Smoothskin vs. Lined Wetsuits: Pros & Cons
Wes Severson May 15th, 2025 Posted In: Articles
So, you’re staring down the barrel of wetsuit choices, huh? It’s a major decision for every outdoor enthusiast who loves to play in the cold water. A wetsuit isn’t isn’t just another piece of gear, it’s your second skin. Shopping for the right one can leave you overloaded with technical terms and subtle differences.
As you start looking around for a new wetsuit, you’ll notice two primary contenders surface: the smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit. So, what are the real differences, and which one is right for you? This article will help you ditch the head-scratching by clarifying the differences and digging into the ongoing smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit debate.
One Major Difference: Speed
A smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit is pretty self-explanatory. The smoothskin wetsuit has slick, rubbery surfaces throughout, which are designed to reduce drag in the water, be less wind resistant, and stay skin-tight. Smoothskin wetsuits are made with a non-porous neoprene and are built for speed. They are made for sports where every millisecond matters.
Long-distance swimming events and triathlons are where you will see smoothskin wetsuits the most. However, they are also used in other sports like paddleboarding, kayaking, or windsurfing, where wind resistance is a factor.
In sports where speed and wind resistance aren’t big factors, like surfing, recreational swimming, scuba diving, and spear fishing, lined wetsuits take the cake. They are much more common around the world. A lined wetsuit has layers of fabric laminated to the neoprene core. There is a huge variety of inner and outlining options from thin nylon and polyester, to more specialized options like Lycra or thermal linings that feel almost furry or velvet-like.
Another Major Difference: Suiting Up
One thing you have to consider with a smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit is the amount of effort it takes to put it on. Putting on any wetsuit takes a little work, but a lined wetsuit is much easier to slide your limbs into because the inner linings help to better glide your body into the suit.
However, the slick nature of a smoothskin wetsuit does not mesh well with the slick nature of your skin. This means putting on a smoothskin wetsuit is far more difficult. It often requires a wetsuit lubricant, soap, or some kind of powder to help get the slick material over your body. This can lead to a messy and challenging situation before even heading into the water.
Durability Downfall
There are two major downfalls to the smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit. As mentioned, they are a pain to put on, and they are much more susceptible to rips and tears, especially when you are getting your feet in. That is why a lubricant is absolutely necessary. If you try to force your leg into a smoothskin wetsuit without it, it will rip.
On the other hand, the fabric layers added to lined wetsuits not only provide comfort, but they also protect the neoprene from tears. This makes them much harder to tear when you put them on, making them perfect for sports that involve rocks, coral, surf fins, or any other element that can tear your wetsuit. A smoothskin wetsuit doesn’t stand a chance if you rub hard against a rock. It will surely rip.
Drying Time
Since this category involves speed, the smoothskin wetsuit wins this battle every time. They dry much faster than a lined wetsuit. The linings used in a lined wetsuit can absorb water, which makes them take much longer to dry compared to smoothskin wetsuits, which repel water.
If you plan on using your wetsuit a few times a day and don’t want to change into a soaked suit, the smoothskin wetsuit might be a better option, depending on what activities you’re doing.
Affordability
The dollar signs definitely matter, right? Generally speaking, you’ll see that a smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit comes with a bit of a price difference. Smoothskin suits, especially those made with high-end neoprene like Yamamoto, are definitely on the pricier side of the spectrum. That slick, high-performance material and the specialized construction bump up the cost quite a bit.
Lined wetsuits are much more budget-friendly. Manufacturers can pump these out left and right, which means you can find entry-level options for super cheap and high-end options that rival the price of a smoothskin suit.
Think of a smoothskin wetsuit like a race car: fast, sleek, and built for speed, but not the best for rocky terrain. A lined wetsuit, by contrast, is more like an off-road SUV: durable, comfortable, and ready for adventure, even if it isn’t quite as quick off the line. In the long run, lined suits give you more bang for your buck, but for speed and streamlined performance, smoothskin delivers.
Smoothskin vs. Lined: Time to Choose
In the debate of smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit, one isn’t strictly better than the other—they just serve different needs. At the end of the day, choosing between a smoothskin wetsuit vs lined wetsuit should be based on your activity, comfort preferences, and the environment in which you’ll be using it.
If you’re primarily a swimmer looking to maximize your performance and reduce drag, smoothskin is likely the right choice. But if you’re hitting the surf every weekend or diving along rough coastlines, the resilience and comfort of a lined suit will serve you better. Get your budget together and pick the wetsuit that complements your lifestyle. And remember, the best wetsuit is the one that lets you focus on the water, not on your gear.
