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Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm
A man wearing the Zone3 Originals 5/3mm buoyancy shorts on a white background.
A man wearing the Zone3 Originals 5/3mm buoyancy shorts on a white background.
Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm

79 reviews

Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm

The Originals are the first buoyancy shorts ever made, invented by Zone3 in 2007 and backed by over a decade of positive reviews. Built from Yamamoto Smoothskin neoprene, they lift your hips and upper legs into a flat, streamlined position so you spend your training building technique instead of fighting the water. The feel is natural: same lift as a pull buoy, with your full kick and rotation kept in play.
£75.00
size- XS
Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm
Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm
Full Description
Key Features
Delivery & Refunds
Delivery & Refunds

UK

  • DPD Pick Up Service (UK mainland only) - £3.95
  • Standard: £4.25 / Free for orders over £175.
  • Next Working Day: £6.95 or £4.95 for orders over £175 (order by 2:45pm, Mon–Fri, excludes Weekends and Bank Holidays).
  • Guernsey, Isle of Man & Jersey: £7.95 / €9.95 (free for orders over £175 / €175).

EU

  • Shipping costs calculated at checkout (import fees apply).

Germany

  • Standard: €10.95 / Free for orders over €175. 

Ireland

  • Standard: €12.95 / Free for orders over €175. 

US

  • Free for orders over $250. Shipping costs calculated at checkout (import fees apply).

Rest of the World

  • Shipping costs calculated at checkout

Returns: Accepted within 30 days. Not applicable for Ex-Demo products.

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Buoyancy Shorts - The Originals : 5/3mm

WHO IT’S FOR 

Your legs sink when you swim, and the drag costs you speed you never see back. You want lift that works with your stroke rather than a pull buoy clamped between your thighs. The Originals give you the wetsuit feel in the pool or warm open water, with every part of your stroke still working. 

  • Trains in the pool or warm open water without a wetsuit 
  • Wants a flat body position while keeping a full kick 
  • Prefers a natural alternative to a pull buoy 
  • Values kit with over a decade of swimmer reviews behind it 

WHERE IT SITS IN THE RANGE 

The Originals are the heritage staple of Zone3’s buoyancy shorts, sitting between the Active-Flex Buoyancy Shorts, the accessible starting point, and the Premium Option, the most buoyant and lowest-drag pair in the range. Which pair? Read the buoyancy shorts guide. 

KEY BENEFITS 

1. Lift where sinking legs cost you most The 3mm Yamamoto Smoothskin neoprene through the centre lifts your hips and upper legs into a flat, streamlined position, cutting the drag that sinking legs create. 

2. Rotation stays in your stroke The 5mm side panels promote hip rotation through each stroke, so the lift never flattens your technique into a static float. 

3. A natural alternative to a pull buoy You get the same lift with your full kick and rotation kept in play, which means the technique you build transfers straight to race day. 

4. Built like a wetsuit, worn like shorts Stitched and bonded the same way as a triathlon wetsuit, the Originals recreate the wetsuit feel without the full suit. 

WHAT YOU’LL FEEL 

Push off and your hips rise on their own. The water stops pulling at your legs, and your stroke suddenly has room to be worked on. You can kick, rotate, and drill exactly as you would on race day. Most swimmers describe it as the closest thing to their wetsuit feel they can get in a pool. 

FIT Snug fit with a drawstring waist that adjusts to size; unisex. 

WHY TRAIN WITH BUOYANCY?

Why train with buoyancy? Sinking legs create drag, and drag costs speed. Buoyancy shorts lift your hips into a flat, streamlined position so you can build technique instead of fighting the water.

Swimmer underwater with goggles and swim cap in a pool.
Top quality Yamamoto smoothskin neoprene

The same as a triathlon wetsuit

Designed using 3mm neoprene down the centre

The 3mm provides the additional buoyancy

5mm neoprene down the sides.

5mm side panels promoting hip rotation through each stroke.

