodate our curvy bottoms, chest, and narrower shoulders. Men’s suits are cut more in a rectangular shape with more room in the crotch, which can be tight-fitting for that region for the ladies. There are RARE cases where a rectangle-shaped lady with a slender body and a smaller chest fits better in a man’s suit vs a woman’s suit.

Do you wear anything under a wetsuit?

A bathing suit is typically worn under a wetsuit. Going commando is a personal preference! My advice: err on the side of caution and protect the goods with bikini bottoms.

How snug should a wetsuit fit?

Generally, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, but not so tight that your range of motion is limited. The sleeves (if full-length) should fall at the wrist bone and the legs just above the ankle bone, and there should be no gaps, pockets, or rolls of neoprene. Wetsuits fit more snugly than clothing. Wetsuits are meant to be form-fitting. You don’t want loose folds of neoprene or large pockets of air or water in your wetsuit.

Do wetsuits stretch out?

Once a wetsuit gets wet, it will loosen up and feel more comfortable. After a few sessions, neoprene will develop “memory” and conform to your body even better. One thing that you may find unusual is the extra neoprene in the armpit of a wetsuit. This is a raglan gusset, and you’ll find it in every wetsuit out there. Since 90% of surfing is paddling, wetsuit manufacturers use this gusset to prevent fatigue and increase the range of motion.

I have long hair; will it fit in a hood?

The best way to keep hair out of the way and tucked in a hood is either braiding it or putting it in a low bun. With a bun on top of my head, it causes too much pressure with it being tucked under the hood.

Alright, now that we've covered the basics, here are the fit differences between the wetsuit companies.

Women's Wetsuit Fit By Brand

The ladies of Cleanline have generously offered to help with this guide to give you a complete overview of how various brands and types of suits fit differently. We took our measurements, looked at the size charts, tried on 2-4 suits in the size that were recommended by the chart, and then gave feedback on how the wetsuits fit. For this guide, we tried on Billabong, Buell, Hotline, Manera, O'Neill, Patagonia, Rip Curl, Roxy, Sisstrevolution, and Xcel women's specific wetsuits.

Fit of Women's Billabong Wetsuits

General Fit: Overall, Billabong has a slightly wider cut to the neoprene, which results in a good fit for ladies with a few curves—or, for short, ladies like me with a soccer body and athletic legs. In addition, there’s a little more space up top for broad-shouldered or bigger-chested ladies, along with a roomier fit in the upper legs.

Fit for Sarah - Size Large/8

Fit for Jamie - Size Large/8

Fit of Women's Rip Curl Wetsuits

General fit: Rip Curl has a longer torso and legs with a smaller fit throughout the suit. Because of the smaller fit, in most cases, you might consider sizing up if in between sizes.

Rip Curl makes some models in 6T, 8T, and 10T for you taller ladies!

Fit for Jamie - Size 10

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Fit of Women's O'Neill Wetsuits

General fit: Overall, O’Neill fits true to size. Ladies with bigger curves or very tall stature tend to fit well because of the type of neoprene used in some of the higher-end models like the Hyperfreak and Psychotech. Ideally, you want to be centered or at the higher end of the weight range. O’Neill also makes some models in short and tall sizes, such as 6S, 8S, 8T, 10S, and 10T.

Fit for Hayley - Size 8

Fit of Women's Patagonia Wetsuits

General fit: Patagonia suits run a smidge on the small side. Although it’s gotten much better over the years, the Yulex rubber runs a bit stiffer compared to other neoprene rubbers, so if you're in between sizes, go with the bigger one.

Fit for Hayley - Size 6 and 8

Fit of Women's Roxy Wetsuits

General fit: Roxy suits have a more feminine cut to the neoprene - bigger bust and hips with a narrower waist. Also, the arm length fits a hair on the short side. Roxy makes some models in 6T, 8T, 10T, and 12T, which is a great option for taller ladies.

Fit for Hayley - Size 6

Fit for Justine - Size 8

Fit of Women's Buell Wetsuits

General fit: Buell has a true-to-size fit similar to O’Neill. The ankles and wrists fit slightly bigger than other brands, which makes for a comfortable fit when paired with gloves and boots. Buell makes the RB2 models in 6T and 8T for taller ladies!

Fit for Hayley – Size 6

Fit of Women's Hotline Wetsuits

General fit: Hotline has unique sizing, and their suits fit stocky/not average body types well. The zipper system on Ultra Hot Combo works well for surfers with limited shoulder mobility because of the large entry that extends from the mid-upper arm all the way across the chest to the opposite side.

Fit for Sarah – Size 6

Fit of Women’s Sisstrevolution Wetsuit

General fit: Sisstrevolution suits are designed and developed for younger surfers in their teens and 20s. They run on the slimmer side with a more narrow cut throughout. We recommend sizing up if you are in between sizes, especially in the thicker 5/4 and 6/5 models.

Fit for Mia – Size 10

Customer Feedback

I ordered a size 2, but it was too small. I am 4'11, 90lbs, 26 waist so I thought this would be a good fit. The 4 is a much better fit, even for someone my size. I am not usually one to say that a product runs small, but I would have to say that in this case.”

- Too Small

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Fit of Women’s Manera Wetsuit

General fit: Overall, Manera fits true to size. However, its unique 3D design lends itself to an even more unique size chart than other brands. Initially, the suits fit very snugly (they are specifically designed that way) and then eventually mold to the shape of your body with time and use. This allows the suits to fit many different body shapes and sizes.  

Fit for Sarah H. - Size Medium/6

Sarah H's Feedback: I’m at the bottom of the weight range but on the higher end of the height for a size medium. True to Manera’s feedback on fit, it was super snug at first but definitely loosened up a bit after a few sessions.

Customer Feedback

Fit is standard - got a medium 5’7” 140”

- Morgan

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Fit of Women's Xcel Wetsuits

General fit: Xcel fits true to size but is snug at first. Ladies with athletic body shapes fit well in Xcel, especially the higher-end models that use a more stretchy neoprene. Because of the more athletic fit, it doesn't work best for women with a more curvy or hourglass body type.

Fit for Genevieve - Size 4

Genevieve's Feedback: It has a snug, performance-driven fit that feels tight at first, especially in the shoulders, but quickly breaks in to offer surprising flexibility, comfort, and easy entry/exit for such a thick suit. Once on, it molds nicely to the body with no flushing and a flattering, secure feel in the water.

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Women's Wetsuit Fit Guide Comparison Table

Sarah

Originally from the rolling hills of New Hampshire, Sarah now calls Oregon home. She started at Cleanline Surf in 2019 and, since then, has grown into the role of the Customer Service and Blog Manager. When she’s not at work helping dial in customers with surf gear, Sarah is happiest out adventuring. From mellow summer surf sessions to winter splitboard missions to ripping down her favorite mountain bike line, Sarah is always ready to go at the drop of a hat.