Long John wetsuits continue to hold their spot as one of the most popular wetsuit cuts in the water during those transitional months. Although they're unsuited to winter due to their sleeveless design, you can get away with them pretty much any other time of the year. One of the biggest advantages of this design is how your arms are freed up (ignoring the lack of sun protection). By removing neoprene from around the shoulders and arms your range of motion is unrestricted, meaning you use less energy fighting your neoprene.
O'Neill's Original John hits the mark when it comes to retro styling as well with Glideskin panels and subtle retro branding. It's a simple design that's made to perform. Not having a zipper in your wetsuit is a big plus as well - you avoid that awkward fiddly process of lining up a zipper and the decreased flexibility through whichever neoprene panels it's slicing through. You can't go wrong with Velcro.
If you want to make your Original John last more than a season (and you should) then we'd recommend you give it a wash after each session with and flick through our to prevent basic wear and tear.
We'd recommend these as a surfing suit for anytime outside of winter for southeast Queensland and NSW. Summer might be too warm for a long-leg cut as well depending on your tolerance to the cold. Further south you might still opt for some sleeves during these months.
O'Neill Original 2mm Zipperless Long John Features:
- Ultimately the best feeling zipper is no zipper, and it's super easy to put on and take off too. Just a basic velcro tab on the shoulder. Read our blog on
- Ultraflex DS 2mm Neoprene: A high-performance super stretchy neoprene. This material is surprisingly warm for its thickness. A durable outer layer helps reduce wind chill and is resistant to Velcro or sharp fingernails, so it's made to last.
- Flatlock Seams: Flatlock seams bind neoprene panels together through a basic but durable stitching style that fully penetrates the neoprene. Stitching is mirrored on both sides and loops are locked together so you've got a durable construction but poor water sealing. Want to learn more? Check out our
- Glideskin Panels: These smooth panels on the chest and back help to prevent wind chill thanks to their hydrophobic properties - they don't absorb water, so you aren't copping wind chill.
- Retro Styling: Looking good never hurt performance, especially when your retro style is derived from high-quality neoprene and lining.
- Woven Kneepads: A durable weave that ensures greater durability around your knees that's standard across the O'Neill wetsuit range
