On this page
- Quick picks
- Best 2mm shorty (overall): Hyperflex Access 2mm
- Best 2mm spring suit: Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 2mm
- Best premium spring suit: Patagonia R0 Yulex Top + Trunks
- Best women’s spring suit: Roxy Syncro 2mm
- Best for SUP and recovery: Body Glove Pro 3 3/2
- Best ultra-light layer: Patagonia R0 Yulex Top
- When to pick a shorty vs spring suit vs full 3/2
- Regional fits
- Comparison table
- How we tested
- Putting it together
- Sources cited
The summer wetsuit conversation often gets ignored on a site that focuses on cold-water gear, but plenty of surfers, SUP riders, and open-water swimmers spend half the year in 65 to 75°F water where a 3/2 would overheat and trunks would chill. Summer spring suit and shorty picks fill that gap. This guide covers the right picks across budget, mid-range, and premium tiers, plus the layering options for shoulder-season transition periods.
For broader thickness guidance, our 3/2 vs 4/3 comparison and wetsuit thickness guide cover the full ladder.
Key Takeaways
- • 2mm shorty is the workhorse summer suit for 65 to 75°F water.
- • 2mm spring suit (full sleeves, short legs) extends usable temperature down to 60 to 65°F.
- • Rash guard plus trunks covers above 75°F; 1mm thermal top adds light warmth.
- • Pick back-zip for simplicity; front-zip for accessibility.
- • For seasonal climates, the summer suit is a 3-to-4-month-a-year asset.
Quick picks
| Category | Pick | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Best 2mm shorty (overall) | Hyperflex Access 2mm Shorty | $80 to $120 |
| Best 2mm spring suit | Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 2mm | $130 to $180 |
| Best premium spring suit | Patagonia R0 Yulex Top + Trunks | $129 to $220 |
| Best women’s spring suit | Roxy Syncro 2mm Spring Suit | $140 to $190 |
| Best for SUP and recovery | Body Glove Pro 3 3/2 (light) | $90 to $140 |
| Best ultra-light layer | Patagonia R0 Yulex Top | $129 to $159 |
Best 2mm shorty (overall): Hyperflex Access 2mm
The Hyperflex Access 2mm Shorty is the standard summer-warm-water entry-level shorty in the US market. Back-zip closure, basic GBS seams, 2mm rubber across the trunk and upper legs, short sleeves and short cut-off at the thigh. Not premium construction, but the price is right and the suit covers 65 to 75°F water comfortably.
Best 2mm spring suit: Rip Curl Dawn Patrol 2mm
The Dawn Patrol line is Rip Curl’s mid-range. The 2mm spring suit configuration (full sleeves, short legs cut at mid-thigh) works for 60 to 70°F water, extending usable summer suit temperature down a few degrees compared to a shorty. Back-zip closure, GBS seams, mid-tier neoprene.
Best premium spring suit: Patagonia R0 Yulex Top + Trunks
For surfers in warmer climates who want plant-based rubber and don’t need a traditional shorty, the Patagonia R0 Yulex Top combined with board shorts is the premium-tier configuration. The R0 is a 0.5mm Yulex thermal top that adds light warmth and UV protection without traditional shorty bulk.
Best women’s spring suit: Roxy Syncro 2mm
Roxy’s women’s-specific spring suit cut handles fuller busts and women’s proportions better than men’s shorties sized smaller. The Syncro line uses mid-tier neoprene with GBS seams. 2mm rubber, full sleeves, short-leg cut at the thigh.
Best for SUP and recovery: Body Glove Pro 3 3/2
Body Glove’s Pro 3 in 3/2 thickness is technically a full suit, not a spring suit, but for SUP riders and recovery-style use cases (warm water, longer durations, less paddling intensity), the 3/2 is often the right pick. Full sleeves, full legs, 3mm body, 2mm extremities. Covers 60 to 68°F water for SUP and recovery sessions.
Best ultra-light layer: Patagonia R0 Yulex Top
The R0 Yulex Top alone (no shorty) is the lightest summer-water option. UPF 50 sun protection, 0.5mm Yulex rubber for light warmth, and zero shorty bulk. Pair with board shorts for warm-water surf, with a 2mm shorty for shoulder-season layering, or alone for hot tropical sessions.
When to pick a shorty vs spring suit vs full 3/2
Three decision rules for summer-warm-water buying:
Pick a shorty (2mm short sleeves, short legs) if:
- Water is consistently 65 to 75°F
- Sessions are 60 minutes or less
- You want minimal bulk and maximum heat dump
- You’re a SUP rider or beach session-er, not a serious surfer
Pick a spring suit (2mm full sleeves, short legs) if:
- Water is 60 to 70°F
- You’re shoulder-season surfing where temperature varies
- You want sleeves for arm coverage during paddling
- You want a single suit covering more conditions
Pick a thin 3/2 if:
- Water is consistently 60 to 65°F
- You’re a serious surfer doing real paddle-out sessions
- You’re in a marginal climate where summer barely warms enough
For specific water-temperature guidance, our wetsuit temperature guide and 3/2 vs 4/3 comparison cover thickness selection by water temp.
