Children's Wetsuit Stores
Retailers selling wetsuits sized for children
Children's wetsuit stores sell neoprene suits that let children stay warm and active in cool water, from swim lessons in chilly pools to surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling and sailing. The retailers listed here, swim and surf specialists alongside general watersport stores, stock the two main children's forms: shorty suits with short arms and legs for warm-to-cool water, and full suits covering arms and legs for colder conditions, in neoprene thicknesses commonly from 2mm for warm water up to 4/3mm and 5mm classes for cold seas. Thickness choice follows water temperature, not air temperature, and store charts map the two; children chill faster than adults, so a slightly warmer suit than an adult would choose is the standard advice in this category. Fit is the whole garment: a wetsuit works by holding a thin layer of water against the body, so it must fit snugly everywhere, with no sagging at the lower back or loose cuffs, yet allow full arm movement and easy breathing, a balance checked in store by reaching, squatting and miming strokes. Zips run up the back on most children's suits, and smooth, flatlock or sealed seams at this price range decide comfort across a long beach day.
Children's Wetsuit Retail Store Directory by Apparel Search
Children's Swimwear Stores Children's Clothing Stores Clothing Retail Stores
Dick's Sporting Goods - Children's wetsuits will trap a thin layer
of water between your child's skin and the wetsuit itself. Body heat
quickly warms this layer of water creating an insulating barrier against
the cold sea.
REI
- REI sells wet suits for children & adults.
Wetsuit Wearhouse - Wetsuit Wearhouse. One of the largest selections
of wetsuits and neoprene accessories on the planet! Established in 2002 as
a one-stop wetsuit shop, they now stock over 25,000 wetsuits, rash guards,
wetsuit boots, gloves, and hoods.
Sun Protective Children's Swimwear
Lessons, Surf and Growing Room
Because children outgrow wetsuits quickly, this category has an unusually active exchange culture: surf and dive retailers here commonly run trade-in, rental and used-suit programs that keep a correctly fitting suit affordable season to season, and a used suit in sound neoprene serves a learner as well as a new one. For swim lessons, thin shorty suits and neoprene tops take the chill off lesson pools without the commitment of a full suit, and swim specialists stock those teaching styles beside the surf range.
Accessories complete cold-water outfits: neoprene boots protect feet on rock and shingle, gloves and hoods extend the season for keen young surfers, and rash guards worn under a suit prevent neck and underarm rub. Retailers advise trying boots and suit together, since ankle seals overlap. Bought for fit first, with the temperature chart respected, a children's wetsuit turns cold water from a short dip into a full session, which is exactly what it is for.
Common Questions
What thickness wetsuit does a child need?
It depends on water temperature. As a guide, 2mm shorty suits suit warm water and heated-lesson use, 3/2mm full suits cover the broad middle range of summer seas in temperate climates, and thicker 4/3mm or 5mm suits with boots and gloves are for genuinely cold water. Store charts by water temperature give the local answer, and children generally need the warmer option.
How should a child's wetsuit fit?
Snugly all over, with no air pockets or sagging, especially at the lower back, while still allowing a full overhead arm reach and deep breath. A wetsuit that is easy to wander around in dry is usually too big; a correct fit feels firm in the shop and gives slightly in the water.
How are children's wetsuits cared for?
Rinse in fresh water after every use, inside and out, hang on a wide hanger out of sunlight, and dry away from heat. Never machine wash or tumble dry neoprene, and store hung rather than folded to avoid permanent creases that thin the insulation.