Apex Swimskin Womens

The Orca Apex Swimskin Women's is the top swimskin in Orca's range, made for triathlon swims where wetsuits are banned. Pull it on over your trisuit: the HydroSkin+ fabric lowers friction with the water, and more elastic material behind the shoulders lets you swim without restriction, reducing muscle fatigue.

Who it's for

Women racing triathlon in warm water, from a summer sprint on the Sunshine Coast to a long-course race where the swim is declared non-wetsuit on race morning. Rather than swim in just your trisuit, you pull a swimskin over the top for the swim and strip it off in transition.

Buoyancy and flexibility

There is no neoprene here, so the Apex Swimskin is about glide and freedom rather than float. The HydroSkin+ face is built to reduce the drag between you and the water, and Orca use a more elastic material across the back of the shoulders, so you can swim without restriction and with less muscle fatigue.

• HydroSkin+ fabric: reduces the swimmer's friction with the water.
• Stretch panels behind the shoulders: unrestricted reach, less muscle fatigue.
• Fabric: polyamide (nylon) 80%, elastane 20%, from sustainable materials.
• Sleeveless with a back zip, as pictured.

Getting the size right

The material is very compressive, so if you fall between two sizes, take the larger. Orca's chart for the sizes we stock: XS fits a 76-82 cm chest, 144-160 cm tall and 46-53 kg; S 82-88 cm, 157-167 cm and 54-61 kg; M 88-94.5 cm, 166-176 cm and 60-67 kg; L 94.5-101 cm, 172-182 cm and 66-74 kg. Expect it to feel firm on land, with no loose fabric at the chest or hips.

Water temperature range

Reach for it when the water is too warm for a wetsuit: summer racing across Queensland and northern New South Wales, and any swim the officials call non-wetsuit. It is also the suit for warm-water open water training where neoprene would overheat you.

Looking after it

Rinse it in cold fresh water after each swim and dry it in the shade, away from direct sun. Ease it on with the pads of your fingers rather than nails, and avoid sitting on rough concrete or pool edges in it, so the smooth face does not snag.