Kids Wetsuits

Springsuits, steamers and long sleeves in kid sizing

Why kids-specific. Kids cool down faster than adults — less body mass, faster heat loss. A wetsuit makes a real difference to time on the water in cooler conditions. Kids wetsuits are sized to kid body proportions, not just scaled-down adult cuts. The neoprene is also typically softer than adult neoprene — easier for a kid to wriggle into, more flexible on the water. Suit types in this collection. Springsuits — short arms and legs. 1.5-2mm neoprene. For warmer water and mild conditions. Maximum flexibility. Long sleeve springsuits — long arms with short legs. Good middle ground — sun protection on the arms (kids in particular benefit from this), shorter legs for movement. Steamers — full arms and legs. 2-3mm. For cooler water. Most coverage. Best winter and early-spring choice. Boys, girls and unisex. Most products explicitly come in boys or girls cuts. A few are unisex Kids cuts. Cut matters more for older kids; for very young kids any well-fitting suit works. Brand spread. Rip Curl is the deepest brand here — Dawn Patrol and Omega across boys, girls and unisex Kids cuts including the SG (Searching for) G-Bomb range. Jetpilot’s Flight and RX Youth cuts cover the PWC-and-towed-sports crossover. Peak rounds out the budget end. Sizing. By chest, waist and height — manufacturer chart on each product page. Don’t oversize “to grow into” — a wetsuit too big flushes water and doesn’t insulate, which defeats the point. Buy what fits now and step up next season. Boys vs girls cuts. Both are kid-sized and similarly proportioned for primary use, but the chest, hip and shoulder shaping differs slightly for older kids. For younger kids (under 8), boys and girls cuts are largely interchangeable. Fit matters most. Snug when dry. Neoprene moves more when wet, so a wetsuit that feels loose on land will flush water. Between sizes, go down. Watch our How To Fit videos. Care — and have your kid involved. Kids wetsuits last longer when kids are taught to rinse them after use and hang them properly. Fingernails through neoprene is the most common failure mode at any age. Store away from direct sun and heat. Salt, sunscreen and chlorine all degrade neoprene if not rinsed out.