Swimsuit shopping season can bring up a lot of emotions. There's the excitement of finding something cute to wear to the beach, but that's often curbed by a bombardment of too many ill-fitting, shoddily-made, uncomfortable styles, pushed on us for the sake of feeling trendy.
Let's try this on for size: a simple swimsuit that fits. For that, eight of us concur that Summersalt has some of the best bathing suits we've ever tested. The brand balances fair prices, durability, and classic, modest designs that look and feel great on a range of bodies.
Summersalt launched in May 2017 and found its audience on Instagram. It's led by swimwear and direct-to-consumer veterans Lori Coulter and Reshma Chattaram Chamberlin, who designed its collection of durable one-pieces and bikinis with quality materials that don't translate into exorbitant prices.
"Summersalt describes its recycled polyamide and elastane blend fabric as 'beach proof,' with UPF 50+ protection and resistance to sand, salt, and chlorine," writes freelance style reporter Sarah Chiwaya in our guide to the best plus size swimwear. She tried out the Sidestroke, its best-selling one-piece, and was impressed with how this fabric evenly supports a full bust.
Most of Summersalt's swimsuits cost around $115 and come in a variety of styles, such as jewel-toned, color-blocked statement pieces or streamlined lifeguard suits. Overall, the Summersalt design language is illustrated by clean lines and timeless silhouettes, made unique with just the right twist.
The Sidestroke
The Sidestroke swimsuit put Summersalt on the map and I've wanted to try it out for quite some time. But, as much as I liked the bold color options, they just weren't really my style. I was so excited to see that it now comes in all black.
When I first pulled the suit out of the package, I thought it was going to be way too small. While it was a little snug to pull on, it actually turned out to be the perfect fit. Most of Summersalt's suits start at a size 2, but this particular style has the option of a size 0. I took a chance by going with the 0 and it worked great for my 5-foot-2 frame.
I can't wait to wear it on my next vacation, but as a side note, it's probably best to wear it on a not-so-sunny day to avoid the one-shoulder tan lines. The one drawback about this suit is that it doesn't have any built-in cups so there is zero support. But, I like the suit enough that I may try and have some sewn in by a tailor. —Ashley Phillips, style & beauty editor
Instead of just sticking with one cross strap in the back, this style has two, which distributes bust weight more evenly and doesn't dig. I was happily surprised that this style worked as well as it did on me, as most one shoulder styles leave me lopsided and uncomfortable.
With thousands of five star customer reviews, I'm not the only one who is impressed. This one also has compression, so if you are looking for shaping in a classic silhouette with a twist, this is a great option. — Sarah Chiwaya, freelance style reporter
My main consideration when buying a swimsuit is whether or not it has enough support to handle my chest. I have a DD cup size, so it can be a pretty significant challenge. In a bold move, I tried the one-shoulder Sidestroke in White Sand — which was risky for two obvious reasons. I have to say, I'm incredibly happy with how supportive the suit ended up being. There was no issue with lopsidedness or sagging, and the diagonal seaming on the front was super flattering.
The white color isn't see-through when wet, either. There's an extra lining over the chest for added assurance, and the backside was totally fine.
And just to tip the scale a little more, the suits are made from recycled materials and they're affordable — so you'll be doing both your wallet and the environment a favor. — Sally Kaplan, executive editor
The Sidestroke is one of Summersalt's most popular styles, and now I can see why. I love the one-shoulder look, and I possibly love the back cutout even more. Whether you go for one of the solid, neutral color options or bright color-blocked options, the suit is flattering because the eye follows the line of the diagonal stripes, which parallel the one-shoulder strap and complement your curves. Worth noting after many a memory of struggling to wriggle in and out of a wet swimsuit, it was easy to put on and take off and very comfortable.
Like Sally, I was hesitant about the color. I usually stray away from white swimsuits because they don't always provide reliable opaqueness. However, I didn't feel self-conscious at all because the fabric was thick enough. White is a bold choice, but you can trust it's the right choice once you see how cute yet secure this style is. — Connie Chen, former senior reporter
The Perfect Wrap One-Piece
Summersalt had exactly what I was looking for: cute, size-inclusive, full-coverage swimsuits that don't look like they belong in my grandma's closet. You can tell Summersalt really cares about high-quality fabric construction. The first thing I do with a new suit is toss out the padded breast cups, but Summersalt actually sews theirs into place so there's no worrying about them sliding around or folding.
