The short answer: buy the size that fits today, not the one they will grow into. A snug 3/2 back zip covers most kids in most US water, and a cold kid quits surfing long before a suit wears out. Everything else in this guide is detail.
The number one kids wetsuit mistake
Sizing up. It feels like smart parenting because kids grow, but a wetsuit only works when it sits against the skin. A roomy suit pumps cold water through with every wave, and a cold kid asks to go in after twenty minutes. Then the suit that was supposed to last two seasons lasts zero, because nobody wants to wear it. Buy the size that fits now. At outlet prices, replacing a suit next season costs less than one surf lesson they refused to finish.
How a kids wetsuit should fit
Same rule as adult suits: snug everywhere, like a firm handshake, with no gaps at the lower back, armpits, or crotch. It should take a little effort to get on. Weight and height matter more than age, so measure your kid and use the youth chart in our size guide instead of guessing off their t shirt size. If they land between sizes, take the smaller one, and email care@stokeoutlets.com before you order if you want a second opinion. Everything here is final sale, so we take fit questions seriously.
What thickness do kids need?
Kids lose heat faster than adults, so when in doubt, go one step warmer than what the grown-ups in the water are wearing.
| Water temp | For most kids |
|---|---|
| 72°F and up | Spring suit or a rashguard |
| 65 to 72°F | 2/2 spring suit or a 3/2 fullsuit |
| 58 to 65°F | 3/2 fullsuit |
| 52 to 58°F | 4/3 fullsuit, booties at the cold end |
| Under 52°F | Hooded 5/4/3 with boots, for the truly committed grom |
For California kids that usually means a 3/2 for most of the year and a 4/3 if they surf through winter. Junior lifeguards and surf camp kids in a summer program can often live in a spring suit.
Back zip or chest zip for kids?
Back zip if they are younger or new: it is far easier to get into, easier for a parent to help with, and easier for a kid to manage alone in a parking lot. Chest zip if they surf a lot: it seals better and flushes less. A good rough rule is back zip until they can put the suit on without help, chest zip after.
Boys wetsuit picks from our racks
- Vissla 7 Seas Boys 3/2, Black, $119.97 (was $199.95). The workhorse. Same limestone neoprene as the adult 7 Seas, sized for groms. Also in rusty red.
- Vissla High Seas Boys Fire 3/2, $149.97 (was $249.95). The upgrade suit: warmer lining and more stretch for the kid who is out there every weekend.
- Vissla 7 Seas Boys 5/4/3 Hooded, $137.97 (was $229.95). Cold water armor for winter groms. A hooded kids suit under $140 basically does not exist anywhere else.
Full racks at boys wetsuits.
Girls wetsuit picks from our racks
- Sisstr Youth Summer Seas 3/2 Back Zip, Ocean, $81.60 (was $136). The easiest recommendation in the store: a real Sisstr 3/2 at a price where a growth spurt does not hurt.
- Sisstr Youth Seven Seas 3/2 Chest Zip, $119.40 (was $199). The step-up suit for girls who surf year round, with the same build as the womens line.
- Sisstr Youth Seven Seas 4/3, Violet, $131.40 (was $219). Winter thickness for the grom who does not take December off.
Full racks at girls wetsuits, and everything youth lives under youth surf gear.
What about toddler wetsuits?
Honest answer: real surf brand youth suits generally start around youth size 8, which fits most kids in the 7 to 9 range. For toddlers and little kids splashing in whitewater, a swim school style 2mm springsuit from a swim shop does the job, and they will outgrow it before warmth ever matters. Save the technical suit money for when they start actually paddling.
Make it last (kids edition)
Rinse it in fresh water after every session, hang it in the shade on a wide hanger folded at the waist, and never let it bake in the trunk. Teach the kid to get in and out of it without standing on the legs. A cared-for suit survives to get handed down to the next grom, which is the best outlet math there is.
One last thing
Every suit above is genuine Vissla or Sisstr at 40 percent off, prices as marked, shipped from Aliso Viejo. All sales are final, so measure first, use the size guide, and reach out if you are unsure. And if you are shopping for yourself while you are at it, our water temp guide and budget picks cover the adult racks.