Seavenger Odyssey Full Wetsuit Review

Depending on where you live, a good wetsuit can be an integral piece of padding gear. It’s an investment in both your safety and comfort.

I paddleboard year round in Vancouver, B.C. and the weather can really vary. Even as the temperatures begin to warm up in the Spring, the water stays cool.

In fact we only get a couple months out of the year where the water is warm enough to swim with just a bathing suit.

For the rest of the year the Seavenger Odyssey Full Wetsuit keeps me safe, protected and warm when I am out paddling.

DON’T FEEL LIKE READING?

Check out my quick video below where I highlight all of the important features of the Odyssey Women’s Full Wetsuit.

WHEN TO WEAR A WETSUIT

A wetsuit can be used for just about any water sport activity where you need to stay warm in cold water temperatures.

It will have a tight-fitting design with seals around the wrists and ankles so only a small amount of water seeps in between your skin and the suit.

Your body will quickly heat this water and use it to insulate your body to keep you warm. It works extremely well.

TYPES OF WETSUITS

There are a wide range of wetsuits to choose from and types designed to cover every temperature scenario.

The thickness can vary from 2MM to 7MM depending on the average water temperatures.

The shape of the suit can vary as well. The most common types of wetsuits are:

Hooded Full Wetsuit – Great for cold water surfers.

Full Wetsuit, No Hood – Covers your torso, legs and arms. The Odyssey is a full wetsuit.

Shorty Wetsuits – Good for instances where you need your arms uncovered for better paddling and warmer temperatures.

There are wetsuits specific for swimming and triathlons and those specific for surfing and water sport enthusiasts.

The Seavenger Odyssey is a mid range full wetsuit ideal for surfing, stand-up paddleboarding, body boarding, diving, snorkeling or other recreational water sports.

COMFORT

I have been pleasantly surprised by how comfortable the Seavenger Odyssey wetsuit is to wear. It has a flexible fit for comfort and movement and is reinforced in all the right places for extra durability.

As a paddle boarder the most important thing to me is that the wetsuit is comfortable and that I still have good range of movement when paddling.

The flexible fit of this suit feels great. My movements never feel restricted whether I am paddling from the standing position, kneeling or even paddling out on my stomach.

I typically stay on top of my board and am not actually in the water that often. After over 10 years of experience my moments of falling in are rare unless I am purposely practicing in surf.

However even if there is little chance of ending up in the water I need to know that my body temperature will stay regulated if I do.

The Odyssey is good for temperatures of 65 degrees Fahrenheit and up. Therefore it isn’t designed for sub zero winters but instead for moderate temperatures.

For Spring and Fall paddling this wetsuit is perfect for me. I found that it kept me extremely warm.

As the weather warms up I sometimes roll down the top to stay cool before and after my paddle session.

For winter I think this suit would be ideal to layer under a dry suit for extra protection from the elements. Or I could probably get away with just layering with a paddling jacket and water booties in colder temps.

Let’s take a look at some of the key features that make the Odyssey really stand out…

KEY FEATURES

3MM ULTRA-FLEX NEOPRENE FABRIC

The 3mm fabric was really important to me in a wetsuit. It’s a great thickness for extra warmth and protection.

When you get wet the water traps between your skin and the 3mm neoprene fabric and insulates your body, keeping you warm.

I found that the 3mm fabric feels great whether you are in the water or as in my case paddle boarding through wind and chop.

This wetsuit is very versatile for different types of water activities.

SHARKSKIN CHEST PANEL

I love the sharkskin chest panel on this suit. Not only is it water resistant but it’s extremely durable.

I have had other wetsuits that start to wear and pile in high impact areas.

When surfing or bodyboarding you spend a lot of time on your stomach. This extra durable chest panel ensures that this high wear area stays strong and functional.

Plus on a side note I found that the sharkskin chest panel gives the wetsuit a nice shape and look. It is very flattering on.

KNEE & SHOULDER PANELS

The knee and shoulder areas are constructed with special anti-abrasion technology.

I definitely appreciated the knee panels when paddle boarding on my knees.

If you are into any type of water sport that uses extra gear these anti-abrasion panels are ideal.

FLATLOCK ANTI-CHAFING SEAMS

It seems like a no-brainer that a wetsuit should have anti-chafing seams. The last thing you want to worry about when out on the water is seams rubbing against you, especially if you have sensitive skin.  However it happens and I have had older wetsuits that do this.

This was not an issue with the Odyssey. It is made with flat-lock stitching (recognizable by a criss-cross stitching pattern) that lays smooth against your skin.

It creates a tight layer of insulation against your skin for maximum warmth and comfort no matter how long you are out on the water.

Flatlock seams are not totally waterproof but they are very common with wetsuits designed for moderate temperatures.

EXTRA-LONG ZIPPER LEASH

Back zippers are very common on many types of wetsuits. A back zipper takes a little more effort to zip up yourself but they are more resistant to flushing (cold water entering your wetsuit), which can be very uncomfortable for surfers spending a lot of time on their front paddling.

Therefore you need your back zipper to have a long leash so that you can easily pull the zipper up yourself.

The back leash attached to the gusseted zipper on the Odyssey is quite long. I found that it was whipping around a bit in the wind however I definitely appreciated the extra length when zipping up.

Wetsuits are notoriously difficult to get into and zip up yourself. They’re tight and take a bit of work to slip on.

Even though this is a very tight fitting wetsuit I didn’t find it hard to roll up my body, get my arms in the sleeves or zip up. It’s a great fit.

The zipper runs from the base of the spine to the collar.

SUPER STRETCH

There’s a nice flexibility to the whole suit in general but there are super stretchy spots in convenient areas where you need them the most.

This extra flexibility is what makes it feel so awesome whether you are stand up paddling, body boarding, surfing or doing any type of water activity.

Your movement is never restricted in any way.

EXTRA ACCESSORIES

Depending on how cold the water is you may need a pair of water socks. Seavenger make the BEST water socks and they come in all sorts of cool designs.

I added a pair of these when paddling in colder temperatures and absolutely love them.

They have grips on the soles making it very easy to still grip the board while paddling. They are extremely comfortable and kept my feet warm and cozy.

WARRANTY

Seavenger wetsuits come with a full 1 year warranty against manufacturer defects.

WHERE TO BUY

Click Here For The Best Deal On The Seavenger Odyssey Full Wetsuit At Seavenger.com.

They offer free US shipping on orders over $10 and free shipping to Canada for orders over $150.

Did You Know?
By clicking on any of the above seller links you can help keep ISUPworld.com growing. When you make a purchase after clicking on our links, the retailer will contribute a portion of the sale to help support this site. It won’t cost you anything extra and it’s a simple way to help us fund our gear reviews. Thanks!