This summer Caroline’s been trialling a kids winter wetsuit from Iglu, a company who have children’s needs and parents’ budgets at the heart of their clever designs. It’s a great colour, easy to put on and really warm. And boy has it been trialled – Caroline wore it for snorkelling, surfing, stand up paddle boarding, body boarding, goggling and all sorts of beach activities!
But here’s the thing. A confession. And a slightly embarrassing one at the start of a wetsuit review. I’m not a fan of wetsuits…
I have this Enid Blyton-esque view of children spending hours at the seaside with buckets, spades, wooden sailboats, ice cream and crab lines, taking dips in the ocean all day long wearing just swimming costumes.
Vitamin D Fix
It’s so natural, and so good for children’s skin to be exposed to all that vitamin D, healing salty water and sunshine.
As a child I’d brave the Atlantic Ocean every summer on holiday in Cornwall, with true British grit. Once I almost passed out running back up the beach at Holywell Bay – I’d got so blooming cold in such a short time that my body reacted to the temperature change very badly!
Flopping onto the sand to warm up, feeling shaky and faint, I admitted my faux pas to nobody.
Seaside Rockpool Swimming
There’s a fantastic outdoor pool at low tide in Treyarnon Bay, Cornwall, where we’d also swim as kids. We’d jump off the rock into bone-aching water only to give up on swimming 10 seconds later due to the cold. Great fun but freezing and usually fleeting.
Then one day, only a few years ago, I borrowed a wetsuit and spent over 2 hours in that pool, swimming, jumping in, capsizing the dinghy – and seaside swimming hasn’t been the same since.
North Sea Swimming
Living in Northumberland, the sea never seems to warm up yet I can stay in with Caroline for ages if I’m wearing a wetsuit.
Interestingly it also seems to have made me hardier in just a swimsuit too.
So we still spend hours at the seaside with our Blyton-esque paraphernalia, taking dips in the ocean all day long.
We still wear swimsuits for a dose of vitamin D and sunshine.
We just switch to wetsuits more often so we can spend longer in the water without passing out!!
Wetsuits for Wild Kids
We’ve used kids’ shorties and budget supermarket wetsuits, which work well and are good value for quick-growing wild kids but this year Caroline’s been loving her wetsuit from Cornish designed and based company Iglu, in Atlantic Rose colourway.
Campsite with a stream, perfect for rinsing sandy wetsuits
What Your Kids Will Love
- The cool, bright colours (not boring black like many brands)
- How easy it is to get on and off
- How warm it is
What I Love About Iglu
Really, I think the photos say it all.
Iglu are a family company who have really thought through the needs of parents and children when designing these wetsuits. They are also based in Perranporth, Cornwall, and I love supporting UK family businesses wherever possible.
The Iglu wetsuit looks great on and Caroline is easy to spot in the sea!
It’s close-fitting for warmth but more flexible than other wetsuits we’ve had making it great for all sorts of beach activities.
A Wetsuit To Grow Into
We’ve found the wetsuit easy to get on and off even when damp though it is a little large for Caroline which helps. That’s another great thing about Iglu – they’ve designed the wetsuits to be used on the large side so that growing kids get a couple of years use – great for us thrifty Mums. The wetsuit stays snug-fitting even with the arms and legs rolled up, leaving room to grow into. Perfect.
Trade In Your Old Wetsuit
One of the things I love most about Iglu is how much they’ve thought about us parents, constantly shelling out for new kit for our ever-growing kids. In addition to their grow-into design, Iglu offer a trade-in on their wetsuits, giving you £20 off the next one you buy. And you can part exchange several times as your kids grow. Genius.
Pros
- Warm, 4/3 design
- Easy to get on and off
- Reinforced knees perfect for active kids
- Soft and lightweight
- Sealed seams
- Distinctive bright colours – red, blue, pink, green – you won’t lose your kids on the beach!
- Brilliant trade-in option
Cons
- The only slight downside is that Caroline found the neck a little tight (due to it’s super sealing design which allows for growth), easily solved with a rash vest. She does have a sensitive neck due to her cancer treatment and I suspect this will also lessen as the wetsuit gets more wear
Buy Now
The Iglu Kids year-round 4/3 Steamer wetsuit is £69.99 but don’t forget it will last a couple of years, and with trade-in your next one will be £20 cheaper.
