The Sharkskin ‘technical watersports protection’ apparel range is designed and manufactured by a passionate and dedicated team in our factory in Newcastle, Australia. Sharkskin brand bags, gloves, PFDs, Shoes, Mask, Snorkel, Water bottle, Fins and caps are designed inhouse and manufactured in offshore factories with strict quality control procedures.

Sharkskin products are available to buy from our network of Authorised Sharkskin stockists all over the world. Check out our Store Locator on this website to find your nearest store. 

Sharkskin Thermal Flex is a cutting-edge thermal performance fabric designed for water sports enthusiasts who seek warmth, flexibility, and comfort without the bulk of traditional wetsuits. It integrates advanced technologies to enhance performance in, on, and under the water.

Discover the Power of Far Infrared (FIR) TechnologySharkskin Thermal Flex takes innovation to the next level with its advanced Hydrophobic Nanotech Compression fabric. This high-performance material is designed to keep you warmer, speed up recovery, and move effortlessly with your body. What makes it special? The fabric is slightly heavier to provide extra insulation while still offering incredible flexibility, so you never feel restricted. Plus, with Hydro-Lock technology, it repels water and resists absorption—even when fully submerged—keeping you drier and more comfortable for longer. But the real game-changer is the Far Infrared (FIR) nano-technology, inspired by Sharkskin’s R-Series Compression range. This next-level tech delivers three key benefits:

1. Enhanced Warmth – Your body heat is reflected back to you, keeping you cozy in cold conditions.
2. Performance & Recovery Boost – FIR radiation is known for improving circulation, reducing muscle fatigue, and speeding up recovery.
3. Built-in Protection – A permanent antimicrobial effect keeps your gear fresher for longer.

Experience the unbeatable combination of warmth, flexibility, and recovery benefits with Sharkskin Thermal Flex, engineered for those who push their limits.

Sharkskin Rapid Dry is a single-layer lightweight and fast drying material that has re-invented and revolutionised the traditional rashie or rash shirt by adding better technology and superior features.

What makes Rapid Dry the best single-layer technical material for water sports of its kind?Water Shedding- Rapid Dry is a lightweight, fast drying material which is ‘infused’ and then ‘heat set’ with a water repellent treatment (WRT). This method achieves a WRT finish that is much more effective at shedding water and also lasts much longer than traditional WRT material treatments.

Construction- The Rapid Dry material uses a specialised 3-D ‘rib-knit’ construction which creates far superior ‘insulation’ properties than cotton and nylon / lycra synthetic materials. This type of construction provides more warmth when the material is dry and a lot more warmth than standard weave garments when wet.

Durability- Additionally, by using a premium and very durable thread type the Rapid Dry material has 100% resistance to swimming pool chemicals (chlorine, bromine, etc) and very good resistance to the abrasive effects of salt micro-crystals formed as seawater dries out in the material.

Performance- Rapid Dry is breathable with very good ‘air permeability’ and also ‘wicks‘ moisture from your skin to the outer layer of the material to help disperse sweat. It is perfect for active water sports where it is important to regulate body temperature – like paddle sports, sailing, and any water sports where your heart rate indicates a performance requirement.

Safety- Rapid Dry has a UPF 50+ rating for protection from the Sun. This is very important as the majority of water sports are outside and in many cases the water can reflect and magnify the effect of the Sun’s harmful rays.

Visibility- Rapid Dry material comes in a wide range of colours including hi-visibility colours for safety. The premium dyes used are more colourfast than dyes used in cheaper garments and last much longer, so you are safer and more likely to be seen out on the ocean.

Fashion- The added thickness created by the 3-D ‘rib-knit’ construction also gives Rapid Dry material its ‘thickness’ which stops the garment from ‘draping’ when wet. Combined with the WRT treatment this means that Rapid Dry garments do not ‘cling’ to your body and impede movement like other water sports garments do, and instead look great when worn dry or wet.

Rapid Dry is perfect by itself as a rashie with extra insulation or layered over the top of a Chillproof or Titanium Chillproof top to provide more insulation and water shedding capabilities. It really is your do-it-all water sports garment that you can wear in and under the water and looks fashionable enough to wear to the café or bar afterwards.

The Performance Wear range has been created with the help of competition athletes and uses various combinations of the Sharkskin materials in their different designs.

 The focus is on performance with Chillproof material where you need warmth, compression material where you need maximum flexibility and for best muscle performance during intense sports, and 4-Way stretch neoprene where you require extra comfort and abrasion resistance.

What makes Sharkskin Performance Wear the best ‘technical water sports protection’ range for those seeking a bit more performance from their favourite watersport?Chillproof– Chillproof trilaminate material for protection and warmth from the elements.

Compression– strategically placed sports compression panels to aid in endurance and muscle recovery.

Mesh ventilation panels- breathable to regulate body temperature while working hard.

Flexible strategically placed panels- to allow for maximum manoeuvrability during intense water sports.

4-Way Stretch Neoprene- in the seat and shin areas for extra stretch and comfort. Heavy duty saltwater resistant zippers – to control heat retention.

Design team- the Performance range has been created with the help of competition athletes.

You can see some of these amazing Sharkskin brand ambassadors, all leaders in their respective fields in our Testimonials Section.

Performance Wear is ideally suited for all water sports where keeping warm and protected while maintaining a firm focus on performance and flexibility is important. SHARKSKIN PERFORMANCE WEAR GARMENT PROPERTIES -

Sharkskin has a range of products that are suited to ocean swimming that can also be used for general watersports activities too.

Swimming wetsuits are great but they are purpose built specifically for swimming and are not designed as a multi-functional watersports garment. They can also be expensive, difficult to put on and get off, and can be very fragile and prone to tearing.

Normal ‘non swim-specific’ neoprene wetsuits generally inhibit the arm movement used for swimming due to the design and the thickness of the neoprene rubber used in their construction. So for activities like ocean swimming where warmth and sun protection is required, and ease of getting the garment on and off, as well as flexibility for repetitive arm rotation and shoulder movement we recommend the Sharkskin garments categorised into theSWIMMING ACTIVITYsection.

 HOW SHOULD SHARKSKIN FIT FOR SWIMMING?

The various Sharkskin garments used in the Sharkskin Swimming Activity range should all be sized to fit ‘snug’ to ‘firm’ when dry as the fabric will become more flexible when wet. A ‘snug’ or ‘firm’ fit is important to ensure no drag is caused by a loose or poorly fitting garment. We recommend that if in doubt then ‘size-down’ to achieve this fit when using the Sharkskin size charts.

This depends on your use – if worn under a wetsuit to keep you warm then a rinse in fresh water in a dive tub or on a hanger with the garden hose is perfect.

If you wear Sharkskin™ in high heart rate, intense watersports where you will be sweating a lot then you can also schedule a rinse using a mild anti-bacterial agent like commercially available ‘wetsuit wash’ every so often.

Wetsuit wash is available in most dive, surf and watersports and is not as aggressive as most detergents and is formulated especially to rejuvenate fabrics. If you are using sharkskin™ where it will get especially dirty – fish residues while kayak fishing or dirt and mud during multisports or obstacle course racing (OCR) for example, then you may need to use a gentle-cycle cold-water machine wash with a gentle detergent. Make sure you dry your Sharkskin™ garments in the shade and out of the direct sun if possible. This will prolong the life of your Sharkskin™ garments.