Best swimskins reviewed for racing in 2025

While a triathlon wetsuit will be appropriate for many races with an open-water start, a swimskin is ideal for times when the water is too warm to be wetsuit-legal.

This will affect those who race in warmer climates where there’s a much higher chance that water temperatures will creep above the max legal limit for wetsuits (22°C for 1.5km swims and 24°C for 3.8km swims under British Triathlon and World Triathlon competition rules).

• How to prepare for a non-wetsuit Ironman swim leg
• Best triathlon wetsuits for all budgets

The swimskins in this test all promise to give you a faster non-wetsuit swim, which meant plenty of testing in open water.

So without further ado, here’s our pick of the best swimskins in 2025.

Best swimskins for men in 2025

Sailfish Rebel Pro 2

• £270 / $375

If you want to convince triathletes that your swim skin is fast, it’s not a bad idea to have your company MD break the Kona swim course record in it… and that’s just what Sailfish founder Jan Sibberson did in the previous version of the Rebel Pro 2.

As I find with Sailfish wetsuits, the fit was generous, and my size medium was quite wide across the chest. The material is described as ‘surface-compressed high-performance textile’ that’s densely woven for maximum hydrodynamics.

As expected, I found the Rebel Pro 2 was fast in my timed tests, saving up to 3secs per 100m. A reverse zipper with a cord for quick removal in T1 is a welcome addition, and the seams are all sealed to ensure the smoothest, most hydrophobic surface possible.

I did experience some chafing under the arms, so would recommend using an anti-chafing product for long swims. JS

Roka Viper X2

Buy now from Roka (£360)

• £360 / $375

Roka says its swim skins are now Kona’s most popular. After numerous upgrades, the top-of-the-range Viper X2 now features thermobonded taping to provide compressive muscle support without any breathing restriction, plus improved stretch which should stop any discomfort.

The stretch-woven textile and hydrophobic Teflon coating are an ideal match, providing a swim free of any restriction and proving to be fast in my controlled pool testing.

I did suffer slight chafing under the arms, but this was quickly solved by some Body Glide anti-chafing cream in my next test swim.

Roka says the Viper X2 sizes up quite small because of the compression taping and although I found it tight, my usual medium was stretchy enough to suffice.

I’d say the Viper X2 is worth the cash if you’re a front pack swimmer. JS

Quintana Roo Hydrospeed

• £169 / $195

The brand that invented the triathlon wetsuit describes the Hydrospeed as ‘the simplest, most powerful swimskin on the market’, claiming that where others ‘compromise performance for fashion’, Quintana Roo’s focusses on performance at a fair price.

I’ve found some short-sleeved swim skins restrictive in the past. But I experienced no restriction or discomfort whatsoever in the Hydrospeed. This allowed me to focus on what matters – swimming fast.

The Lycra-free design features quality hydrophobic, moisture-wicking materials throughout. A zip garage at the neck prevents any irritation.

The zipper is fast and easy to undo for a speedy transition. A choice of seven sizes means everyone should find a size to suit them.

The affordable price and equally impressive performance make this the best swimskin on test. JS

HUUB Race

• £199.99 (UK only)

Huub’s Race swimskin plays second fiddle to its top-end Agilis (£264.99), but after numerous test swims, I preferred the Race due to the less rigid material that I found easier to get on with.

It’s actually a classic revived by Huub, who’s brought back this version of its original swim skin to provide a more affordable offering.

In the water, the hydrophobic fabric did its job, and I experienced very little restriction across the chest.

Huub says the suit has ‘high compression to reduce frontal area’. The compression isn’t as great as the offerings from Roka or Sailfish, but the slightly more relaxed fit might be appreciated by some swimmers.

A full-length zip guard covers the easy-unlock rear zipper to prevent any discomfort. The leg grippers hug your thighs while being nice and easy to get in position before you set off. JS

Orca RS1

• £299 (outgoing model)

The RS1 is the priciest suit on test and promises the ultimate in hydrodynamics to speed up your swim.

Orca claims the coating won’t absorb any water on swims of up to three hours – and it’s remarkable how well the RS1 does this – with the water beading up on the surface better than any other suit I tested.

We were also expecting a highly comfortable swim considering the price tag… yet sadly it fell short in this respect, with the very rigid material almost feeling like it was weighing us down at the shoulders.

The thermos-sealed seams are also very thick, which adds to the rigid feeling.

A few strokes in the situation improved, and we felt the small amount of buoyancy offered by the suit helping us to move smoothly through the water.

A smart edition is the kinesiology tape on the sides, which Orca say will offer extra core support to keep you stabilised for longer. JS

Zone3 Kona Target

• £295 / $445

While most of the swimskins on test are rather subtle, you’ll certainly stand out in theZone3 Kona Target’s loud print inspired by the Ironman World Championships across the arms and upper back.

Zone3 claims the X2R fabric is one of the lightest and most compressive hydrophobic materials available. The brand has also worked to reduce the number of seams to prevent any irritation.

I found it did indeed provide a completely chafe-free swim. The fit is quite generous across the body which gave me some extra freedom of movement.

Short-sleeved swimskins have made me feel restricted in the past. But the Kona Target has just enough stretch to allow you to swim as you would in a sleeveless swimskin, with the extra benefit of having more hydrodynamic material covering your upper arms.

