We asked 4 people to test Patagonia's active swimsuits – here's how they held up
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Alyssa Powell/Business Insider
- Among its many products geared toward outdoor activities, Patagonia makes great active swimsuits.
- Four Insider Reviews team members tried them out and found them to be comfortable and supportive.
- The swimsuits also feature recycled materials, making them great sustainable swim picks.
- For more options, check out our reviews of swimsuits from brands like Everlane and Summersalt.
With the heat of summer in full force, the sparkling, icy-cold waters of the lake and ocean are calling your name. Of course, to enjoy them properly, you need a swimsuit.
Patagonia has a swimwear collection representative of the brand's overall leaning towards the outdoors, meaning it has design features like UPF sun protection, slip-resistant fabric, and sustainability-driven production practices like the use of recycled materials.
The brand's swimsuit offerings are comfortable and supportive – plus, they're designed to stay on your body at all times, even when a huge wave hits you. You have full range of movement as you enjoy the water. They also come in many different cuts and colors. To top it off, the swimsuits are made of recycled nylon or polyester, and they're Fair Trade Certified-sewn.
Whether you love to surf in the open waters or you turn every backyard pool game of Sharks and Minnows into a high-speed, high-stakes race, Patagonia's swimsuits are some of the best active swim options you can buy right now.Learn more about how these swimsuits fit and felt, according to four members of the Insider Reviews team.
Here are the 4 best Patagonia swimsuits you can buy:
Patagonia
Trying to find a swimsuit that has enough support for a DD cup is challenging, to say the least. Throw in a small rib cage and a short torso, and it’s basically impossible, but somehow, Patagonia’s Glassy Dawn one-piece swimsuit fits me perfectly. I chose this suit because it has a clearly defined shelf, cups that are lined, and handy adjustable straps that can be used to rein in my chest. — Malarie Gokey, deputy editor
One-year update: After wearing this swimsuit to bob around in the Atlantic Ocean a few times last year, I can say that this remains my favorite swimsuit. It’s comfortable, looks great, and stays in place while I swim.
Women’s Glassy Dawn One-Piece Swimsuit (small)
Nanogrop Bikini Top and Nanogrip Bikini Bottoms
Patagonia
Whenever I wade out into the ocean wearing a two-piece, I’m hit with a terrifying vision of losing my top or bottom among the waves. That fear is virtually vanquished when I wear Patagonia’s Nanogrip swim pieces. The classic triangle bikini style is made more secure with the cross-back straps and reinforced elastic lining. The mid-rise bikini bottoms also have a lining to give you that peace of mind and permission to jump into the water with gusto. You can’t tell at all that the soft and stretchy fabric is made from recycled polyester, plus it dries quickly so it’ll always be swim-ready during heatwaves in the summer. — Connie Chen, senior reporter
Women’s Nanogrip Bikini Top (small)Women’s Nanogrip Bikini Bottoms (small)
Reversible Extended Break One-Piece Swimsuit
Patagonia
I love Patagonia’s sweaters, so I am truly not surprised that the company does swimwear just as well. I usually have a hard time finding one-piece suits that work for me, but this suit is surprisingly supportive for the DDs with which I was cursed. The ladder straps in the front didn’t pull, which was my major worry, and the sides didn’t come up so high that I was stuck with a permanent wedgie. Another upside is that it’s reversible (two suits in one!). The one gripe I have is that the straps aren’t adjustable, but they weren’t so long that I felt like I was sagging at all. — Sally Kaplan, executive editor
Women’s Reversible Extended Break One-Piece Swimsuit (small)
Wavefarer Boardshorts (5-Inch)
Patagonia
As someone who hates tight-fitting swimsuit bottoms, the Wavefarer Boardshorts are a great option that keep me comfortable in my own skin at the beach. Unlike many other pairs of trunks, these don’t have any sort of internal lining, allowing you the versatility to wear whatever bathing suit style you like underneath. I especially appreciate the quick-dry nylon material since I hate feeling damp and sticky. The one drawback for me personally, is that they don’t have any side pockets, and the one back pocket is too small to put anything of substance in. — Jen Gushue, home and kitchen reference editor
Women’s Wavefarer Boardshorts – 5″ (small)