Buy online at Iglu Wetsuits, or visit the Piran Surf shop in Perranporth, Cornwall.
What I would like, are some tips on drying wetsuit boots. Mine take forever and are consequently not very fragrant. Anybody?!
For more beach and ocean fun check out things to do at the beach, and for more kids’ kit reviews have a read here.
Iglu have heaps of useful information on their website including details of the trade-in offer and lots of technical notes on the design etc.
For top tips on how to look after your wetsuit, Cool of the Wild have a great article on wetsuit care.
NB Kids of the Wild received an Iglu Kids Steamer Wetsuit for the purposes of this review. All views and observations are my own (and Caroline’s, aged 9).
If you would like Kids of the Wild to review a product for please get in touch via the contact page.
I am like you, I’d much rather not wear a wetsuit, but it needs to be a summer like the one just passed to get me in in a swimsuit in Cornwall. I was proud of myself this summer but I’m afraid I’m back in a wetsuit again now. My kids have always used them out of peak summer months and they really make a difference. Sounds like you found a good brand here. #CountryKids
Iglu are great. I’m not a wetsuit buff but I love everything about their wetsuits and their ethos too
We are a scuba diving family. I am with you on how stinky wetsuits can get. We use McNett Mirazyme Odor Eliminator. It really works. I don’t know if you can get it. Looks like y’all have really enjoyed your beach time.
Thanks for the tip, I’m not mad on using chemical stuff but I’ll research it. It’s been a great summer of beach fun!
I’ve never tried out a wetsuit but then again, the only time I go for a swim outside is when we’re on holiday, with the temperatures much hotter than anything we get in the UK ! This looks like a great investment and you certainly put it through its paces ! 🙂 #CountryKids
I used to be a fairweather swimmer too but we seem to do more and more wild swimming so this wetsuit is invaluable, and yes it’s been well and truly tested! Thanks for reading
Why are wetsuits always such boring colours? I’d never thought about that. Great to see such a colourful one and like you say, easier for spotting your child in the sea. We invested in wetsuits for the whole family this summer, I felt like I was cheating but it does make life easier doesnt it? #countrykids
I love all the colours of the Iglu wetsuits and yes, I’ve struggled to come to terms with using them too but it really improves beach fun now we live at the coast
I know nothing about wetsuits but sounds great if they will last growing children a couple of years #CountryKids
I agree, it’s a clever design and great that they then offer the return refund as well
This does sound like a good wetsuit and even better that the design allows for growing too. Jessica always needed to wear a wetsuit when swimming as she got cold so quickly. This would have been ideal for her and would be great for other heart children. I like your Blyton-esque vision of children playing by the sea and swimming in swimsuits. Sophie only wore a normal swimsuit for the first time this year (having always had Jessica’s hand-me-downs) and I still can’t quite get used to not always needing the wetsuits anymore.#countrykids
Gosh I’d not considered anything like that for wetsuits. Presumably it’s a circulation issue with heart children? Lovely to hear Sophie so active. You’re so inspirational with all this, and Jessica’s loss keeps hitting you in different ways, like the hand me downs. You’re amazing. Thanks for the great comments
This is a gorgeous brightly coloured wet suit. It’s been an age since I donned one. #CountryKids
Ha, there’s a challenge for you then! They are great colours aren’t they
Sounds like we maybe missing a trick since we have never used wetsuits. I like how the colours make them easy to spot too x #CountryKids
Wetsuits have made a real difference to us. I just loved the colours initially but very soon realised how visible it made Caroline. Thanks for getting in touch
What fun pictures of the fun in the water! #countrykids
It’s been a lot of fun!
This sounds like a really good wetsuit for kids. Now we’re all so much into wild swimming, I think I’ll have to bite the bullet and buy wetsuits, just not sure how many yet!
Do Iglu do adult wetsuits too? Only half-joking! I’ve never worn a wetsuit in my life and I don’t know where to start looking for one.
xx
I’m impressed with the amount of wild swimming you’re doing, especially so late in the season. Are you planning a Christmas swim?! Wetsuits would definitely make a difference but it’s not quite the same! XX
Btw, Iglu do make adult wetsuits!