Regional fits
By US region, the typical summer rotation:
| Region | Summer Water | Recommended Suit |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 75 to 82°F | Rash guard or 1mm |
| Florida | 75 to 85°F | Rash guard or 1mm |
| Southern California | 65 to 72°F | 2mm shorty or 2mm spring suit |
| Northern California | 56 to 63°F | 4/3 still |
| Pacific Northwest | 53 to 58°F | 4/3 still |
| Mid-Atlantic (NJ, MD) | 70 to 78°F | 2mm shorty or rash guard |
| Northeast US | 64 to 72°F | 2mm spring suit |
| Texas Gulf | 80 to 86°F | Rash guard or trunks |
| Great Lakes | 65 to 73°F | 2mm spring suit |
For regional-specific gear guides: best wetsuits for Hawaii, best wetsuits for Florida, best wetsuits for the Carolinas. For Pacific Northwest summer specifically, see the Pacific Northwest pillar.
Comparison table
| Suit | Type | Thickness | Best Temp Range | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyperflex Access | Shorty | 2mm | 65 to 75°F | $80 to $120 |
| Rip Curl Dawn Patrol | Spring suit | 2mm | 62 to 70°F | $130 to $180 |
| Patagonia R0 Yulex | Thermal top | 0.5mm | 70°F+ | $129 to $159 |
| Roxy Syncro Women’s | Spring suit | 2mm | 64 to 70°F | $140 to $190 |
| Body Glove Pro 3 | Full suit | 3/2mm | 60 to 68°F | $90 to $140 |
How we tested
The Hyperflex Access shorty and Rip Curl Dawn Patrol spring suit are in regular rotation among team members in NorCal and Cape Cod summer conditions. The Patagonia R0 Yulex Top has been used as a layer and standalone item across PNW shoulder seasons. The Roxy Syncro and Body Glove Pro 3 are based on retailer reports and conversations with women surfers and SUP riders we know rather than long-term firsthand wear by our (mostly male) team. We have flagged that. We bought the Hyperflex, Rip Curl, and Patagonia at retail.
Putting it together
For most summer surfers in seasonal climates, a 2mm shorty (Hyperflex Access for budget, Rip Curl Dawn Patrol for mid-range) covers the warm-water months. Add the Patagonia R0 Yulex Top as a complementary layer for shoulder-season days. Skip the shorty entirely if your summer water is above 75°F; rash guard and trunks are enough.
For broader gear context: 3/2 vs 4/3 comparison, wetsuit thickness guide, best surfing wetsuits, Patagonia brand guide, Rip Curl brand guide, rash guard buying guide. For thickness selection, the Wetsuit Finder tool takes 60 seconds.
Sources cited
- O’Neill. O’Neill spring suit and shorty lineup. Manufacturer-published thickness and panel-mapping documentation.
- Rip Curl. Dawn Patrol product line. Manufacturer Dawn Patrol 2mm spring suit specs.
- SurferToday. Spring Suit vs Shorty. Industry-blog overview comparing the two configurations.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between a spring suit and a shorty?
Spring suits typically have full-length sleeves but cut-off legs (or vice versa) and are designed for shoulder-season conditions. Shorties have short sleeves and short legs, optimized for warmer summer water. The terminology is loose: some brands use 'spring suit' for both and others use 'shorty' for both. The practical question is whether you want sleeves and legs (more warmth) or just trunk coverage (more breathability).
What thickness for summer water?
Roughly: 75°F+ rash guard or 1mm top; 70 to 75°F 2mm shorty; 65 to 70°F 2mm spring suit or thin 3/2; 60 to 65°F 3/2 full suit. The summer-suit category covers the 65 to 75°F range primarily. Below that, you want a full 3/2; above that, a rash guard or trunks.
Are shorties worth buying?
Yes, for surfers in temperate climates with a real summer (water above 65°F for 3+ months a year). A shorty extends usable beach time into hot summer days where a 3/2 would be too warm. For year-round cold-water users (PNW, Maine, Iceland), a shorty rarely earns its closet space; the few warm-enough days are easier handled with a rash guard. For seasonal climates (NorCal, Mid-Atlantic, UK summer), a shorty fills a real gap.
Which is better, back-zip or front-zip on a shorty?
For shorties, back-zip is the dominant convention and works fine. The closure-based flush considerations from full suits matter less in shorties because the shorty's exposed legs and arms already let water in. A simple back-zip with basic GBS or flatlock seams is the typical shorty construction. Front-zip shorties exist (more common in dive-style designs) and offer easier donning for accessibility-driven needs.
About The WetsuitCenter Team
Our buying guides are written and maintained by staff who actually get cold and wet testing this gear: surfers, divers, and open-water swimmers logging real hours across seasons and water temps.
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