ONeill O’Neill Womens Bahia 2mm Chest Zip Short Sleeve Steamer

O’Neill’s Women’s Bahia 2mm Chest Zip Short Sleeve Steamer is at the performance end of the Bahia range, with features including GBS and taped seams and UltraFlex Firewall lining for improved thermal retention.

This is a unique style of wetsuit compared to your standard steamer given the 2mm thickness across the entire suit and the short sleeve cut. These features give the wettie a lighter and more flexible feeling than their 3/2mm long sleeve counterpart (although this does mean you’re not going to be quite as warm). So from a performance perspective, it’s beneficial, helping you to use less energy when moving. Despite the 2mm thickness, this is a wettie that can give you solid thermal retention because of the Ultraflex Firewall lining that’s been paired with the Ultraflex DS Neoprene. This insulating material helps by accelerating heat generation inside the wettie, all the while drawing water away from the skin to keep you feeling warm.

This being said, how much neoprene you need comes down to personal preference. This style of wetsuit might pass as a winter suit in Queensland, however, a 3/2mm would be more suitable for southward of the Goldie. This style of wettie would work nicely during the transitional months further south, even through summer depending on your cold tolerance.

To get the most out of your O’Neill Women’s Bahia 2mm Chest Zip Short Sleeve Steamer we recommend washing it with Aussie made Wetsuit Wash between uses to remove salt, bacteria, chlorine and grime and read our Wetsuit Maintenance Blog.

O’Neill Womens Bahia 2mm Chest Zip Short Sleeve Steamer Features:

• Ultraflex DS Neoprene 2mm: For a material that doesn’t hold great thickness it is surprisingly warm. The UltraFlex DS Neoprene allows you to move freely with flexibility and is resistant to wear from velcro and fingernails.
• Chest Zip: When it comes to performance technologies, if you’re going to have a wetsuit with a zipper then this is the way to go. Better water sealing and overall flexibility than a back zip wetsuit. You can learn more about how that works on our wetsuit entry systems blog.
• GBS & Taped Stitching: This style of stitching doesn’t completely penetrate through the neoprene, using glue and then a flexible tape to reinforce the seam making it more watertight. More information is available on our wetsuit seams blog to figure out what sort of stitching is best for you.
• Seamless Paddle Zones: For your added comfort these zones of fabric will increase flexibility through the shoulder for paddling and reduce chafing.
• Ultraflex Firewall: An internal fleece for improved thermal retention that wicks water away from the skin.