Cskins Nuwave Session 3/2 Chest Zip Wetsuit Steel

Thickness - 3/2mm
Seams - Glued & Blindstitched with Critical Reinforcement
Entry - Chest Zip
Foam - NuWave Natural Rubber
Lining - Halo X2 Upper Body
Fit - FutureFit 2

Top 3 Reasons We Love This
1. A seriously stretchy 3/2 — the NuWave natural rubber and Halo X2 upper body give you loads of freedom through the shoulders, exactly where you want it when you're paddling
2. A great UK summer wetsuit that can stretch well into spring and autumn for hardier surfers — glued and blindstitched seams give it a big step up in warmth over a basic summer suit
3. C-Skins haven't sacrificed performance to make the move away from traditional neoprene — you still get a proper chest zip, technical lining, taped high-stress areas and a really solid performance-focused build

Suit Description
The C-Skins NuWave Session 3/2 Chest Zip Wetsuit is a performance-focused summer wetsuit built around C-Skins' new NuWave natural rubber construction. The aim is pretty simple: deliver the stretch, warmth and performance you'd expect from a modern C-Skins suit while significantly reducing the reliance on traditional neoprene.

The main body uses a blend of 85% Hevea natural rubber and 15% chlorine-free synthetic rubber by polymer content. More importantly from a surfing point of view, it's seriously stretchy. Combined with C-Skins' FutureFit 2 pattern, the suit follows the body well without feeling restrictive when you're paddling or surfing.

The upper body features Halo X2 technology, with a highly flexible outer and 100% recycled polyester internal lining. This is where you really notice the performance of the Session — through the shoulders and upper body you've got loads of movement, helping reduce that heavy, restrictive feeling you can get from cheaper wetsuits.

Down below, C-Skins use recycled Xtend Natural Rubber with strategically taped crotch and knee areas for additional durability. The pre-bent Dura Flex knee pads are designed to move naturally with your legs while adding protection in one of the highest-wear areas of any wetsuit.

A chest zip entry keeps the suit streamlined and reduces the amount of flushing compared with a traditional back zip. Seamless paddle zones further improve freedom through the upper body, while the Super Seal Glideskin collar helps create a comfortable seal around the neck.

The seams are glued and blindstitched rather than basic flatlock construction, making the Session considerably better at limiting water entry. Critical seams are reinforced and the crotch and knees receive additional Xtend Isolation taping.

C-Skins also use solvent-free Aqua-Alpha water-based glue for the laminated linings, while recycled nylon and polyester are used extensively throughout the suit.

Features
• 3/2mm True Thickness construction
• NuWave natural rubber foam
• 85% Hevea natural rubber by polymer content
• 15% chlorine-free synthetic rubber by polymer content
• Halo X2 upper-body construction
• Highly flexible upper body for unrestricted paddling
• Recycled Xtend Natural Rubber lower body
• FutureFit 2 pattern and fit
• Chest zip entry
• Glued and blindstitched seams
• Critically reinforced seams
• Xtend Isolation taped crotch and knees
• Seamless paddle zones
• Super Seal Glideskin collar
• 3D pre-bent Dura Flex knee pads
• Recycled nylon and polyester linings
• Dope-dyed black inner and outer linings
• Solvent-free Aqua-Alpha water-based lamination glue
• Built for stretch, warmth and performance
• Steel colour

UK Season Guide
For UK surfing, we'd consider the NuWave Session 3/2 a proper summer wetsuit with the technical construction to push either side of peak summer.

For most surfers it's going to be at its best through the warmer part of the year when a 4/3 starts becoming unnecessarily hot. The glued and blindstitched seams, chest zip and technical lining also make it much more capable than a cheap flatlock 3/2 when the water or air temperature starts dropping.

If you're naturally warm and don't mind being a little chilly, you could comfortably extend its use further into late spring and autumn. If you feel the cold, we'd move into a 4/3 earlier.

For winter surfing in the UK, we'd definitely be looking at a 5/4 or similar winter suit rather than trying to stretch a 3/2 too far.

