Living high in the Rocky Mountains and far from the ocean waves and sandy beaches, you might not think you need a wetsuit. But with the advent of SUP, stand-up paddleboarding, in Colorado, a Glidesoul full wetsuit might be just what you need. The rivers of the Rockies are snowmelt, so when you expect barely above freezing flows, a wetsuit is a necessity.

For women, brands usually just make a men’s model wetsuit but a little smaller and with a splash of pink. But GlideSoul outfits are created for women by women, with expertise in sports and fashion.

Right out of the box I am impressed not just the bright designs but the high quality. The neoprene in 3/2 mm, seams are glued and blind-stitched and with silicone drops on wrists, ankles and neck to prevent water entry. The neck is snug but supple, so its comfortable while still keeping the icy river temps at bay.

The neoprene on the GlideSoul is thin and stretchy so it fits well, which is unusual for a wetsuit- which are usually black, formless blobs that even Giselle wouldn’t look good in.

Because its thin its more like moving in yoga pants, easy to stretch and reach, ensuring freedom and comfort to paddle and maneuver over rapids and waves, and even in cold water when I fall in.

To put this wetsuit through the wringer, I took it to the Glenwood white water park to catch some wave, Colorado style. While my neon green strips may not have helped me catch the wave, at least I looked good trying. The vibrant colors are certainly eye-catching, so now I just need my skill to match. And as soon as I was off the water the lightweight material was quick drying.

On of my favorite features was the knee reinforcements built into the wetsuit. Normally, I try to squeeze knee and elbow pads under the neoprene when running new rapids, but this adds a bulky appearance and concerns me that I might tear my wetsuit. But this was just enough protection to give me the freedom to fall and not fear the rocks, which still looking good in neon and leopard print.