11 best kids’ wetsuits that will keep them warm while surfing and paddle boarding

We liked that this was a proper wetsuit that came in sizes for a huge range of ages, meaning younger kids don’t miss out on the good stuff. And good stuff it is, too.

Sola hasn’t scrimped on any of the design features just because it’s for younger beach bums. There’s reinforced knitted knee panels for surfing, or just mucking about on the beach. A glideskin collar reduced irritation at the neck – something our tester is prone to moaning about. The seams are also anti-irritation. The torso on this wetsuit is 3mm, while the legs are 2mm. This hybrid design means the core stays warm while the legs can kick about without being too restricted.

Other features we liked were the chest and back plates, which are made from mesh. This provides extra protection in wind and cold weather, and durability too. Plus, inside the wetsuit there is a label that encourages owners to pass their wetsuits on to others once you’ve outgrown them to reduce waste. This wetsuit is so well made we’re confident it’s going to last through several surfer kids’ adventures, keeping them comfortable and warm.

With a 2mm thickness, this was the thinnest shorty wetsuit we tried. It’s going to provide an extra layer of warmth against bracing winds and chilly waters but allow your child to be active without overheating on those days when it’s blissfully warm. It has a mesh panel on the front to fend off the worst winds too. We found that it dried nice and quickly as well, so it’s not deeply unpleasant to put on, on day two.

Something we did find was that sizing was very generous. We’d suggest sizing down – and with a wide age range of sizes, most kids are going to find a size that’s right for them. Our buddy bodyboarder liked that the chest plate was so flexible on this suit, and helped them adhere to the board better too. A long tag pull on the back zip, wide storm flap and adjustable collar kept that layer of warm water in without any chilly fresh water seeping in.

This is simple, but it gets the job done. It’s going to be great for those who don’t need a wetsuit all year round, but are dipping their toes into watersports, shall we say. There is contouring on the suit to provide comfort and better range of motion. However, it’s the same thickness throughout. It definitely kept the chill off on brisk days and enabled our beach-bum mini tester to stay out there a bit longer. The UPF 50+ also gave us peace of mind, and would be a real bonus on a winter-sun break to somewhere that wasn’t quite as warm as we were hoping.

The back zip is made easier for independent dressing with a long pull tab. And there’s a huge storm flap inside to stop chilly water seeping into the suit. We thought this suit is perfect for kids who are on your SUP board with you – it’s going to keep them warm and protected, without being all bells and whistles (with an affordable price tag to match).

JoJo Maman Bebe’s wetsuit has been designed for little kids in mind for sure. The first clue is the front zipper with chin guard and storm flap. This makes the whole procedure of getting a wet tot in and out of the wetsuit a whole lot easier (these things are relative – it’s still like wrestling an octopus). The chin guard offers comfort from the zip chafing or pinching and the storm guard stops too much cold water leaking in.

The shorty style is definitely better for warmer climes, or sunnier summer days in the UK. But we doubt a toddler is going to be tackling the British high seas in October anyway. It’s a fun print, which is going to appeal to kids, and it makes it easy to spot your child on the beach as they totter off on a shell-collecting mission. It’s great for kids who want a dip and a paddle, then to carry on playing on the beach without a hint of teeth chattering. We found this suit’s sizing generous, so it’s worth checking if it fits at home before slinging it in a suitcase.

This shorty wetsuit is going to give water-loving kids that bit longer to splash. With 3mm across most of the suit to keep the core warm, the 2mm thickness under the arms allows for a greater range of movement. While we’ve said that this suit is for kids from three years, the sizing is actually done on chest size. This massively helps you find the right size for your kid first time around.

Ergonomic panelling helps kids muck around in and by the water without being restricted or uncomfy. There’s a mesh panel in the back and front for extra wind protection too, and a key loop for kids who have items they want to keep close by. And the extra-long pull tab zip helped them get into and out of the suit more independently.

