The IST Sports WS80 3mm scuba diving wetsuit was a ScubaLab Best Buy during the 2018 wetsuit test. Learn what our testers liked about this wetsuit in this video review. Check back in January 2018 for the full ScubaLab wetsuit review.

I’m Roger Roy, the ScubaLab director. We tested the IST Sports WS80 3mm wetsuit. Well-made and comfortable, with a very attractive price, it was our Best Buy for 3mm suits.

We tested it in the field at Blue Grotto Dive Resort in Central Florida, and in ocean dives in South Florida. Our testing included both fresh and salt water, in water temperatures from the low 70s to the mid-80s. We evaluated it for ease of donning and doffing, and for its fit and overall comfort. We also rated it for how warm it kept us, and whether it limited our range of motion.

The neoprene in the WS80 is noticeably thicker and firmer than many of the others in our test. But the suit proved comfortable and not at all restrictive, as well as being quite warm. It tied top scores for both fit and comfort, and was rated excellent for range of motion, helped by the pre-curved elbows and a high-stretch panel on the lower back. As one diver noted, the suit is “more flexible than I am.” Rather than smooth skin, the seals are made of the same material as the interior of the suit. That requires a snug fit to work well. But the wrist and ankle zippers eased getting the suit on and off, and it tied top scores in its category for donning and doffing. The waffle-pattern kneepads provide good protection without binding, (though they did tend to collect sand and dirt). We also liked the rubbery shoulder appliques that help keep BC straps from slipping. The WS80 was our Best Buy for 3mm suits.