I loved wearing it to the beach because I didn't need an extra top for exploring the boardwalk or going into a restaurant. I wore it with a skirt and it looked like a regular top. It wins in the tummy support department, too. The wrap detail adds fun while accentuating my waist to create an hourglass shape.
I readjusted my top throughout the day because the fabric flattened my chest rather than lift and support. When you have a large chest, like I do, the constant flattening can make your underboob sweat almost unbearable. As a plus-sized woman with a large chest, I take "Boob Support" very seriously and Summersalt doesn't quite check that box. —MoMo Lamping, former culture & employee experience manager
The Bow-Shoulder Ruched Sidestroke Bikini Top and The Ruched High Leg High Rise Bottom
I'm a longtime fan of Summersalt, which makes some of my favorite long-torso swimsuits, but this two-piece was my first venture into the brand's bikinis. It did not disappoint. I was immediately drawn to the oversized white bow on the right shoulder of this otherwise-black set — it's the perfect fancy-but-not-fussy detail that gave the entire swimsuit a sophisticated look. It makes it a bit tricky to wear a shirt or cover-up on top, but I wasn't interested in covering up this beauty anyway!
Though you can choose any black bikini bottom to match the top, I went with this ruched, high-rise version. I found the ruched sides both flattering and comfortable, and they stayed put while I swam but never dug into my sides. The back is just a little cheeky while offering enough coverage that I'd be comfortable wearing it for a family outing. I'm in between sizes, so I sized up in both the top and bottom, but I'd probably size down in both, if I had to do it over. —Talia Ergas, freelance style reporter
The Plunge Bikini Top and The High Leg Mid Rise Bikini Bottom
If you're shopping for a two-piece bikini that hugs you in all the right places, look no further. To my awe, the thin material clung to my skin, offering light-to-medium compression. The mid-rise fit was the perfect compromise of secure bottom coverage without the weird tan lines you'd get from a true hi-rise suit. I love a good plunge top and this definitely satisfied in the support department. The inner padding looked a bit funny, but once I put it on, it lifted like a dream.
I wore my suit on a beach trip and loved how confident I felt. However, I'd say I probably wouldn't go for all-day wear because the straps tended to wear down on my shoulders and the bottoms dug in slightly. — Jacqueline Saguin, former style & beauty reviews fellow
What Summersalt swimsuits are made of
Swimsuits are for lounging, but they're also for a host of other summer activities. Summersalt suits can keep up with all your physical activities plus the sweat, oil, chlorine, sunscreen, and debris that come with them. These suits are made from premium recycled materials, making them more technical, softer, and more durable than traditional fabrics.
As long as you're out in the sun, the premium recycled materials offer UPF protection of 50+, meaning they'll block more than 98% of UV rays (just as SPF is used to measure sunscreen effectiveness, UPF is a measure of sun-protective fabric effectiveness).
How does Summersalt fit?
Summersalt reviewed 1.5 million body measurements from 10,000 women, which we gathered has much to do with the spot-on fit. They also employed a patented "TrueMeasure" process, which uses 3D body scanning, mass customization, and computer-aided design to make its suits and direct its supply chain.
They also stand up to the perils of harsh, chlorinated water. Having swam in her city league and high school swim teams, former senior reporter Connie Chen has gone through her fair share of swimsuits that lost their shape and compression after hours of continuous use. Summersalt's have four times the compression of the average swimsuit, and still, retain their shape after more than 100 hours of use in chlorinated water.
The site makes it easy to find your desired fit, categorizing pieces by "Great Boob Support" and "More Butt Coverage." Whether you're searching for the best swimsuits for DD cups or a one piece for your long torso, the filters exist to make sure you feel secure. In our Summersalt reviews, the team found that this attention to detail paid off.
The bottom line
With their durable fit and sleek designs, Summersalt's suits succeed in meeting the crossover of confidence and comfort. They're durable and practical, so you'll be getting your money's worth season after season. Whether you're looking for a sporty bikini or a no-frills one-piece, we've all agreed that Summersalt is worth the money.
Shop all Summersalt swimsuits here.
You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here.
Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@jkmperu.com.
