Championship Shorty Wetsuit Review

April, 2024

This shorty wetsuit by Championship measures in at one and a half millimeters thick, which means not only will this suit keep you dry, it’s also incredibly flexible. Considering the style, this is obviously a suit that’s designed for warm weather, although some sailors do wear shorties during the colder months, under several layers of clothing. 

Our Verdict: For warm weather and water conditions, this wetsuit is a great choice, but it will be essentially useless in cold water and weather conditions. The suit itself is made out of top of the line neoprene that offers a decent thickness. If you don’t need the protection of a full length wetsuit, this model by Championship is a great alternative and one we highly recommend for warm weather use.

Read on to learn more about this top selling shorty wetsuit by Championship.

Overview and Features 

Championship offers an affordable shorty wetsuit that has a great reputation for flexibility and overall quality.

This shorty is the perfect alternative to a full-length wetsuit. Its super stretchy neoprene design allows for full range of movement on deck, or in the water. It’s also offered at an affordable price, so it won’t hit your wallet too hard like a full-length wetsuit will. 

The super-stretch neoprene material means you’ll enjoy more freedom of movement in the water. The face and backer have a two-and-a-half-millimeter thickness. The suit itself is made out of twenty percent polyamide and eighty percent neoprene. 

The abrasion-resistant nylon located on the seat of the suit will prevent natural wear and tear. 

The flat-locked seams provide top of the line protection and also work to make the wetsuit more comfortable to wear for longer periods of time. 

In terms of quality, this wetsuit is a solid performer, and one you can rely on season after season. The suit’s flexibility is a huge plus, especially for bodyboarding, surfing, and water skiing. While in terms of protection, this suit can’t quite compare to a full length suit, it does still work to insulate your core and back, while the shorter legs and sleeves allow you to soak up the sun and generally make this suit more comfortable to wear all day long.

Performance 

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This is a shorty wetsuit. It covers the torso and has short sleeves for the legs and arms. Those just learning how to get into yachting may not be sure if a full-length wetsuit, such as the Foiling Thermocool Impact Wetsuit would be a better choice or this shorty from Championship. The question of whether a shorty or full-length wetsuit is needed is constantly in debate. Obviously, it will depend on water and weather conditions. 

As you may know, the primary function of a wetsuit is to trap a layer of water against the skin in order to help preserve body heat. This water acts as an insulator once it’s warmed up by body heat. The neoprene material consists of trapped bubbles in the fabric that help to trap water. So, wouldn’t that mean that a full body wetsuit can offer better insulation than a shorty? 

It’s true that full-length suits can provide better insulation than a shorty can. Because of this, the shorty wetsuit is best used in the summer, where flexibility is preferred over the need for insulation. This shorty will work best in water temperatures around seventy degrees. It can provide sufficient insulation and allows the wearer to remain in the water longer. 

A shorty is much easier to wear than a full-length wetsuit. Most people who prefer boardshorts over a cumbersome full-length wetsuit often transition with ease to wearing shorties because they’re so easy to take off and put on. This is one of the biggest advantages of this type of wetsuit, ease of use combined with flexibility. 

Design

There is also plenty of debate over the fact that a shorty offers less protection to the legs and arms of the sailor or swimmer, putting them at an increased risk for scrapes, bumps and jellyfish stings. People who prefer shorties will disagree, arguing that the benefits of having a wetsuit that’s easy to pack, lightweight, and easy to wear definitely outweighs the need for a higher level of protection that the average full body suit offers. 

At the end of the day, it really boils down to a couple of basic factors: personal preference and water temperature. If you swim and sail in warm climates and find that getting in or out of a wetsuit is a hassle, then you may just want to opt for this shorty by Championship. This shorty will provide improved buoyancy and better insulation compared to if you only wear boardshorts. 

But for colder climates, a full-length wetsuit will be essential. 

To learn more about what full-length wetsuits have to offer, click here to read our buyer’s guide. 

The Right Shorty for the Job

This shorty wetsuit is a great alternative to the full length wetsuit, in warmer temperatures when a full length model would be overkill. But before you hit that buy now but, it’s important know the weather, wave, and general water conditions  you’ll be dealing with, prior to purchasing a shorty or full length wetsuit.

This Championship shorty offers an excellent fit, but its coverage and protection is obviously very limited compared to a full length suit.

Consider what you need the suit for. Are you bodyboarding, kayaking, or swimming? Do you need a littlemore protection from the elements when you’re sailing or do you plan on a leisurely day of sailing on calm waters? In the summer months, whether to go with a full length or shorty wetsuit is an easy decision. But when you’re dealing with warm air temperatures and colder waters, the decision isn’t as simple or as clear.

Understanding Water and Weather Conditions

Most sailors, surfers, and anglers study air temperatures, water swell, and water temperatures before they head out. In order to get an even more accurate reading on weather conditions you can also check local wind conditions.

During the summer, most beaches often get hit by trade winds from the early morning to the late afternoon. The wind will keep you nice and cool and if you’re bodyboarding or waterskiing mainly at beach breaks then this type of standard shorty will be the ideal choice.

But the water and weather conditions in the early spring tend to be very different compared to what you can expect mid-summer. In hotter climates, you can expect a cold water movement known as upwelling. This involves winds that blow in specific directions, causing the colder waters to drop below and circulate upwards toward the water’s surface. This can cause the water temp to remain very low and can even cause the water’s temperature to drop down lower than the average water temperatures that are common in the winter. In conditions such as these, you’ll need more protection than what this shorty can provide.

In the summer months, there are usually more hotter days than colder ones, but remember, trade winds tend to pick up during this time and a beach can become very windy from the morning to mid-afternoon. However, this shorty will still be a decent option in these conditions. The short sleeves will provide some insulation for your back and core so you can easily handle tricky wind conditions.

When the marine layers stick around the early days of summer, this is referred to as June gloom. During this time many surfers and sea anglers will wear a full length suit because the air temperature can drop quickly due to the thick marine layer.

In the right conditions, this shorty offers multi-use capabilities. The length of the sleeves is the perfect transition for early spring and fall weather. Additionally, most surfers, anglers, and sailors prefer this style of suit because it offers an increased range of motion while still providing insulation if the temperatures end up dipping a bit.

Pros

Cons