Apex Flex Women Triathlon Wetsuit V2

Orca Apex Flex V2 Women Triathlon Wetsuit is the suit for women who already swim well and want the wetsuit to disappear. It is the most flexible wetsuit Orca makes: Yamamoto 44+ neoprene across the shoulders gives with every reach, and buoyancy is deliberately low and neutral so your own body position does the work. A short, reverse zip and slippery Hydrolite lining get you out of it fast in transition. Orca packs a mesh backpack and fabric gloves in the box.

Who it's for

Technical swimmers, often with a pool squad or swimming background, racing Olympic distance, 70.3 and Ironman. If your hips and legs already sit high in the water, extra buoyancy only gets in the way of your stroke, and the Apex Flex gives you the freedom of swimming without a suit while keeping the warmth of one. If you are still building your swim and your legs sink, the higher buoyancy Apex Float V2 is built for you instead.

Buoyancy and flexibility

• Yamamoto 44+ shoulders: paired with a high-stretch Infinity Skin 2 lining containing bamboo fibres, for full freedom through the catch and recovery.
• 0.88 Free: made with Yamamoto exclusively for Orca, stretching easily and springing straight back, with a titanium-coated lining to hold warmth.
• Dynamic Shoulder Fit: reshaped shoulder and underarm panels with a little more interior volume, so they pull less as you reach. V2 also drops the printed shoulder graphics for more stretch.
• Low, neutral buoyancy: lets a good swimmer hold a natural line in the water.
• Nano Ice SCS: a slippery surface treatment over the compressive Power-fit torso panels, which hug the body so water cannot flush through the suit.
• Short YKK R reverse coil zip: a narrow back zip with simpler seams at its base, freeing the lower back for a strong kick.
• Laser-cut neck: sealed with Hydrolite lining to keep water out and stop chafing.

Getting the size right

Orca sizes its women's triathlon wetsuits on chest, height and weight, with tall versions of the XS and S. Match your chest first, then use height and weight to choose between neighbouring sizes.

• XS: chest 78–83 cm, height 144–160 cm, 46–54 kg
• XST: chest 79–85 cm, height 157–167 cm, 53–60 kg
• S: chest 83–89 cm, height 157–167 cm, 54–61 kg
• ST: chest 83–89 cm, height 169–183 cm, 58–65 kg
• M: chest 89–94 cm, height 165–177 cm, 60–67 kg
• L: chest 94–99 cm, height 170–185 cm, 66–74 kg
• XL: chest 99–104 cm, height 177–189 cm, 73–79 kg

Dry, a race wetsuit should feel snug everywhere, with no gap at the lower back and no water pocket at the crotch. Work the neoprene up the legs and arms a little at a time, using the supplied gloves, so the shoulders are not left fighting a suit sitting too low on your body.

Water temperature range

The Apex Flex is a full-sleeve race suit for wetsuit-legal swims: a spring race in Port Phillip Bay, a dawn start at Lake Burley Griffin, or a winter ocean swim squad off the Gold Coast. Because its buoyancy is low, it suits races where your stroke, not the suit, keeps you moving, and the laser-cut neck seal holds warmth in when the water bites.

Looking after neoprene

Rinse the suit in plenty of fresh water after every swim, especially salt water, with a little neutral pH soap if needed. Dry it in the shade, never in direct sun, then store it folded over a hanger at the waist rather than hung by the shoulders. Keep any Velcro closed or covered, and watch your fingernails when pulling it on: the soft Yamamoto neoprene marks easily and nail damage is not covered by Orca's warranty.