Key Features

Buoyancy and body position 

  • 3mm centre panel: Yamamoto Smoothskin neoprene through the centre lifts the hips and upper legs into a flat, streamlined position 

Stroke mechanics 

  • 5mm side panels: thicker neoprene down the sides promotes hip rotation through each stroke 

Comfort and fit 

  • Comfort-focused waistband: drawstring waist adjusts to size 
  • Unisex fit: one design across all swimmers, sized XS to XXL 

Construction and materials 

  • Yamamoto Smoothskin neoprene: the same material family used across Zone3 wetsuits 
  • Stitched and bonded construction: assembled the same way as a triathlon wetsuit for durability through heavy training use 

Use 

  • Training tool, not race kit: neoprene is banned in declared non-wetsuit swims 

Overall rating: 4.5375 / 5 from 80 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

The Neoprene Buoyancy Shorts 'Originals' 5/3mm are highly regarded for their quality and fit, praised for improving body position and swim technique. Customers appreciate the comfort and buoyancy, though some noted a snug fit and issues with the waistband durability.

Summary topics

  • Product Quality (11%): Customers raved about the great quality of the shorts, praising their comfort and ease of use.
  • Product Fit (25%): Many customers stated that the product has a great fit and is very comfortable, making it a popular choice.
  • Leg Effectiveness (8%): In general, customers find these shorts effective in preventing sinking legs and improve stroke efficiency. However, some find them ineffective.
  • Waistband Durability (8%): A few customers stated that the waistband falls apart after a few months of use in the pool.

Review topics: ["size","fit","material","legs","design","quality","shorts","float","water","work","piece of kit","swimming","buoyancy","help","service","technique","use","improvement"].

Review highlights

  • "Great fit and comfort, looks good too" — Ian M.
  • "The shorts are very comfortable and a good fit." — Navin M.
  • "excellent quality shorts - easy to get on and off even when just out of very cold water." — Philip T.

Reviews

I'm 57 years old. At

"I'm 57 years old. At 6'2" and 265 lbs I was worried that these 2x shorts wouldn't fit but I took a chance and they fit wonderfully. I would say that I'm the top end of what they fit, though. I took up open water swimming a few weeks ago and am up to . 75 miles. These shorts made it possible to swim confidently after 30 years of not being in the water."

— anthony o. (5/5)

Great bit of kit to

"Great bit of kit to aid you in the pool."

— Jason H. (5/5)

Great short really work well

"Great short really work well"

— Stuart G. (5/5)

Great. Faster immediately, no need

"Great. Faster immediately, no need for any other flotation."

— John B. (5/5)

Flotation shorts

"I'm a 65 year old male poor swimmer,used the buoyancy shorts and they do provide great flotation, too good I fantastic they lift my rear too much and my head an shoulders are pushed down into the water, I will need to get a vest to counter this ,otherwise a great product"

— John C. (5/5)

"You get what you pay for. Quality."

— Paul (5/5)

My first item from Zone

"My first item from Zone 3. Super impessed with the quality of this item. And a great fit; the size charts are spot on for me."

— Robert W. (5/5)

Wish I'd discovered these sooner!

"My first pair of buoyancy shorts and I’m delighted with them! Have been amazed by how much they have improved my swimming. By providing additional buoyancy, I am able to concentrate on improving my stroke rather than struggle to stay afloat. On one occasion, I did peg them, by the waistband, onto my washing line to dry out and was a bit surprised / disappointed that the material retained the peg marks and didn’t spring back. Won’t be doing that again."

— Guy (5/5)

Great Pair of swim shorts

"Great Pair of swim shorts used them 2x already, to early to tell if they are helping to improve my swim technique. Only used them in the Pool and yet to try them out in Open Water."

— Richard H. (5/5)

Excellent shorts help with buoyancy

"Excellent shorts help with buoyancy"

— Adrian D. (5/5)

Q&A

Description
Key Features
£75.00