GlideSoul Wetsuit Review

Having the right wetsuit can really make or break your surf session. Choose well, and you shouldn’t even know you’re wearing one. Get it wrong though, and you face the discomfort of chafing, being too hot, too cold, frustrated by not being able to paddle or move fluidly—the list of misery goes on.

After I made an unexpected detour to Australia in August—the middle of their winter—I needed to pick up a new wetsuit, so decided to try out something from GlideSoul.

The brand creates waterwear for women that supports their active life, while letting them show off their individuality with innovative and vibrant designs. GlideSoul is a UK based company, with distributors around the world.

For this review I tested the GlideSoul Flashback 74 Collection 2mm spring suit.

First Impressions

The wetsuit came well packaged and was delivered quickly, even though I was in Australia. My first thoughts when taking it out of the box were how nice it looked!

The aesthetic of GlideSoul’s current collection is inspired by the Olympic Games of the 70s and 80s, giving their wetsuits a cool, retro look. It works really well and I love the fact that they offer something that looks totally different to other wetsuit brands.

Fit

I held my breath as I pulled on the wetsuit. Ordering online and not being able to surf Australia’s cooler water without a wetsuit, I knew that sending it back would not be an ideal situation.

I didn’t need to worry; the size guide on the GlideSoul website was spot on. Being 5’ 7” and a slightly curvy UK size 12, I ordered a large and it fit perfectly.

The neoprene was supple and flexible and flattered my shape nicely. I was particularly worried that the grippers on the short legs would dig into my thighs, giving me a ‘sausage tied in the middle’ look. Again, I didn’t need to worry, the legs were flattering and not too tight.

This wetsuit is a back zip, and combined with the soft material, is super easy to get in and out of.

 

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Performance in the water

So the suit looks good, but does it do what it’s supposed to? After surfing in this one for almost three months, I can say that everything is great.

The material is S-foam, which GlideSoul says is about 20% lighter than L-foam. While I’m no expert when it comes to material, I definitely feel like I can move without restriction and the wetsuit is comfortable and keeps me warm enough. I haven’t had any issues with chafing either.

The only niggle I have with this wetsuit, is that the short legs roll up when I get hit by a wave when I’m wading out in shallow water. This could just be the length of the legs though as they’re quite short.

Price Point

At €149 (US$170/£130), it’s definitely not the cheapest wetsuit you could buy. Having said that, you get what you pay for to some extent and it does feel high quality, plus offers the performance to back up a premium price.

Would I recommend the GlideSoul Flashback 74 Collection wetsuit?

Yes. I love the fact that GlideSoul is making something a bit different, so you don’t have to look the same as everyone else in the water, but have also managed to nail the functionality.

What is your favourite surf wetsuit?

Do you have a go-to brand or a favourite surf wetsuit? Let us know in the comments, and as always, if you found this review helpful, please share it using the social buttons below 🙂

 

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