This wetsuit is perfect for warm days on the beach. It’s 2.5mm so it’s going to provide some protection from the chilly water, but it’s not going to roast your child when they’re not in the water. It’s also flexible, and allowed our tester to do beach cartwheels, hunt in rock pools as well as do a spot of sea swimming.

The bright blue panels are made from super stretchy neoprene, and have been used judiciously to provide comfort. The black panels are made from SCR neoprene, which is a medium-weight neoprene sponge. That’s there for added warmth. We liked that the sizing was done thoroughly – both chest and neck to crotch measurements are used to make sure the suit fits your child like a glove. Anything that takes the guesswork out of sizing a wetsuit is a good thing when they vary so wildly in sizing.

Other things we appreciated was the flexible neck, the rub-free seams and a long cord pull on the zip for getting changed. This suit feels premium and like it’s going to last a good few summers of bodyboarding.

Olaian has designed this suit for intermediate surfers in waters around 12C. That’s pretty specific, we realise, but essentially it’s a great medium-weight suit. It’s got a hybrid thickness to allow for maximum movement while keeping the wearer’s core nice and warm. Our tall tester found this suit came up large on them, so definitely size down folks. They also noted that the collar was a tad chaff-y as the edges are raw and the pull tape is short – even the most flexible of wearers is going to need a hand with this.

However, they did like the zips at the ankles to make dressing easier. This decreased the need to hop around the beach car park like a wetsuited frog trying to get the thing on. They also liked the colourway – navy with flashes of yellow – as it stood out in a literal sea of black wetsuits. Other plus points were the grips on the knees, which bodyboarders, surfers and SUPers are going to appreciate. We would say this suit feels very robust and premium, too.

This TWF wetsuit is pretty hard to beat for British summer holidays – and for trips abroad where the weather might be a bit iffy too. It offers UPF 50+, so you’ll have less work to do when it comes to slicking them up in suncream. We like to see that this suit comes in such a wide range of ages, and there’s an easy-to-use measurement system on TWF’s website so you can be sure you’re getting the right size for your child. Once we measured our tester, this sizing was pretty bang on and meant they had a snug-fitting suit that kept them warm.

At 2.5mm this suit offers a good degree of warmth on warm days and as it’s this thin, there’s no need for two different thicknesses across the suit. However, there is a chest and back panel to protect against wind and chill. These offer extra grip on boards, too. A long tab pull means our tester could set about trying to change independently and we liked that the collar didn’t come up super high, which seemed to reduce whinging about chafing dramatically. Another thing we love about this suit is the price – you’re going to be hard pressed to find something better value. Plus, it comes in a range of bright colours, so your child can choose something they like.

For real protection against the cold, the Osprey origin 5mm cannot be beaten. In the UK, 5mm is the standard thickness for winter and autumn wetsuits and this one is 5mm all over, apart from under the arms where it’s 4mm. This helps offer some movement still on the arms, while keeping the rest of the body very warm. Bolstering this further are mesh chest and back plates.

Our tester said this wetsuit was the warmest they tried, which figures. They also liked the extra-long pull tape and the anti-rub seams – they’re a delicate soul who cannot stand fabric rubbing. As an adult, we liked the reinforced knitted knees, which made the suit feel really durable. Certainly this suit feels very premium in all the fabric and finishes. We were all impressed with this one.

If you’re not an avid beachgoer, but just want something to keep the chill off then this Next wetsuit is a purse-friendly option. It’s quite no frills, but we found it offered a good degree of warmth – the neoprene is quite thick (no actual thickness information is available for this one though). There’s a good long pull tab on the back zip for independent changing for older kids and teens. Indeed, this wetsuit comes in a fab range of sizes.

Although this says it’s for boys, it’s going to be fab for girls – but there is also a pink version (£30, Next.co.uk) if Barbiecore is obligatory. Personally, though we liked the neon yellow flashes on this suit – it made it easy to pick our kid out of the crowd. Despite the lower price point, there are very few corners cut on this suit, with a big storm flap, robust zip and flat anti-chafe seams.