Vitalis Shorty Womens Openwater Wetsuit

The Orca Vitalis Shorty is a women's open water wetsuit that stops above the elbow and above the knee. Swimming comes first: orange hi-vis panels run down the sides and under the arms, and the legs are tough enough for a morning on a board or in a kayak. In Orca's range it takes over from the Openwater Core Swimskin.

Who it's for

Women who want one suit for the warm months. Wear it for an ocean swim off Burleigh at sunrise, then leave it on for a paddle up the creek or a snorkel along the rocks. The orange is there so the lifesavers, a skipper or whoever is minding your towel can find you in the chop.

Buoyancy and flexibility

Bare forearms and calves give you a clean catch and a free kick, while the neoprene body lifts your torso and hips so you sit higher in the water. With no long sleeves or legs to wrestle, the Vitalis Shorty goes on quickly and peels off just as fast when you are changing beside the car.

Orca's DuraSkin outer fabric covers the legs, so the suit shrugs off the rubbing of a paddleboard deck, a kayak seat or a scramble in over rocks.

Getting the size right

Start with your weight and height, then check your chest.

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

Dry, the suit should feel snug all over with no loose folds in the small of your back. It relaxes once water gets in. Fit your torso first: a shorty has no long arms or legs to come up short, so height counts for less than it does in a full suit.

Water temperature range

The Vitalis Shorty is a warm-water suit. It suits Queensland and northern New South Wales for most of the year, and the southern states through the peak of summer, when you want neoprene around your core and nothing on your arms and legs. For cold winter water we'd move you into a full-length suit from the Vitalis family.

Looking after neoprene

Rinse the suit in plenty of fresh water after every swim, salt or chlorine. A dash of pH-neutral soap is fine as long as you rinse it out. Dry it in the shade or in an airy room, then store it folded at the waist over a hanger. Never hang it by the shoulders, and keep your fingernails clear of the neoprene when you pull it on.