Have you ever wondered how to stay warm and comfortable while spearfishing? Maybe you’re just starting out and looking for some guidance on choosing a new wetsuit. Maybe you’re an expert looking to replace a worn out suit. No matter your spearfishing skill level, it’s important to stay warm, camouflaged, and comfortable while you dive. But how do you know what the best spearfishing wetsuit for you is?
Here at The Adventure Junkies, one of our big goals is to make your life easier when it comes to gear shopping. In this guide, we’ll show you how to choose a spearfishing wetsuit that is perfect for your skill level and the type of climate that you’ll be diving in. We’ll walk you through the top ten models of the year.
For more of our top spearfishing gear recommendations, check out the Best Spearguns.
QUICK ANSWER – THE BEST SPEARFISHING WETSUITS
1. CRESSI APNEA
2. SALVIMAR N.A.T. CAMU
3. SEAC WARM FLEX
4. SALVIMAR ATLANTIS
5. CRESSI FREEDOM
6. SEAC BODY FIT
7. CRESSI TECNICA
8. SCUBAPRO ELEMENT
9. CRESSI MOREA
10. JBL VERTIGO
COMPARISON TABLE – THE BEST SPEARFISHING WETSUITS
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SPEARFISHING WETSUIT REVIEWS
CRESSI APNEA
BEST FOR: Colder water spearfishing in all types of conditions
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: Hooded two-piece with high-top pants and jacket with reinforced chest, elbows, knees, and groin
MATERIAL: Open-cell neoprene, glued and reinforced seams
THICKNESS: 5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Black
PROS: A great overall wetsuit that’s flexible yet warm
CONS: Hood tends to run small
SALVIMAR N.A.T. CAMU
BEST FOR: Cold water spearfishing in temperate reefs or green water
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: Hooded two-piece with high-waisted trousers, reinforced knees, elbows, seams, and chest pad
MATERIAL: Open-cell neoprene with nylon exterior
THICKNESS: 5.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Green camouflage
PROS: Thick yet flexible, this is a popular choice among cold water spearfishermen
CONS: Order larger than expected as wetsuit tends to run small
SEAC WARM FLEX
BEST FOR: Spearfishermen who would also like to use their wetsuit for other purposes
WOMEN’S VERSION: SEAC Warm Flex
STYLE: One piece full length wetsuit without a hood
MATERIAL: Closed-cell neoprene with reinforced
THICKNESS: 5mm COLOR OPTIONS: Black with fluorescent accents
PROS: Versatile and flexible despite its thickness
CONS: Needs a reinforced chest pad to be suitable for experienced spearfishermen
SALVIMAR ATLANTIS
BEST FOR: Warm water spearfishing in clear, aqua colored water
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: Hooded two-piece with high-waisted trousers, reinforced knees, elbows, seams, and chest pad
MATERIAL: Hyper-stretch neoprene and nylon exterior
THICKNESS: 1.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Multicolored blue
PROS: Stylish, flexible, and easy to put on
CONS: Not the best for spearfishing in lakes or rivers
CRESSI FREEDOM
BEST FOR: Spearfishermen who freedive more than they hunt
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: One piece without hood
MATERIAL: Closed-cell neoprene with smooth exterior
THICKNESS: 1.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Black with florescent accents
PROS: Sleek, flexible, and easy to put on and off
CONS: Tailored for freedivers or spearfishermen working on their breath-holds – no reinforced knees, elbows, or chest pad
SEAC BODY-FIT
BEST FOR: Spearfishing in tropical, warm water
WOMEN’S VERSION: SEAC Body-Fit
STYLE: One-piece full length wetsuit without a hood
MATERIAL: Closed-cell neoprene with smooth exterior
THICKNESS: 1.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Blue and green camouflage
PROS: Thin, flexible, and breathable
CONS: Pre-angled arms might not line up precisely with your elbows
CRESSI TECNICA
BEST FOR: Intermediate and experience spearfishermen who want a camouflage wetsuit with reinforcements
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: Hooded two-piece with farmer john style trousers, reinforced knees, elbows, and chest
MATERIAL: Open-cell neoprene with reinforced seams
THICKNESS: 3.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Brown camouflage
PROS: Very warm, flexible, and easy to care for
CONS: Tears easily if you don’t use lubrication or order too small
SCUBAPRO ELEMENT
BEST FOR: Spearfishermen striving to be as hydrodynamic as possible
WOMEN’S VERSION: Scubapro Element
STYLE: Hooded two-piece wetsuit with beavertail jacket and high-waisted trousers
MATERIAL: Open-cell neoprene with smooth “sharkskin” style exterior
THICKNESS: 3mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Black
PROS: Streamlined, flexible, and hydrodynamic makes for easier breath-holding
CONS: No reinforced areas specifically for spearfishing
CRESSI MOREA
BEST FOR: Spearfishermen practicing in warm waters and wanting extra protection
WOMEN’S VERSION: Cressi Morea
STYLE: One-piece full length wetsuit with back zipper
MATERIAL: Closed-cell high stretch neoprene with rubber chest
THICKNESS: 3mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Black with colorful accents
PROS: Durable, flexible, and can be used easily for other sports as well
CONS: Chest pad is too thin to hold spear gun comfortably
JBL VERTIGO
BEST FOR: Spearfishing in warm water around reef
WOMEN’S VERSION: N/A
STYLE: One piece full length wetsuit without hood
MATERIAL: Closed-cell flexible neoprene with chest pad
THICKNESS: 2.5mm
COLOR OPTIONS: Green camouflage
PROS: Easy to put on and off, lots of useful pockets and features
CONS: Hood would make the wetsuit more streamlined
HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST SPEARFISHING WETSUIT
1. THICKNESS
How thick your wetsuit should be will depend on the temperature of the water you’ll be diving in and the terrain. If you’re in colder water or dive in jagged, rocky areas, you’ll want a thicker wetsuit for comfort and protection.