Why Natural Rubber?
The NuWave represents C-Skins' move towards natural rubber as an alternative to conventional neoprene. The foam uses 85% Hevea natural rubber alongside 15% chlorine-free synthetic rubber by polymer content.

But we think the important bit is that this isn't an eco story at the expense of the actual wetsuit. It still needs to stretch, keep you warm and survive regular surfing, and C-Skins have built the Session as a technical performance suit first and foremost.

Combine that natural rubber with recycled fabrics, dope-dyed linings and solvent-free Aqua-Alpha water-based glue and you've got a wetsuit that takes a meaningful step towards lower-impact materials while still being something we'd genuinely want to surf in.

Expert Advice
The Session has always sat in a really good place in the C-Skins range and this NuWave version makes it even more interesting. You're getting a lot of proper wetsuit technology without having to jump right to the very top of the range.

For us, the biggest thing to look for in a 3/2 is stretch. You're normally wearing one when the water is reasonably comfortable, so you don't want to ruin that feeling by putting on a stiff wetsuit. The Halo X2 upper body, seamless paddle zones and chest zip construction make the Session feel much freer through the shoulders.

We also like that C-Skins haven't simply swapped the foam and called it a day. You've still got GBS seams, strategic internal taping, a proper collar and reinforced knees — all the stuff that determines whether a wetsuit actually performs and lasts.

If you're looking for one really good UK summer suit that you can push into the shoulder seasons, this would be high on our list. If you're surfing through the coldest months as well, we'd pair it with a good 5/4 winter suit rather than trying to make one wetsuit do everything.

Q & A

Q: What thickness is the C-Skins NuWave Session?
A: This version is a 3/2mm wetsuit, making it primarily suited to warmer water and UK summer surfing.

Q: Is the NuWave Session neoprene-free?
A: The main wetsuit foam uses C-Skins' NuWave blend of 85% Hevea natural rubber and 15% chlorine-free synthetic rubber by polymer content. C-Skins specify that the collar uses neoprene.

Q: When would you wear a 3/2 in the UK?
A: We'd primarily use it through summer, with warmer surfers able to extend its use into late spring and autumn depending on conditions.

Q: Is this warmer than a basic 3/2?
A: The glued and blindstitched seams, chest zip construction and Halo X2 upper body make it a much more technical suit than an entry-level flatlock 3/2, helping reduce water entry and retain warmth.

Q: Is it stretchy?
A: Yes. Stretch is one of the big reasons we'd choose this suit. The natural rubber construction, Halo X2 upper body, FutureFit 2 pattern and seamless paddle zones are all designed to maximise freedom of movement.

Q: What is Halo X2?
A: Halo X2 is used through the upper body and combines a flexible external fabric with a 100% recycled polyester internal lining, helping provide stretch, comfort and performance where surfers need movement most.

Q: Does it have taped seams?
A: The suit uses glued and blindstitched seams with critical reinforcement, plus Xtend Isolation taping through the crotch and knee areas.

Q: Why choose a chest zip?
A: A chest zip gives you a more flexible upper body than a traditional back-zip construction and helps reduce flushing, making it particularly well suited to performance surfing.

Q: Is this suitable for winter surfing in the UK?
A: We wouldn't recommend a 3/2 for normal UK winter conditions. For the coldest months we'd move up to a proper winter wetsuit, normally around 5/4mm depending on the suit and how much you feel the cold.

Q: What are the knee pads made for?
A: The 3D pre-bent Dura Flex knee pads add durability to a high-wear area while being shaped to flex naturally as you move.

Q: Does it use water-based glue?
A: Yes. The linings are laminated using solvent-free Aqua-Alpha water-based glue.

Q: Who would you recommend this wetsuit to?
A: We'd recommend it to surfers looking for a high-quality, stretchy UK summer wetsuit with the warmth and construction to extend into the shoulder seasons, while also wanting the move towards natural rubber and recycled materials.