Orca Wetsuits Review | Epic Wetsuits or Rip Off?
For a wetsuit company to name itself after the killer whale Orca is something courageous. Orcas are the oceans’ undisputed ruler, so anyone who takes after this name must live up to achieving this pinnacle of performance. Orca has been producing innovative and technical wetsuits since 1992. But, what else do we know about this brand? This article digs into the history of Orca and the best wetsuits under their line of products. What are Orca Wetsuits suitable for History of Orca Wetsuits The Orca wetsuit technology What Are Orca Wetsuits Suitable For? Orca is well-known for its performance wetsuits. For this reason, many tri-athletes and especially those who train regularly in open waters prefer to wear this brand. Orca’s performance wetsuits ensure these athletes are comfortable during training and in serious competitions. These performance wetsuits are highly equipped to take on open-water swimming. They offer maximum flexibility sans changing your position, which is ideal for natural swimmers. Theirs is one of the most stretchable linings on the market, which is also made to have just the right amount of buoyancy. Orca Wetsuits Reviewed Orca outlined their line of wetsuits into three segments, where every segment is focused on particular water activity, style, or skill level. We listed five of their best offerings that keep up with every athlete’s endurance, stamina, and versatility. S7 Men’s Fullsleeve USAT Approved Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Overall ORCA Sonar Men Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Mid-range Suit ORCA Equip Men Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Entry Level S7 Women’s Fullsleeve USAT Approved Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Women’s Wetsuit ORCA Openwater Core Hi-Vis Men’s Swimming/Triathlon Wetsuit – Best for Breaststrokers 1. S7 Men’s Fullsleeve USAT Approved Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Overall Material: Nylon, Neoprene Color: Black Best for Triathlon, Swimming Age Range: Adult One of the most sought-after triathlon wetsuits in the market, the S7 consistently provides a superior fit and excellent comfort. Perfect for keen open-water swimmers and novice triathletes, this wetsuit sells at a great price point. The S7 Fullsleeve approved by USAT (USA Triathlon) helps improve your overall technique, whether for triathlon, water swimming, or even surfing use. New open-water swimmers may find it completely uncomfortable to wear a full sleeve wetsuit. But, with the S7 wetsuit, they can experience comfort combined with a high level of buoyancy. This Orca wetsuit also aids in correcting your body position, especially when your technique is less-than-polished. Its high level of buoyancy encourages a better body position even when you are tired. Thanks to its torso panels that contour the body shape well. Orca uses the most innovative Nano SCS (super composite skin) developed by the Yamamoto Company. This innovation guarantees top speed in water because of its micro-cell structure that repels water, reducing the drag effect. Overall, the Orca S7 provides the feeling of absolute freedom. Its design incorporates bamboo fibers and other natural eco-friendly materials that offer greater flexibility with every stroke while maintaining extended body heat. 2. ORCA Sonar Men Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Mid-range Suit Material: Nylon, Neoprene Color: Black Best for: Swimming, surfing Age Range: Adult The Sonar wetsuit is Orca’s best-selling mid-range suit. This highly versatile wetsuit is moderately priced and is packed with convenient features – most of which also come in other top-of-the-line wetsuits Orca has in their collection. The Sonar Men Triathlon Wetsuit features 2mm SCS-coated Yamamoto #39 neoprene construction for most of its panels. Yamamoto #39 is the benchmark neoprene on high-end performance wetsuits for quite some time. It was just fairly recently when it was succeeded by the new and extra stretchy Yamamoto #40. Moreover, this wetsuit’s cell neoprene is coated with Yamamoto’s SCS, which helps in reducing the drag that your body gives out as it skims through the water. Just recently, Orca updated the Sonar with new features, including super stretch material in the chest for more chest freedom. Chest freedom is the most common concern of athletes using wetsuits. With Orca’s state-of-the-art technologies, swimmers can now forget what it’s like to feel their breathing constricted. Overall, the Sonar is a good value and strong wetsuit that you can compare to suits in the $600 to $700 range. Its stretch, buoyancy, and durability can keep up with you in any activity you may choose to use it with. 3. ORCA Equip Men Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Entry Level Material: Neoprene Color: Black Best for: Swimming, surfing, triathlon Age Range: Adult Sometimes, the strain of understanding the complexities of a wetsuit throws off anyone who wants to try out wearing one. Not with Orca’s Equip Wetsuit. You can put on, swim in, and take this wetsuit back off without hassling yourself with trying to understand what this wetsuit is up to. The Equip Wetsuit uses various technologies to deliver more flexibility while maintaining constant buoyancy. Its design and engineering are intended for strong swimmers because of its unmatched sense of freedom. This wetsuit is also perfect for anyone trying to transition from pool swimming to open water. It offers maximum flexibility without even changing your position. The Yamamoto #39 technology is also applied to this wetsuit, therefore, unraveling the feeling of freedom. Orca claims this wetsuit is designed for the “natural swimmer.” You don’t even have to wear it to understand why. Touching its fabrics and feeling how it works with your skin make you aware of how it can be buoyant enough to put the swimmer in a neutral body position. Overall, the Orca Equip Wetsuit is highly recommended if you are into comfortable, easy to put on and remove, and speedy to swim wetsuits. 4. S7 Women’s Fullsleeve USAT Approved Triathlon Wetsuit – Best Women’s Wetsuit Material: Neoprene, nylon Color: Black Best for: Swimming, surfing, triathlon Age Range: Adult This wetsuit is Orca’s version of the S7 for females. It is for the progressive female swimmer who recently transitioned and polished their swimming technique while getting comfortable in the water. It offers the same buoyancy as the S7 for male extends. Designed … Read more