Aquatherm Fleece Full Paddle Suit
Marek Rawicki swapped office life in Poland for Arctic waters and never looked back. Marek guides sea kayaking trips around the stunning Lofoten islands.
A different philosophy of building a drysuit.
A drysuit is one of the few pieces of paddling equipment that disappears from your thoughts when it works well. In cold-water sea kayaking, it has a simple job: keep you warm, keep you dry, and let you move naturally. Reed’s Aquatherm Fleece Full Paddle Suit approaches that challenge differently from traditional membrane drysuits, replacing the familiar crisp, technical feel with a noticeably softer and quieter experience.
Over several months, I tested the made-to-measure version with an adjustable waist seal, relief zip, hood and verzip entry in conditions ranging from -6°C winter paddling on Lofoten, with near-freezing water and strong winds, to late spring sessions around +10°C. Coaching, filming and long days on the water provided the perfect opportunity to see whether this different approach translated into real performance.
First impressions
The first thing you notice is the fabric. Instead of feeling stiff or overly technical, the Aquatherm material is remarkably soft and flexible. Visually, it stands apart from most competing drysuits, but the difference becomes even more obvious once you put it on. The overall construction immediately inspires confidence. Seams, zips, and finishing all feel well executed, and despite the softer material, nothing about the suit suggests fragility.
Fit and comfort
Because the suit is made to measure, discussing sizing almost feels unnecessary. The fit is exceptionally accurate, with enough room to accommodate thick wool base layers, while the fleece lining itself already provides meaningful insulation. What impressed me most is how little it restricts movement. Whether reaching forward during powerful strokes or rotating through longer paddling sessions, the suit feels surprisingly natural.
Rather than feeling like I’m wearing technical safety equipment, it feels much closer to comfortable outdoor clothing. The only irritation I experienced came from the elastic shoulder suspenders, which created a pressure point until I adjusted their tension. After that, the suit remained comfortable throughout extended days on the water.
Performance on cold water
The Aquatherm suit was tested exactly where it belongs: in genuine cold-water sea kayaking. From icy winter launches to late-spring expeditions, it consistently delivered reliable warmth without excessive layering underneath. Equally important, it remained completely dry during normal paddling and rescue practice.
The adjustable waist seal proved secure and comfortable, maintaining an effective barrier without feeling restrictive around the cockpit. For paddlers who spend hours outside in exposed coastal environments, the thermal balance feels particularly well judged. The fleece interior adds noticeable warmth while still staying comfortable during more active paddling.
A feature I didn’t expect to value
As someone who regularly films kayaking videos, I discovered an advantage I hadn’t anticipated. The softer Aquatherm fabric is exceptionally quiet. Traditional drysuits often produce constant rubbing and rustling noises that microphones easily capture. Here, that doesn’t happen. No distracting fabric noise while paddling makes recording clean, natural sound much easier. It’s a niche benefit, perhaps – but for anyone creating content on the water, it’s genuinely significant.
Construction and everyday use
This was my first drysuit with a waist-mounted entry zip, so the first few attempts at putting it on involved a bit of negotiation between me and the suit. That’s less a criticism than a matter of adapting to a different closure system, and after a few sessions it became straightforward enough to use independently.
Maintenance is refreshingly simple, and despite my initial concerns about the softer-looking material, I’ve yet to find any signs of wear. In fact, every time I climb out over rocks or a rough shoreline, I instinctively expect to damage the fabric – and so far, it has stubbornly refused to prove me right.
Value and final thoughts
Retailing at £439 including VAT, the Aquatherm Fleece Full Paddle Suit sits comfortably in the premium sea kayaking category while offering a genuinely distinctive alternative to conventional membrane drysuits. Its greatest strengths are clear: exceptional comfort, impressive freedom movement, and a uniquely quiet fabric that changes the overall paddling experience.
Rather than feeling like protective technical equipment, it feels like a drysuit designed around how people actually move on the water. For sea kayakers, expedition paddlers and anyone who regularly paddles in cold conditions, this is an easy suit to recommend. It doesn’t simply compete with traditional drysuits – it represents a different philosophy of what a drysuit can feel like.
Price: Aquatherm Fleece Full Paddle Suit With Adjustable Waist Seal £439.00
Price: Aquatherm Fleece Full Paddle Suit (without adjustable waist) £419.00
