Admit it—we wear wetsuits for free speed. Sure, they make chilly open-water swims tolerable, but we choose a suit for performance enhancement, not warmth. Because of this fact, wetsuits are just as important in 77 degree water as they are in 67 degree water. The Orca 3.8 ($600) is designed to keep the body as cool as possible during long, warm swims. Orca built the shoulders with panels of breathable neoprene to let heated water out of the suit without allowing water to rush in. The breathable sections are quite small, maybe an inch or two wide, so I was skeptical (as usual) that they would actually keep the swimmer cooler.

My first test of the suit’s breathability was the dreaded pool swim in a wetsuit. Luckily, the pool at University of Colorado’s rec center is 78 degrees—the absolute warmest temperature at which USA Triathlon allows wetsuits. After 20 minutes, I was very warm but not cooked. I had done the same workout one week before in a typical wetsuit, but I was noticeably more uncomfortable then. So far, so good.

The second test was at the wonderful St. Anthony’s Triathlon. Tampa Bay was too warm for pros to use wetsuits this year but, mercifully, cold enough for amateurs. By the time I pulled myself out of the bay, I had completely forgotten about the warm water. The breathable panels aren’t a gimmick. The 3.8 certainly doesn’t cycle water like a drag suit, but it does keep the body just a little bit cooler, enough to make a difference in 70+ degree water.

The breathability provided by the 3.8 is a nice bonus, but buoyancy and shoulder flexibility are still the most important characteristics of a wetsuit. Orca builds pockets of air into the neoprene, creating a material that is 25 percent more buoyant than neoprene alone. The suit is constructed with this super-skin material from the chest to the ankles. As a result, the 3.8 seals even a runner like me to the top of the water.

The 3.8 does lag behind similarly priced suits in shoulder flexibility. They aren’t stiff, but the shoulders feel more like what you’d find on a mid-level suit rather than a top-shelf option. Orca’s other grade-A suit, the Apex 2, is noticeably more flexible.

Orca pays close attention to the details that can separate similar suits. The neckline seals like a Ziploc bag, the slick inner lining helps make transition faster and the ankle and wrist openings willingly release your limbs. These little improvements add up to a big difference.

Breathability is nice, but great shoulder flexibility is a higher priority than temperature regulation—to everyone who doesn’t regularly swim in 75-degree water. If you are one of those folks doing 70.3s and up in warm water, the 3.8 is the best suit available for you. For everyone else, flexibility is probably more important than temperature regulation.

RATING (out of 10)
Flexibility: 6.5 - Not bad, but nothing special

Buoyancy: 10 - Huge amounts of ultra-buoyant rubber

Unique features: 8 - Lets be honest, 78-degree water isn’t exactly intolerably hot. Fantastic neckline.

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Aaron Hersh is the Technical Liaison at Colorado Multisport in Boulder, Colorado. He has been competing in endurance sports for the last seven years. Hersh has a B.A. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, focusing on biomechanics.

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