Smoothskin, Open-Cell & Jersey-Lined Neoprene: The Differences Explained
Smoothskin neoprene, open-cell, lined on one side or both – if you’re looking into diving or freediving suits, you’ll quickly stumble across these terms. To many people they sound like jargon. Yet the material doesn’t just determine warmth and durability, but also how you get into the suit.
A suit with an open-cell interior practically suctions itself to your skin, while a jersey-lined suit slides on much more easily with the right trick. If you don’t know the differences, you’ll end up tugging at the wrong suit with the wrong method – and risk tearing the delicate material.
We at FlipSoc explain how the different types of neoprene are constructed, what they’re suited to, how to put each one on correctly and – honestly – which suits a donning aid like FlipSoc works with and which it doesn’t.
In short: Smoothskin neoprene has a smooth, rubbery surface without fabric; open-cell neoprene has a cut, clinging cell structure that sits directly on your skin. Lined neoprene is covered with fabric, which makes it more durable. Open-cell suits are usually put on with a lubricating solution as specified by the manufacturer, lined suits dry or with a donning aid.
What actually is neoprene?
Neoprene is a synthetic rubber that is foamed so that countless tiny, closed gas bubbles form in the material. These bubbles insulate and make neoprene the ideal material for water sports suits. The thicker the material, the more insulating bubbles it contains and the warmer the suit.
However, a finished wetsuit is rarely made of “bare” neoprene. The surface is almost always treated or coated. That’s exactly where the material variants covered in this article come from. Which variant is in your suit affects warmth, durability and the way you put it on in equal measure.
What is smoothskin neoprene?
Smoothskin neoprene is neoprene with a smooth, rubbery outer skin and no fabric coating. The surface feels smooth and slightly shiny, and water beads off it quickly.
Advantages of smoothskin:
- Wind protection: water beads off, so hardly any moisture remains on the surface to evaporate in the wind and cool you down.
- Low drag in the water: that’s why many swim and triathlon wetsuits have a smooth outer skin.
- High flexibility: without fabric, the neoprene can stretch more freely.
Disadvantages:
- Delicate: fingernails, stones, reef edges or Velcro can easily nick the surface.
- Less abrasion-resistant: on rock, a boat edge or sand, smoothskin wears faster than fabric.
Key to understanding this: many swim and triathlon wetsuits are smooth on the outside but jersey-lined on the inside. When it comes to putting the suit on, what matters most is the inside – the side that sits against your skin.
What is an open-cell wetsuit?
An open-cell wetsuit has a cut, uncoated layer of neoprene on the inside whose cell structure sits directly on your skin. This surface clings to the skin like a suction cup and therefore seals very well.
Open-cell suits are typical in freediving and spearfishing. Athletes there move little, often spend a long time at the surface and need maximum warmth with thin material. Because hardly any water circulates between skin and suit, open-cell suits are especially warm for their thickness.
The price: the material is delicate and tears more easily than lined neoprene. What’s more, an open-cell suit is practically impossible to put on dry – it clings to the skin too strongly.
What does lined neoprene mean?
Lined neoprene is neoprene with a thin layer of fabric bonded to one or both sides, usually nylon or polyester. The fabric protects the neoprene from tears and abrasion and gives the suit stability.
- Single-lined: fabric inside, smoothskin outside. Typical of swim and triathlon wetsuits and some entry-level freediving suits.
- Double-lined: fabric inside and out. This is the standard for most surf, dive and all-round suits. Durable, easy to care for, long-lasting.
- Special linings: many manufacturers also use warming or quick-drying fabrics on the inside, for example with a fleece structure.
The vast majority of surf, triathlon, swim and dive suits are jersey-lined on the inside. So unless you have a special freediving or spearfishing suit, you’re very probably wearing a lined wetsuit.
Smoothskin, open-cell and lined compared
| Feature | Smoothskin (outside) | Open-cell (inside) | Fabric-lined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface | smooth, rubbery | cut, clinging | fabric |
| Warmth at the same thickness | good, little wind chill | very high | good |
| Durability | medium, scratches easily | low, tears more easily | high |
| Putting on | depends on the inside | only with lubricating solution | dry or with a donning aid |
| Typical use | swimming, triathlon, freediving suit exterior | freediving, spearfishing | surfing, diving, all-round |
| Suitable for FlipSoc | yes, if lined inside | no | yes |
How do you put on an open-cell suit correctly?
You put on an open-cell suit with a lubricating solution that the manufacturer approves for this material – in the freediving community, a diluted, mild soap solution is common. The liquid forms a film between your skin and the cell structure so the material can slide instead of clinging.
- Check the manufacturer’s instructions: many manufacturers specify a suitable lubricant or a mixing recommendation. Stick to it, because unsuitable products can damage neoprene and glue.
- Mix the solution: typically, a small amount of a mild product is diluted in a bottle or bucket of lukewarm water.
- Wet the inside: pour the solution into the legs and arms of the suit or wet the inside.
- Get in carefully: work with your fingertips, never your fingernails. Push the material up in small sections.
- Rinse thoroughly afterwards: rinse the suit inside and out with fresh water so no residue stays in the material.
A warning: we explicitly do not recommend ordinary washing-up liquid, hair conditioner, oil or Vaseline. They can damage neoprene, seams and glue and shorten your suit’s lifespan. If you’re unsure, ask the manufacturer or a specialist retailer.