A pull cord comes already attached to the quality YKK zipper for fast removal in T1. JS

Yonda D2

• £189 / $240

Yonda says the D2 uses ‘the fastest, most efficient hydrophobic fabric available’, which is warp-knitted and infused with Teflon to repel the water as you swim.

It’s a much simpler affair than some of the other highly technical swim skins on test. It’s only one with some flatlock stitching still visible on the outside of the garment.

I also found the fabric was less compressive than others on test, which makes it among the more comfortable, leaving me chafe-free after each swim.

Yonda claims that the D2 can improve stroke efficiency up to 4.5secs per 100m. I found this claim was a little off the mark, but was still satisfied with the 2.5-3secs per 100m improvement I were getting in my times tests.

The sticky leg grippers made it a little difficult to pull the suit up over our thighs, but this didn’t affect the performance in the water. JS

• Best swimming goggles for triathlon and training

Best swimskins for women in 2025

Aqua Sphere Phantom V3

• £352.99 (outgoing model)

That price tag puts the Aquasphere Phantom V3 firmly at the top end of the market, making it a considered purchase even against the likes of the Zone3 and Roka.

The suit features a ‘core power’ system designed to improve posture and hip rotation.

I noticed this effect in the water, although I preferred the way the Roka felt in achieving the same, as the overall fit was more supportive.

This suit felt a slightly odd shape on me, but I did like the feel of the two fabrics used, which were both relatively supple as well as highly compressive.

The suit was water repellent and, although it featured a locking zip with guard, a pull cord would have been appreciated. On a side note, the styling was my least favourite. HW

HUUB Aura

• £180 (outgoing model)

A swimskin is a luxury purchase, but if you’re looking for one but don’t want to fork out close to £300, then the Huub Aura should be your first port of call.

Like our male tester, I found this suit comfortable and, if a little less compressive than the Roka for example, still high-compression enough to make a substantial difference in my swim times.

It felt good on and the hydrophobic fabric slipped through the water. Looks aren’t everything, but this suit was easily up there with the most stylish. HW

Sailfish Rebel Pro 2 Women’s Swimskin

• £270 / $299

I’ve always found Sailfish wetsuits suit me, so how about their Rebel Pro 2 swim skin? Well, as with their wetsuits, they come up a little large, so I’d recommend sizing down in this brand for a fully compressive fit.

Patrick Lange used this suit when he broke eight hours in Hawaii so it comes with good pro credentials and, as our male tester noted, the densely-woven fabric gave superb hydrophobic performance.

Touches such as the bonded seams and reverse zipper with long pull cord were appreciated. A sleeved version is also available and overall it felt like a quality suit.

Zone3 Shortsleeve Swimskin

Buy now from Zone3 (£147.50)

• £295 / $395

I was immediately drawn to the styling of the Zone3 Shortsleeve Swimskin, since sleeved swimskins are a rarity.

Sleeved suits are a little trickier over a sleeved tri-suit, but over a vested one (which Zone3 recommends) this created a smooth silhouette and fitted perfectly with just enough stretch (once on!) to give the range of movement needed through the arms and shoulders.

Developed in collaboration with two-time Kona swim winner Josh Amberger, the suit has good credentials and the SCS (Super Composite Skin) technology felt highly water-repellent and rapid.

In my pool sessions this suit gave the most impressive timesaving over my 1,500m test session and the bonded seams felt good quality. HW

Roka Viper X2

• £360 / $375

Having pro Lucy Charles-Barclay race in them can’t hurt the cred of the Roka swim skin and, worn over a tri-suit, this was a comfortable (if very compressive) suit.

As noted in our male test of the same suit, Roka does recommend sizing up.

My medium worked well for swims up to 3km in the pool and open water, with the bonded interior support and Teflon DWR (durable water repellent) fabric helping me feel fast in the water, something which was again backed up by my Garmin stats.

I did experience a little chafing under the arms, but this was solved by adding a short-sleeved tri-suit and/or lube.

The suit also featured lower back support and I noticed that on longer swims my body position stayed as it should. HW

How we tested

All of the products featured in this list of the best swimskins have gone through extensive testing by 220 Triathlon editor Helen Webster and former staff writer (and top age-group triathlete) Jack Sexty.

Each product has gone through controlled testing in a pool to analyse its impact on swim speed and has also been tested in open-water.

We’ve analysed each swimskin based on a range of criteria, which includes speed, comfort, ease of getting on/off, durability and impact on your swim technique.

Scores above 90% represent a class-leading product, 80-89% is highly recommended and 70-79% still does a good job.

Anything below 70% means you should give it thought before investing, as there may be significant flaws.

For the best wetsuit and swimskin care, take a look at the best wetsuit hangers and the best wetsuit cleaner.

What are swimskins?

Swimskins are made of textile materials that are designed to be hydrodynamic but without the thickness of neoprene.

During pool repeats, we saved 2-3secs per 100m (as opposed to 4-5secs per 100m in a neoprene wetsuit), so if you want the best swim split possible at your non-wetsuit race, it’s worth the investment.

Considering most swimskins cost £200+, splashing out on the off-chance your local race might take place on a sweltering hot day isn’t such a good investment, and British Triathlon rules state that you have to wear it for the whole event in short-course races, which will be considerably less comfortable over the top of a tri-suit.