For water above 24 degrees Celsius (75 degrees Fahrenheit) and up, a 1-2.5mm wetsuit is ideal. Any thicker, and you risk overheating. 3-5mm wetsuits are great for anything as cold as 15 degrees Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) and over 5mm is ideal for anything below.
It can be tempting to opt for the thickest wetsuit you can afford, but remember that the thicker your wetsuit is, the more restricted your movement will be. Also, you’ll have to invest in more weights with a thicker suit because even just a little extra neoprene can make you positively buoyant.
2. CAMOUFLAGE
Does being camouflaged really matter? According to Wild Blue in an article called “Camo or Cover,” it matters a lot. “Millions of hunters and soldiers and virtually every other predator in the world can’t be wrong – camouflaging yourself makes it harder for your prey to see you and allows you to get closer to them.”
Some spearfishermen prefer to wear a wetsuit that camouflages with the water they’re diving in. After all, isn’t a black figure with long fins swimming behind you just a little bit suspicious? Choose a blend of blues if you’re fishing in open water, brown if you prowl through rocky terrain, and if you’re bouncing between reef and sea, consider getting green or a blend of both. When in doubt, choose what the bottom of your popular dive spot is closest to.
You can even pair your fins to your wetsuit for a full range of camouflage. Read our guide to choosing the best freeediving fins to see if any would be a great match.
3. STYLE
Wetsuits come in all types of styles. You can get a one piece that covers the entire body called a steamer, a two-piece wetsuit made from pants and a top, a shorty, or a jacket style. For this guide, we’ll be featuring steamers and two-piece full length wetsuits.
Steamers are best for beginner spearfishermen who might not want to invest in a full setup just yet. These wetsuits generally zip along the back or across the chest. If you invest in a steamer, you want to make sure it has a loading pad on the chest area so that you don’t irritate your skin when loading your gun. Surfing or scuba diving wetsuits are usually steamers but don’t always make for the best spearfishing wetsuits.
A two-piece full length wetsuit is typically the preferred choice among experienced spearfishermen. A top jacket connects to the bottom using a system of clips, Velcro, or a zipper. Some two-piece wetsuits don’t fasten together, but overlap to stay snug. It’s also thought that two-piece wetsuits are more hydrodynamic than an average steamer.
Most importantly, the wetsuit needs to be the perfect fit. Read our guide on wetsuit fitting.
4. MATERIALS
Spearfishing wetsuits come in a range of materials that are usually identified by two types of materials, closed-cell neoprene and open-cell neoprene. This article called “Open Cell vs. Closed Cell” from Nine Pin Freediving goes more in depth on the differences between the two materials.
CLOSED-CELL WETSUITS
Closed-cell are the wetsuits you typically see surfers wear and are your standard wetsuit that you find in most shops. Closed-cell neoprene is more durable and generally cheaper than closed-cell neoprene. If you’re new to diving, want to use your wetsuit for multiple purposes, or dive in warmer climates, this is a good option.
OPEN-CELL WETSUITS
Open-cell neoprene is usually featured in two-piece and specialized spearfishing wetsuits. Open-cell neoprene has pockets of air that adhere to the skin, providing an extra layer of warmth. The main downside to open-cell wetsuits is that it requires some type of lubrication to put on. You can’t simply slide it over you, or you risk damaging your wetsuit or your skin. Though the open-cell wetsuits are less durable and more expensive, they’re very good at trapping heat close to your body.