Wetsuits for Canyoning: Function, Fit, and What to Wear Underneath

No piece of gear has as big an impact on your canyoning experience as your wetsuit. Mountain streams in the Allgäu region typically have water temperatures ranging from about 8 to 15 degrees even in the height of summer, and without protection against the cold, your body would quickly get chilled in them. The wetsuit keeps you warm, provides padding during slippery sections, and gives you noticeable buoyancy when swimming. At purelements, the wetsuit—along with a helmet, harness, and special canyoning shoes—is included in the standard equipment for every guided tour; the wetsuits are supplied by our partner Edelrid in Isny and are inspected regularly. We’ll explain how neoprene works, what matters when it comes to fit, and what kind of clothing to wear underneath.

Physically, the thermal performance is based on two effects. First, the snug-fitting wetsuit traps a thin layer of water between the material and your skin, which is warmed by your body heat and acts as an insulating layer. Second, the neoprene itself contains countless tiny air bubbles that slow heat loss to the outside. Together, these two effects keep you comfortably warm even during longer swims in water below 15 degrees, while the constant movement involved in climbing, walking, and sliding generates additional heat. Another benefit is often underestimated: the material cushions impacts when you come into contact with rocks and provides buoyancy, which keeps you higher in the water while swimming and conserves energy. The fit is crucial for all of this, because a wetsuit that’s too loose allows water to circulate, causing heat loss; that’s why our guides assist with sizing until you find the perfect fit. Our page on “Canyoning Basics for Beginners” shows you how a complete tour unfolds, from getting changed to the final photo.

First and foremost, you should wear well-fitting swimwear under the neoprene—such as a one-piece swimsuit, a bikini, or tight-fitting swim trunks without wide legs—so that nothing chafes or creates wrinkles. Guests who are sensitive to the cold should wear a thin functional shirt made of synthetic fabric or merino wool on cooler days, as it provides insulation even when wet. Cotton, on the other hand, is not recommended because a soaked cotton shirt draws heat away from the body instead of retaining it. For after the tour, we recommend packing dry clothes to change into, warm socks, a light snack, and a large towel, since you’ll be changing outdoors during the tour. You don’t need to buy your own neoprene gear for our guided tours, nor do you need to worry about sizes, models, or maintenance, since all specialized equipment is included in the tour price and maintained by us; our safety concept, compliant with ISO 21101, explicitly includes equipment maintenance. Experienced canyoners who are traveling independently can find suitable gear to rent at our canyoning equipment rental shop in Sonthofen.