Neoprene Wetsuits & Gear – Cressi, HIKO and Spinera

Neoprene started as a diver thing, but let’s be honest – these days you’ll freeze without it the moment the water drops below 20 °C. Kayaking in spring, SUP when the wind picks up, swimming across the lake in September, surfing, rafting, canyoning… if you’re getting wet and don’t want to turn blue, neoprene is your friend.

You’ve got shorties for those “almost summer” days, full long-arm/long-leg suits when it’s properly chilly, separate shorts and tops if you like to mix and match, plus shoes, gloves, hoods and socks for the bits that always complain first.

How it Actually Keeps You Warm

The suit catches a tiny film of water next to your skin. You heat that water with your own body, and the neoprene stops the heat escaping. That’s it – no magic, just clever rubber. The newer stuff is stretchy, soft and doesn’t feel like you’re wearing a tyre.

Cressi and HIKO put extra thought where it matters: higher back on kayak shorts so your kidneys stay covered, reinforced knees and elbows on the Cressi suits, flat seams everywhere so nothing rubs raw after a few hours paddling.

Thickness – Simple Rule I Always Tell People in the Shop

• 1.5–2 mm: Water above 20 °C, early or late season, or if you just run hot.
• 2.5–3 mm: 16–20 °C, most of what we do around here.
• 5 mm: Below 16 °C, winter river runs, freediving in April, or if you’re always cold.

Everything dries fast, shrugs off chlorine and gives you proper sun protection on top.

Quick Tip From Someone Who’s Washed Hundreds of These

Rinse it properly with fresh water and hang it inside-out in the shade. Five minutes of care and it’ll stay fresh for seasons instead of turning into a smelly sponge after one weekend.

Pick the thickness you actually need, grab the right size and get out there. The water won’t wait, and you’ll finally be the one who stays warm longest.