However, the main reason to highlight the Nieuwland collection is that they’re made with Yulex, the greenest alternative to neoprene available. Made from this natural rubber, along with recycled spandex and polyester, it has a generous four-way stretch and looks great. Yulex feels almost identical to neoprene, though we did notice it was extremely tight to begin with, compared to a synthetic suit, but Finisterre assures us it will loosen after a few wears. While none of the options on our list quite reach the top end of the price spectrum, it’s a good idea to invest a little more if you’re going to be engaging in watersports or open-water swimming on a regular basis. But if you’re only likely to have the occasional cold-water dip, or just need something for a summer surfing holiday, there are still some very affordable entry-level wetsuits, which we’ve included below. Is neoprene eco-friendly? Although it’s also available in a highly recommended and warmer 4/3mm design that will extend your surf season, we’ve chosen this 3/2mm chest-zipper design because it’s lightweight and has a surprising amount of stretch. It also features a 3D knitted liner that’s not only soft and comfortable against the skin but makes it so much warmer than you’d imagine – it’s rated for temperatures between 13°C and 18°C, which makes it ideal for using in UK seas from late spring through to autumn.

Yet another great value option from the world’s largest outdoor brand. However, this time Decathlon has designed a suit specifically for kayaking, canoeing, and stand-up paddle boarding. The sleeveless design simply makes paddling a whole lot easier – and gives you a chance to avoid those t-shirt sleeve tan lines – while the unusual front zip opening will help you to regulate your temperature when the sun shines and you’re paddling hard.There are generally two eco-friendly options as an alternative to traditional neoprene. The first is limestone neoprene (also known as Yamamoto neoprene) which swaps petroleum-based chemicals for calcium carbonate from limestone. Although not completely eco-friendly, limestone neoprene is easy to store and durable, and arguably better than traditional neoprene in that it’s warmer, lighter, more flexible and absorbs less water.

A “long john” wetsuit is basically a sleeveless wetsuit. Meanwhile, a “short john” is the same but with short legs too – like a shorty, but with no sleeves at all. Fancy a spot of open-water swimming? Maybe you’ve become obsessed with stand-up paddle boarding? Or perhaps you’re hoping to get gnarly in the surf? However you enjoy the open waters, a good quality wetsuit will keep you warmer for longer, which means more fun for you and the kids. Don’t forget, you can also get too hot in a wetsuit. During our August testing, we found a 3mm wetsuit was simply too hot to use on an inflatable obstacle course on an inland lake, but was ideal in the sea. A “shorty” refers to a wetsuit with the arms and legs cut short. It’s a good choice for the warmer months when the sea can still be cool, but not so cold that you need a full wetsuit.

Leggings

However, bearing in mind that very cheap neoprene can be surprisingly stiff, it might be worth spending a bit more to save having to wrestle yourself – and possibly the kids – into them every time. As the name implies, wetsuits are not waterproof and are designed to get… well, wet. Made from stretchy neoprene – although alternative, more eco-friendly options are available (see below) – wetsuits keep you warm thanks to bubbles in the material that trap warm air, and thermal linings. When you enter the water, a small layer fills the suit and is then heated up by your body temperature to act as more insulation. This is why the fit is so important – if your suit is too baggy, too much water will flush through, making you cold. What types of wetsuit are there? A full wetsuit is what most people picture when talking about wetsuits. They’re designed to cover your full body, with long sleeves and full-length legs. For full coverage, you can also get hoods, gloves and boots to keep you warm in the coldest of conditions. Amazingly, Roka sells this premium wetsuit as an ‘entry level’ option, but unless you’re a professional triathlete, or have plans to swim the Atlantic, this has all the features you need to improve your outdoor swims.