Helping divers make informed decisions about training, gear, skills, and safety at every stage of their journey.

Bare Reactive II 7mm Wetsuit Review

Reactive II (7mm)

Was my first wetsuit and served me well for cold quarry dives, though it was sometimes too warm in summer. It fits perfectly and is extremely warm, but I no longer use it often now that I dive in a drysuit. I keep it as a backup, but I wouldn’t pay the premium for the Reactive line again.

Overall Score: 7.8 / 10

Pros & Cons

ProsCons
Extremely warm for local cold water divesToo warm for summer quarry use
Excellent fit and seal with XLT sizingHigh price for what it offers
Still usable as a drysuit backupBulky and slower to dry than thinner suits

Why I Chose Bare Reactive II 7mm

This was the first wetsuit I ever bought. I wanted something that would keep me warm in Midwest quarry diving, and the 7mm Reactive II line was marketed as one of the top thermal options Bare offered. Since I already knew Bare's XLT sizing worked for me, I felt confident in the fit. It did its job well, but over time I found it to be overkill for summer dives and eventually shifted to a drysuit for colder dives instead.


Performance in the Water


Verdict

For its original purpose, this suit worked well. It kept me warm and got me through my early cold water dives without issue. But the price premium for the Reactive II line wasn’t really worth it, in hindsight. I wouldn’t pay extra for this version again, but I still keep it around as a just-in-case backup.

Would I buy it again? No. Not at full price. I’d look for a lower-cost 7mm option or go straight to a drysuit.


Deep Dive into the Score

Scoring System: Each category is scored out of 10 and weighted by importance. This model is used consistently across all gear reviews for transparency.

Category Score (0–10) Weight Weighted Score
Function & Performance930%2.7
Ease of Use720%1.4
Versatility615%0.9
Durability & Build Quality915%1.35
Value610%0.6
Brand Trust & Transparency810%0.8
Total7.75

Rounded Display Score: 7.8

Deep Dive Score Explanations