Aqualung XSCAPE Womens Wetsuit Review

By
Ami Everett
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
As a marine scientist, Ami specializes in studying the marine life found on the most unlikely of reef habitats - offshore oil & gas platforms. Her...
Rebecca Strauss
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...

Where to buy

Where to buy

The stylish, unique Aqualung XSCAPE is a 4/3 mm wetsuit with a surf-style front-zip on the chest, which means there’s no back or front zipper. This wetsuit is made out of Yulex, a sustainable material, and super-stretch neoprene. One of the best features of the XSCAPE is its flexibility, which offers extra comfort once the suit is on.

While this is not your average wetsuit, the XSCAPE provides unparalleled style while on—we dare say it is one of the most flattering women’s wetsuits on the market.

With that said, we did have to compromise when it came to putting this wetsuit on, as it was challenging to ease over the shoulders without a buddy’s help. This could turn into a major consideration for divers who will be in and out of the water multiple times a day.

Let’s dive into our review of the Aqualung XSCAPE.

About this review

To help you find a Womens Wetsuit that will fit your needs, we’ve tested, researched, and reviewed the best ones available today.
We test both in the water, diving in various conditions - and in our lab - so we can give you accurate answers on quality, performance, and the overall value.

Read about our test of Womens Wetsuits

Recommended in: Wetsuit Womens Wetsuit

Things we like:

  • Looks great on
  • Super flexible
  • Great for both diving and surfing
  • Durable and high quality

Things we don't like:

  • Can be difficult to get on and off the shoulders
  • Only available in one thickness
  • Pricey
  • Can be a little long on shorter people

Aqualung XSCAPE Fit and Style

The top chest zip takes some help getting into. While you can easily fit your legs, hips, and torso through the surf-style top zip, getting it over your shoulders needs a friend.
The top chest zip takes some help getting into. While you can easily fit your legs, hips, and torso through the surf-style top zip, getting it over your shoulders needs a friend.

The Aqualung Xscape is available in sizes XS–L. This wetsuit is made of an extra-flexible neoprene material that provides a ton of stretch. With that being said, divers on the shorter side may have issues with bunching around the knees as the legs may be too long.

This wetsuit has no back or front zipper; rather you enter the wetsuit through the neck. Having no back zipper, Aqualung claims that it makes the suite more flexible, and our reviewer agreed. The wetsuit is actually very easy to get up over the backside and waist and may be easier than other suits that have zipper entrances.

However, the shoulders are a different story. The entry through the neck makes it difficult to put on the wetsuit or take it off alone. Therefore, this wetsuit may not be suitable for divers that are on a solo trip—unless you want to make quick friends—or those with shoulder issues.

Once on, the wetsuit is comfortable and sleek looking. The fit is very flattering and the pattern along the neck adds a little extra style to the suit.


In and out of the water

The 4/3 mm thickness is great for cooler water, especially cozy during either early morning or deeper dives. However, it might not be a great fit if you dive in mostly tropical locales, due not only to the suit’s built-in warmth, but also the difficulty in getting it on and off alone. There were no issues with range of movement and it was very comfortable while diving.

While the XSCAPE is a great suit while you’re wearing it, the difficulty of getting it over your shoulders makes this wetsuit best for surfers or shore dives. If you are in and out of the water between dives, it will be difficult to strip off the top while waiting on a boat.


Durability

This wetsuit is durable and made to last—even with all the pulling and stretching to put it on and take it off over the course of a week, our reviewer reported no issues with seams or the zipper.

However, the fabric is a light color and did get dirt spots from the boat easily. These spots were noticeable when fabric was wet; but when the suit was dry, we could barely see them. One spot washed off with high-pressure water rinsing.


Price/Quality Ratio

The Aqualung XSCAPE is at the higher end of pricing, comparable to the ScubaPro Everflex. However, can a price be put on beauty? This is, in our opinion, one of the best-looking wetsuits on the market. This wetsuit is great quality, durable, and extremely flexible, so it’s worth every penny you’ll pay.

Still looking for other features? Check out our full guide for comparisons and further recommendations on finding the right wetsuit for you, along with any other dive gear you may need.

Do we recommend the Aqualung XSCAPE?

We do recommend the Aqualung XSCAPE for those who often shore dive or surf. The wetsuit can be challenging to take on and off at the shoulders, so it is best for divers who have a greater range of motion in the shoulder area, a reliable buddy, or who are used to wetsuits with no back or front zipper.

 

Specs & Features

Material Yulex and super-stretch neoprene
Thickness 4/3 mm
Zip Surf-style chest zip; no front or back zipper
Seams Double-glued and double-thread stitched
Sizes Available in XS–L
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