If you have a confirmed allergy to chloroprene rubber, the material most wetsuits call neoprene, the short answer is no. blueseventy wetsuits use Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, and 40 cell grades, and we do not make a neoprene-free wetsuit.
Confirm the source of the reaction
Before you rule out a wetsuit, ask a dermatologist for patch testing. Tell them you swim or race in a wetsuit. They can test for chloroprene and for the rubber additives, adhesives, and dyes used in neoprene foam. That distinction changes what you can wear.
When the reaction is not the neoprene itself
If your patch test points to a specific adhesive or dye rather than chloroprene, you may still be able to wear a blueseventy wetsuit. The Thermal Reaction is fully lined with Zirconium jersey, a synthetic wool material. That lining sits between most of your skin and the neoprene. The neck, wrists, and ankles still contact the suit directly, so this is not a promise that you will avoid a reaction. Follow your dermatologist's advice before you try it.
If the allergy is confirmed chloroprene
Do not wear a blueseventy wetsuit, including sleeveless models. The Reaction Sleeveless, Fusion, Helix, Sprint, and every other suit in our line use neoprene. A rash guard underneath is not a fix. The suit fits snugly by design, and a base layer changes that fit, can bunch at the neck and shoulders, and still leaves points of direct contact.
For warm-water swimmers who want added buoyancy without a full neoprene suit, the LIFT Buoyancy Short is worth discussing with your allergist. It uses NBR foam, not the Yamamoto neoprene we use in wetsuits. NBR is a different rubber, but different does not mean automatically safe for your specific allergy. Confirm before you buy. The LIFT short adds hip and leg lift to improve body position, but it does not provide thermal protection.
For cold water, no blueseventy wetsuit will work for a confirmed chloroprene allergy. Do not ignore a skin reaction to stay in the water longer.
If you are cleared to test a suit
If your dermatologist says the reaction is not chloroprene and clears you to try a wetsuit, our Test Swim policy reduces the buying risk. You can swim in a wetsuit and still return or exchange it within 30 days, as long as it comes back clean, dry, and unmodified. That gives you a way to test a fully lined suit like the Thermal Reaction in a controlled setting. If your allergy is confirmed chloroprene, do not test by wearing it. Patch testing comes first.
Questions about linings or materials? Email us at us@blueseventy.com. We can help you check which models have full linings or NBR foam.
