The best open water wetsuit is the one that matches your water temperature, training load, and body position needs. Blueseventy builds a complete swim-specific range around those needs. The company made one of the first triathlon wetsuits in 1993, and its name comes from the fact that 70% of the earth is covered in water.
What to look for in a swim-specific wetsuit
Open water swimming puts three demands on a suit: hip and leg lift, shoulder mobility, and a close neck seal. Blueseventy wetsuits use Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, and 40 cell grades. Higher cell neoprene is more flexible, which is why the arms and shoulders get the most attention.
A wetsuit improves body position by adding buoyancy to the hips and legs. Buoyancy equals speed in open water because a higher hip position reduces drag. The LIFT buoyancy panels on the Helix and the NBR foam in the LIFT Buoyancy Short are built around this. The LIFT Buoyancy Short ($150) is a training tool that uses NBR foam for maximum buoyancy. No wetsuit is a personal flotation device. The buoyancy supports body position; it does not replace safe open water practices.
Blueseventy open water lineup
Water temperature should drive your first decision. Below about 56 to 58°F, a thermal suit adds meaningful warmth. Above about 70 to 72°F, many swimmers find a full suit too warm over longer swims and prefer a sleeveless suit or swimskin.
- Sprint, $325: entry-level full suit for newer swimmers and budget-conscious triathletes.
- Fusion, $420: best-selling mid-range suit with the 2021 lower-sitting neckline for comfort without losing the watertight seal.
- Reaction, $680: higher-grade neoprene than the Fusion, suited to frequent, longer swims.
- Thermal Reaction, $785: fully lined with Zirconium jersey for cold water swimming.
- Reaction Sleeveless, $395: warm water option with an easier fit.
- Glide Short John, $210: short john cut for warm water and entry-level use.
- Helix, $995: flagship race suit with thin, flexible neoprene in the arms and shoulders, a permeable catch panel for feel for the water, and LIFT buoyancy panels.
Blueseventy notes the Helix's thin neoprene is not ideal for heavy training use. If you race competitively and want the most flexible suit, the Helix or Reaction are the usual starting points. If you train once a week or more and need durability, the Reaction handles longer swims while the Fusion makes sense for shorter sessions. If you swim in cold water, the Thermal Reaction is the specific tool. If you want warm water comfort or easier entry, the Reaction Sleeveless or Glide Short John makes sense.
Fit and Femme Fit sizing
A swim wetsuit should feel snug on dry land. That feeling changes once water enters the suit and your body warms the thin layer. Wetsuits are not waterproof; they let a thin layer of water in to provide insulation. An improperly donned suit, especially across the shoulders, causes fatigue because you fight the neoprene. Pull material up from the legs and torso before judging shoulder fit.
Women's Blueseventy wetsuits use Femme Fit sizing. That means refined patterns at the bust, torso, wrists, and ankles, a lower neckline to reduce chafing, and an extended zipper for easier entry and faster transitions.
If you are unsure between sizes, use the size chart on the Blueseventy site or visit a dealer. You can also take a test swim before you commit, because Blueseventy allows returns or exchanges within 30 days from the ship date, as long as the suit is clean, dry, unmodified, and has its tags and accessories.
Care and repair
Rinse your suit in fresh water after salt, lake, or chlorine swims. Dry it inside out first, then outside, away from direct heat. Fingernail punctures and heel tears are the two most common ways swimmers damage a suit, so pinch the neoprene with your fingertips, not your nails, when pulling it on. For small tears, use Aquaseal neoprene cement.
Blueseventy covers manufacturing and material defects for one year from the original purchase date for the original owner. Damage from fingernail punctures, heel tears, zipper force, heat, chlorine, and non-swimming use is not covered.
Choosing your suit
- Choose your water temperature.
- Choose your training frequency.
- Choose the model that matches both.
For most open water swimmers, the right Blueseventy suit comes down to that sequence. The right suit is the one you can afford, can put on correctly, and will use.
