Active-Flex Wetsuit Women's

The Active-Flex is Zone3's multi-sport open water wetsuit, for people whose time in the water is not only swimming.

 A high-stretch nylon gusset lets the legs open sideways, so breaststroke works properly rather than being tolerated.

Nylon front leg panels and reinforced knees take the abrasion of kneeling on rocks, slipways and boards. A 3mm Yulex natural rubber chest panel and a higher neckline hold warmth for cold mornings.

WHO IT'S FOR 

The Active-Flex is for swimmers who swim breaststroke, and for anyone who swims front crawl and also paddles, surfs and spends half their time getting in and out of the water. Most wetsuits are built for surface swimming and will not let the legs move laterally, which is why breaststroke feels wrong in them. This suit is built the other way round, and built to take a beating while it does it. 

• Breaststroke as your main stroke, or a regular part of your swimming 
• Wild and coastal swimming across the year, in and out over rock and shingle 
• SUP, surf, kayak and other board sports alongside swimming 
• Anyone who wants one suit for everything rather than one suit per sport 

WHERE IT SITS IN THE RANGE 

The Active-Flex is the most versatile suit in the range and the slowest through the water, which is the trade it makes. If open water racing and triathlon transitions are the goal, the Glide swaps the nylon front legs for neoprene and picks up pace, and the Agile above it moves to a full smoothskin build. For swimrun specifically, the Versa is the suit. 

KEY BENEFITS 

1. You work less for the same distance. 3mm neoprene through the chest, core and upper legs gives medium core buoyancy that lifts the hips, and low buoyancy through the legs keeps them submerged, so your body sits flat whichever stroke you are swimming. 

2. You still move cleanly through the water. A Speedflo coating on the shoulder, upper arm and collar panels reduces drag across the panels that meet the most water. 

3. Breaststroke works properly. A high-stretch nylon gusset lets the legs open sideways without resistance, which is the movement most wetsuits block. 

4. The suit takes the abuse. Nylon front leg and back panels resist rock, gravel and board decks, reinforced knee panels handle kneeling and launching, and glued and blind stitch seams keep water out. 

5. You stay warmer for longer. A 3mm Yulex natural rubber chest panel adds core warmth from a plant-based rubber, and the neckline sits higher than the rest of the range for cold air and cold water. 

WHAT YOU'LL FEEL 

Warm across the chest before you have even started moving, and covered higher at the neck than you are used to. Open your legs wide and nothing resists, which is the whole point of this suit. Your hips sit up and your legs stay down rather than floating behind you. Kneeling on a board or scrambling out over rock, you stop thinking about what the suit is touching. Pulling it on is easier than a full smoothskin suit, and it goes back on wet without a fight.