What’s the best way to put on a lined wetsuit?
A lined wetsuit is best put on dry, reducing friction at the cuffs with a donning aid, a sock or a plastic bag. Lubricating solutions aren’t needed with a fabric interior.
Fabric clings less than open-cell, but things get tight at the ankles and wrists. That’s where the cuff comes into contact with bare skin, and that’s exactly where the suit tends to get stuck. If you then tug at the edge, you strain the seams and glue.
What works well: short fingernails, jewellery off, work from the bottom up, push the material up in small sections and smooth out creases. Which entry system is the easiest to put on is summarised in our comparison back zip or front zip.
What is FlipSoc suitable for – and what isn’t it?
FlipSoc is suitable for classic wetsuits with a fabric-lined interior and is not suitable for smoothskin or open-cell suits, as commonly used in freediving and spearfishing. This matters to us, so that you don’t buy the wrong tool for your suit.
The FlipSoc is a donning aid made of smooth ripstop nylon. You pull it over your foot or hand, slip into the leg or sleeve, and the neoprene glides over the nylon through the cuff. With a fabric interior, this works reliably – wet or dry, for all suit thicknesses and sizes. That covers the vast majority of surf, triathlon, swim and dive suits.
With open-cell suits, on the other hand, the cell structure clings so strongly that even a smooth nylon sleeve doesn’t help – here, a lubricating solution as specified by the manufacturer is the right method. And with some special interior coatings, FlipSoc may only work to a limited extent. If you’re unsure about your suit, check the manufacturer’s product description or ask us.
How to tell what’s on the inside of your suit
- Visible fabric texture: fabric-lined. Suitable for FlipSoc.
- Smooth, rubbery, shiny: smoothskin inside. Rare in everyday suits; not suitable for FlipSoc.
- Matt, bare-looking neoprene that clings when you touch it: open-cell. Not suitable for FlipSoc.
- Fleece or plush lining: special fabric lining. Usually suitable, but limited with some coatings.
How do you care for the different neoprene materials?
It’s best to care for all neoprene materials the same way: rinse with fresh water after every use, air-dry inside out and protect from direct sunlight and heating. The differences lie mainly in how delicate they are.
- Smoothskin: don’t drag it over rough surfaces; keep Velcro closed so it doesn’t scratch the surface.
- Open-cell: handle with particular care, don’t crease or fold tightly, rinse out lubricant residue thoroughly.
- Lined: the most durable, but benefits just as much from a freshwater rinse and drying in the shade.
You’ll find detailed tips on washing, drying and storing in our guide to wetsuit care.
Which material suits which type of diving?
Scuba divers are usually best served by a double-lined suit, freedivers and spearfishers often by an open-cell suit with a smooth or lined exterior. The choice depends on how much you move, how long you’re in the water and how durable the suit needs to be.
- Scuba diving: lots of contact with equipment, the boat ladder and the dive site. Durable, double-lined neoprene is the practical choice here.
- Freediving: maximum warmth with little thickness, little water exchange, high flexibility. An open-cell interior is common here.
- Snorkelling: lined suits are uncomplicated, durable and easy to put on.
You can read more about what matters when diving in a wetsuit in our article Diving in a wetsuit.
Frequently asked questions about smoothskin neoprene and open-cell
What’s the difference between smoothskin and open-cell?
Smoothskin is a smooth, rubbery surface that sits mainly on the outside of the suit and lets water bead off. Open-cell is a cut, clinging cell structure that sits directly on the skin on the inside. Many freediving suits combine both: open-cell inside, smoothskin or fabric outside.
Why do open-cell suits need a lubricating solution?
The cell structure on the inside clings to the skin like a suction cup. Without a slippery film, the suit is almost impossible to put on and can tear if you tug at it. The manufacturer is the best source for which solution is suitable.
Can I use washing-up liquid to put on my wetsuit?
We advise against it. Washing-up liquid, hair conditioner, oils or Vaseline can damage neoprene, seams and glue. For open-cell suits, follow the manufacturer’s lubricant recommendation; for lined suits, you don’t need any lubricant at all.
Does FlipSoc work with freediving suits?
FlipSoc doesn’t work with freediving suits that have an open-cell or smoothskin interior. It’s designed for classic wetsuits with a fabric-lined interior. That covers the vast majority of surf, triathlon, swim and dive suits.
Is lined neoprene less warm?
At the same thickness, an open-cell suit is usually warmer because it sits closer to the skin. Lined suits make up for this with the right thickness, a good fit and sometimes warming linings. In return, they’re much more durable and easier to put on.
Conclusion
Smoothskin neoprene, open-cell and lined neoprene each have their strengths. Smoothskin protects against wind chill and reduces drag in the water, open-cell delivers maximum warmth for freedivers, and lined neoprene is the durable all-rounder for most water sports enthusiasts. When it comes to putting it on, the inside of your suit is always what counts.
For open-cell suits, a lubricating solution as specified by the manufacturer is the right method. With suits lined on the inside, you can do without liquids – here, a donning aid helps you get past the cuffs without tugging at seams and edges.
If your suit is fabric-lined on the inside, try the FlipSoc as a donning aid for your wetsuit – with free returns within 14 days if it doesn’t suit your wetsuit.
