When we started research for this website we were amazed what huge variety of swimwear and waterwear exists. There is a lot more than bikini briefs, shorts and T-shirts. Some items have different names, other terms and descriptions are used for the same item, and it all varies from country to country.

This gloassay should help a little bit. We'll add new bits as we find them. Please email us anything interesting you may find, so we can share it with all our readers. Thank you.

Chillwear

Chillwear is a completely new concept in water wear, focused on the realisation that in many water sports much of your time is actually spent out of the water.

Chillwear is often constructed from reinforced soft touch 180 gram microfibre with a waterproof coating for a high performance garment with a soft feel, maximum durability and protection. This fabric doesn't stick on you or get heavy when wet and is very quick drying.

The waterproof garment creates a thermal layer keeping cool air and spray off your body or wetsuit. Chillwear is soft touch Microfibre with our unique "waterblock" coating for a high performance garment with soft feel, maximum durability and protection.

Chillwear is specifically designed to create a thermal layer to reduce the effects of windchill and water spray when you go sailing, kitesurfing or windsurfing. It can be used in conjunction with a full wetsuit in extreme cold, or thermal underwear in moderate weather or on its own in warmer water conditions.

Neoprene chillwear has been developed as a multi function garment system for use in various conditions. Neoprene chillwear can be used as an additional layer underneath a wetsuit in cold conditions, together with textile chillwear in intermediate conditions or as an ouher layer in warm conditions.

Modest Swimwear

If you prefer modest swimwear over skimpy swimwear you can still have a lot of fun, possibly even more. What started out as a niche market is gaining a broader appeal beyond the religious community, with sunburn protection being a major consideration.

There are a number of new manufacturers who produce modest swimwear for Christian and Muslim women, made from modern fabrics like polycottons and Lycra.

For men there is very little on the market. Many men just improvise and wear T-shirts or Hoodies with jeans or shorts. Keep in mind that light coloured T-shirts can be seen through when wet. Wear two T-shirts on top of each other, maybe a short sleeve one over a long sleeve one. Dark colours underneath light colours look good.

Stingersuits

Stinger suits are basically dive skins, but with thicker fabric and a hood. They were originally designed to protect swimmers in Northern Australia from sunburn and the sting of the deadly box jellyfish.

A stinger suit is so comfortable you want to wear it throughout the day, without the hassle of changing clothes before and after each swim and applying suncream. It's a great amphibian outfit for warm climates. Where it is cooler you can wear it as a base layer under a rain suit or nylon overall.