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THE GEAR MATCHUP · Wetsuits

Cressi vs Sherwood Scuba

Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man vs Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

Choose the exposure layer for your conditions before comparing the extras.

RED CORNERCressi
Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man
Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man
87/100Our editorial score
BLUE CORNERSherwood Scuba
Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit
Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit
89/100Our editorial score
OUR PICK

Scores are our editorial opinion of these models, based on features, suitability and ownership trade-offs—not hands-on test results. How we chose →

THE VERDICT

We’d pick the Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit.

We’d start with Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit. We like its 5 mm stretch neoprene and glued, blind-stitched seams for a conventional full-suit setup. Choose Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man instead if its strengths are a better match: we would shortlist the 7 mm Fast when a thicker wetsuit is the brief and the shaped legs suit the diver. Thickness and fit come first. Our preference does not make a thinner suit a substitute for the insulation your conditions require.

Which one suits you?

OPTION A

Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

We would shortlist the 7 mm Fast when a thicker wetsuit is the brief and the shaped legs suit the diver. More thickness can mean more bulk; fit and personal warmth needs still decide.

Get to know this model →
OPTION B

Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

We like its 5 mm stretch neoprene and glued, blind-stitched seams for a conventional full-suit setup. Back-zip access is less convenient if you prefer getting into a suit entirely on your own.

Get to know this model →
Open both in the gear comparison tool →

Specifications side by side

The details that matter, side by side. “Check with the brand” means we have not confirmed that detail.

Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man vs Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit — manufacturer specifications
DetailCressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit ManSherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit
Thickness7 mm5 mm
ConstructionCheck with the brandDouble-lined neoprene with Ultra-Span arm panelsCheck with the brand
EntryYKK back zip with GlideSkin backingBack zipper with long pull cord
CuffsCheck with the brandInner water-stop sealing ringsCheck with the brand
Fit featuresCheck with the brandShaped legs and angled neckCheck with the brand
MaterialCheck with the brandCheck with the brandQuantum Stretch neoprene
SeamsCheck with the brandCheck with the brandGlued and blind stitched
CutCheck with the brandCheck with the brandMen’s; topographical graphic

Showing all 8 specification rows.

What the differences mean when you buy

Thickness and intended exposure

Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

Thickness
7 mm

Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

Thickness
5 mm

Thickness is a useful starting specification, not a complete thermal rating. Fit, water movement, duration, repeated dives and individual response affect the protection required. Compare the actual suit thickness and role rather than transferring a number from an older listing. This comparison does not set a safe minimum water temperature.

Cut, entry and movement

Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

Entry
YKK back zip with GlideSkin backing
Fit features
Shaped legs and angled neck

Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

Cut
Men’s; topographical graphic
Entry
Back zipper with long pull cord

Try the correct body cut and size, then check shoulder reach, bending and the entry arrangement. Front and back zippers can affect dressing convenience, but convenience should not override fit. Look for gaps and uncomfortable restriction. A men’s or women’s label alone does not establish that the measurements suit an individual body.

Seams, barriers and wear areas

Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

Construction
Double-lined neoprene with Ultra-Span arm panels
Cuffs
Inner water-stop sealing rings

Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

Material
Quantum Stretch neoprene
Seams
Glued and blind stitched

Read seam and water-barrier descriptions alongside the fit result. A pocket or reinforcement may be useful for a particular job, while a stretch-material name is not a measured flexibility advantage. Where seam details are missing, ask the manufacturer; do not treat absent research as proof that the suit lacks the feature.

A closer look at both

Cressi

Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man

The men’s Fast 7 mm is a double-lined full wetsuit with Ultra-Span arm panels, shaped legs and a YKK back zip. Inner cuff rings and a GlideSkin backing under the zipper are intended to limit flushing. It is the thicker Fast option to investigate when the 5 mm version does not provide enough protection for your planned dives.

What we like

We would shortlist the 7 mm Fast when a thicker wetsuit is the brief and the shaped legs suit the diver.

What would make us think twice

More thickness can mean more bulk; fit and personal warmth needs still decide.

More about the Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man →
Sherwood Scuba

Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit

The men’s SSMC is Sherwood’s Marine Conservation 5 mm full suit, using Quantum Stretch neoprene with glued and blind-stitched seams. Abrasion-resistant knees and a rear zipper with a long pull cord are the principal practical features. The men’s version uses its own sizing and a topographical graphic rather than the women’s wave pattern.

What we like

We like its 5 mm stretch neoprene and glued, blind-stitched seams for a conventional full-suit setup.

What would make us think twice

Back-zip access is less convenient if you prefer getting into a suit entirely on your own.

More about the Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit →

Four checks before you place an order

  1. Select exposure protection for the planned conditions with appropriate local guidance, then compare suitable thicknesses.
  2. Try the actual cut and size through the movements needed to reach your equipment.
  3. Check the neck, cuffs, lower back and zipper area for uncomfortable restriction or obvious gaps.
  4. Confirm the exact model generation, especially outlet stock, and obtain size-exchange and return conditions.

Ask for a quote for the complete kit, including the accessories you need. That makes the price comparison much more useful.

Price, accessories and owning the equipment

Include any required hood, boots or other compatible exposure equipment when comparing the total purchase. A clearance suit can be good value only if it is the correct model, fits properly and has acceptable condition and return terms. Do not substitute a current premium model’s specifications for an older similarly named suit.

A replacement is easier to justify when it fixes fit, wear or a clearly assessed exposure need. A thicker suit is not automatically the more comfortable or suitable purchase. Follow the specific cleaning and storage instructions, and reassess equipment fit and configuration if changing exposure thickness.

How we scored these models & further reading

These are our subjective buying scores out of 100. We weigh the usefulness of the features, the intended diving or carrying job, and the compromises involved in owning the gear. They are not laboratory measurements, safety grades or customer averages. The verdict applies to the two named models, not everything either brand makes.

90–100: one of our first choices for the stated job. 80–89: a strong option with trade-offs. 70–79: a more specific fit. A different fit, camera, valve or dive plan can change which one you should buy.

Questions worth settling

Are two suits of the same thickness equally warm?

No such conclusion follows from thickness alone. Their cut, water barriers, seams, condition and fit can differ, and the diver’s exposure needs matter. We do not have a controlled thermal comparison that establishes an overall warmth winner for this pair.

Which is the better buy for this particular comparison?

Thickness and fit come first. Our preference does not make a thinner suit a substitute for the insulation your conditions require. Cressi Fast 7 mm Wetsuit Man: More thickness can mean more bulk; fit and personal warmth needs still decide. Sherwood Scuba Men's SSMC 5mm Back Zip Wetsuit: Back-zip access is less convenient if you prefer getting into a suit entirely on your own.

Our pick is where we would start. Choose the other model if its fit or features better match your setup—especially where a camera, valve, boot or exposure suit needs an exact match.

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