BEST DRYSUITS FOR WOMEN 2020: TOP PICKS

Just like women, drysuits and undersuits come in many shapes and sizes... and finding a good fit is paramount. Underwater, our bodies can lose heat 20 times faster than in air, so staying ‘dry’ in a suit offers unrivalled warmth to explore scuba diving in colder waters.

But neoprene or membrane? Made to measure or off the peg? For a breakdown of the different terms and types of drysuits see “Choosing a Diving Drysuit”.

For this guide, we spoke to the reps and put together the best drysuits (and undersuits!) for women available right now, covering the lifestyle, body and needs of a wide spectrum of diver.

We always recommend trying on your drysuit before purchasing where possible, and our in-store team in Chiswick, London are happy to help you try before you buy (armed with talc for those tight seals & emergency hair ties)!

Drysuits

TOP ALL-ROUNDER

SCUBAPRO EVERDRY & EVERDRY PRO

Two types, top sellers in-store and great value for money

High density neoprene with sock feet
Off the peg - best for women who find standard high-street ‘dress sizes’ tend to fit well
Everdry Original is light & travel-friendly (weighing 50% less than standard drysuits)
Everdry Pro is durable & abrasion-resistant, suiting most professionals (military, commercial & technical)

Weekend warrior or work in water? Scubapro’s Everdry range covers both, with two iterations of their best-selling neoprene drysuit which comes in both male and female versions.

Designed to fit the female form, the ladies Everdry best suits women with slight to moderate curves and has figure-flattering waterproof seams.

The ‘reversed construction’ rolling neoprene neck seals allow for watertightness without the dreaded hair-pulling many latex/silicone seals create (and lessens chances of the even more dreaded carotid-sinus reflex), though we still recommend tying any tresses as the exterior velcro closures can also snag long loose hairs.

(Staff Tip:- Tie long hair into a right-sided plait or braid to prevent tangles and catching on the left-sided velcro)

Both Everdry suits include either one or two large pockets which also have a D-ring inside for added security to attach torches or other valuable equipment that may easily get dropped otherwise.

FOR INDEPENDENT, TALL & FAST-MOVING DIVERS

BEUCHAT ICEBERG PRO

Unisex yet sleek, with nifty ‘dual-purpose’ features

High density neoprene with sock feet
Off the peg - best for straighter, taller & slightly curvy frames, women who find ‘standard dress sizes’ either have excess material or are too short in the leg and/or torso
Unique horizontal front zip for easy self-donning & removal, ideal for ‘self-reliant’ divers
Streamlined shape and in-built hood minimises drag, ideal for photography-enthusiasts, instructors or other professionals who need to move fast and unhindered underwater

The buddy is optional when getting in and out of Beuchat’s elegant Iceberg Pro. It’s flexible ‘ELASKIN 2.2’ neoprene is designed to be easily donned and removed by the wearer without help, and allows for greater manoeuvrability in and out of the water.

Designed for men and women, it suits taller, larger women. The ‘sock’ feet, while allowing flexibility with boot choice, go no smaller than EU 39/UK 6 so may not be ideal for those with tiny toes.

The transformable neck is great for those who hate tight neck seals. Wear it loose on the neck with velcro closure, or as a hood with an anatomical collar seal at its base to keep the head moving freely whilst minimising water leakage. However, ladies with long locks may struggle to use the hood and retain water tightness around the face if the hair sticks out.

The streamlined silhouette still has a pocket that fits most masks & slates and has a ring to keep items attached.

(Staff Tip:- A 2-in-1 carry bag and ground sheet is supplied with the Iceberg pro, minimising contact with dirt, sand and other potential damage, whilst keeping water drips to a minimum for the post-dive journey)

FOR ALL BODY TYPES, IN ALL CONDITIONS

FOURTH ELEMENT ARGONAUT 2.0 FLEX, STEALTH & STEALTH HYBRID

Three customisable types, top in-store seller with guaranteed fit ‘biomap’ measuring.

Trilaminate membrane with boot feet
Made to measure - best for women who find standard high-street ‘dress sizes’ difficult to impossible!
Flex is polyester trilaminate, extremely hard wearing, somewhat unyielding. Great for commercial or high-use
Stealth is nylon trilaminate, more lightweight with two-way stretch yet tough like a soft-shell jacket!
Stealth Hybrid has Stealth upper and Flex lower, ideal for dive instructors and aquarium professionals who may spend time on knees, in rescue scenarios, or around abrasive materials

Invest in a suit literally modelled on your body and needs with Fourth Element’s Argonaut 2.0 range.

Instead of tape measures, Argonaut takes your size with photogrammetry, using two photos (front on and side on) to apply your exact measurements to software that has an astonishing 98% fit rate. This is a drysuit for women (and men) of every shape, size and need, especially those with disabilities, sensitive skin or unusual body types.

