Wetsuit Base Layer Mens

The Orca Wetsuit Base Layer Mens is a thin, long-sleeve neoprene top for men. At 1.3 mm it is slim enough to vanish under a swimming wetsuit and stretchy enough to swim in with nothing over it.

Who it's for

Open water swimmers who want one more layer without buying a second wetsuit. Pull it on under your suit for a July lap of the bay or a dip in Lake Jindabyne and your core stays warmer for longer. When the water turns mild, wear it over your togs: it cuts the chill on a windy morning and keeps the sun off your shoulders and arms.

Buoyancy and flexibility

This top is about warmth and freedom, and it leaves the lift to your wetsuit. The 1.3 mm neoprene is backed with a nylon lining that gives it plenty of stretch, so it follows your shoulders through every stroke and sits flat under a suit with no bunching at the armpits.

Getting the size right

Size it on your chest, waist and hips:

• XS: chest 76–85 cm, waist 71–76 cm, hips 76–85 cm
• S: chest 85–94 cm, waist 76–81 cm, hips 85–94 cm
• M: chest 94–103 cm, waist 81–86 cm, hips 94–103 cm
• L: chest 103–112 cm, waist 86–91.5 cm, hips 103–112 cm
• XL: chest 112–120.5 cm, waist 91.5–96.5 cm, hips 112–120 cm
• XXL: chest 120.5–129.5 cm, waist 96.5–101.5 cm, hips 120–129.5 cm

It should fit like a second skin, close at the neck, wrists and hem with no loose folds. A snug fit is what lets it slide under a wetsuit and stops water pooling inside when you wear it alone. If your chest puts you in one size and your waist in another, go with your chest.

Water temperature range

Think of the Base Layer as the piece that stretches your season. In cold southern water, from Port Phillip Bay in winter to a Tasmanian lake, it goes under your wetsuit as extra insulation for your core. In mild water, from a Queensland winter to a southern summer, it works alone when a full wetsuit is more than you need.