Fourth Element is a rare brand to offer pee valves for women, to be used alongside a (separately purchasable) she-pee, so gone are the days of intentionally dehydrating yourself (and increasing decompression risk) to limit the urge to pee, when you can go at will, on land or underwater!

Seals come as standard latex, but can be upgraded to neoprene, or even allergen-friendly Ellipse Silicone with the option of dry gloves which can be adjusted by the user, without needing specialist servicing. Perfect for divers in remote areas or without easy access to servicing.

Boots and/or sock is adjustable to your exact shoe size too; opt for the Drysuit boot for heavy duty grip, the Tech boot for better flexibility or a sock to wear any boot on top of the suit.

(Staff Tip:- To our knowledge, Fourth Element are the only boot brand to have ergonomic insoles to protect the arch of the foot when carrying heavy dive gear)

Undersuits

Both Scubapro and Fourth Element offer a great range of undersuits for different degrees of thermal protection. Here we list them starting with the lowest protection, to the highest, listing the different types, formats and features!

THE SCUBAPRO K2 RANGE

Scubapro’s K2 undersuit range comes in three warmth levels which can be layered for seasonal variations.

K2 Light

Two-piece - rashguard and leggings
Thin and light, can be layered under other undersuits, as well as directly under tight-fitting neoprene drysuits like Everdry/Everdry Pro & Beuchat Iceberg Pro.
‘Grid’ plush material catches air impressively well for a thin material. Damp? No problem! Due to wicking properties it still draws away moisture to keep your body warm.

K2 Medium

Two-piece - rashguard and leggings
Thicker plush material, can be used under neoprene AND trilon suits as an “entry level trilon” undersuit
Top has front zip for easy donning and removal, as well as a zip chest pocket, and two hand-warming pockets for in between dives. Leggings have waist toggle for snugness.

K2 Extreme

One-piece steamer
Ultimate thermal protection made of breathable dual-fleece material, for use with trilon suits. Double thickness on core - chest, torso, and tops of thighs with honeycomb compression padding.
Front zip for ease of donning and removal, and large hip pockets
Women’s only feature - U-shaped zip at the back of the undersuit for convenient bathroom breaks especially during surface
intervals.

And don’t forget the Boots!

Remember, if your drysuit comes with sock feet, you MUST wear drysuit boots with them! Both Scubapro and Beuchat make some great hardwearing boots. Go with Scubapro for a wider range of sizes, or Beuchat for bigger feet.

BEUCHAT Rock Boots

THE FOURTH ELEMENT RANGE

Fourth Element’s undersuits comes in four degrees of thermal protection for even the iciest conditions.

Xerotherm

“The original Fourth Element product,” almost unchanged for 15 years. Comes in a women’s vest, long-sleeve, legging, unisex legging and even socks, wristwarmers and beanie!
Works even when wet, and can be used as a rashguard in it’s own right, under thicker undersuits with membrane drysuits, or with a neoprene drysuit
Made using material originally developed for NASA, traps air AND wicks away moisture to the surface

J2

Two piece - baselayer top, leggings and as a set of both with a storage pouch - and Rannva’s favourite!
Top has front zip for easy donning, for use with all types of drysuit.
Super fast wicking, silver ions woven into fabric make it antibacterial/antimicrobial, perfect for trips where frequent washing isn’t always possible.

Arctic

Two piece - top, leggings and as a set of both with a storage pouch
Low bulk, for use with neoprene suits, or if layered with trilaminate membrane drysuits too,
Top has water resistant chest & arm panels with windproofing on the chest to protect from the potential cold rush from the chest inflate valve.
Used by FBI and Military divers!

Halo

One-piece steamer
For use with membrane suits such as the Argonaut 2.0 ideal for frequent cold water diving and layerable with other baselayers, for even the harshest, coldest waters
Body mapped insulation with fleece and compression resistant panels at your core, designed for use at horizontal trim.

SCUBAPRO Heavy Duty Drysuit Diving Boot

From British quarries to Antarctic ice diving, many divers enjoy longer bottom times, lower air consumption and more enjoyable dives thanks to their drysuit. Chosen and cared for well, a drysuit can be a life-long investment, needing only occasional seal replacement and servicing.

Whether you're just starting your search for the suit of your dreams, or are ready to get stuck into seals and beads, we hope our top drysuits for women have helped you on your journey.

Where’s your favourite drysuit dive?

From all the team at Mike’s, happy diving!

Written by Samantha Symonds

At 5ft 1in, Sam’s first breaths underwater were in a Medium men's drysuit in Wraysbury and it's safe to say she was not immediately sold on cold-water diving. Fast forward a few BSAC courses, and three years diving in the tropical bathwater of Malaysia, Thailand, Fiji and Australia, she's now a PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor & CAUS Scientific Diver.

Sam fell in love with temperate water (and well-fitted drysuits) again in Sydney, where they shielded her from penguin poop at SEALIFE Sydney Aquarium and then seal sucker-bites at Vancouver Aquarium.

(Dry)Suited & Booted – technical gear to what to wear