Summersalt Swimsuit Review: 6 Years Later, Are They Worth It?

I bought my first Summersalt swimsuit in the summer of 2020. My fourth baby was nine months old, I was taking three kids to splash pads and beaches all over the Boston area, and I wanted something I could actually feel good in while I chased them around. I was a sucker for the Instagram ads (you know the ones), so I ordered two Sidestrokes in two different colorways. I loved them straight out of the bag.

Six years and three suits later, I’m still wearing Summersalt. So this is not a one-summer first-impression review. This is the long game, including the things that held up, the one mistake that ruined a suit I loved, and exactly how the sizing has worked across a postpartum body that has been through four babies.

The quick verdict

If you only read this far: Summersalt makes genuinely good-quality suits, and yes, I think they’re worth the price.

They’re best for someone who wants to feel a little more confident and held-in. Here’s my take after years of wearing all kinds of swimwear: if you’re in the best shape of your life, you can throw on a cheap suit and it won’t matter. But if you want a suit that holds you in and flatters (something that is working FOR you), the compression that comes with a higher-quality, higher-price suit makes a real difference. That’s what Summersalt does well.

Rating: 5 stars Best for: moms, postpartum bodies, anyone who wants more coverage and real compression Price range: mid-to-premium (worth it, especially on sale)

What is Summersalt?

Summersalt is a direct-to-consumer swimwear brand best known for the Sidestroke, a one-shoulder one-piece that became something of a cult suit. It sold out and racked up massive waitlists more times than I can count. The brand built its reputation on flattering, compressive fabric and a color and print range that’s hard to beat (the colorblocking combos for the sidestroke are so good).

What first drew me in was the styling. When the Sidestroke came out, I got stopped constantly at beaches in Massachusetts by strangers asking where my swimsuit was from. At this point I think it’s reached iconic status, and there are plenty of knockoffs floating around. But Summersalt still excels at fantastic colors and silhouettes, especially if you’re looking for styles that give you a little more coverage.

The Summersalt suits I own

I’ve owned three Summersalt suits over the years: two Sidestrokes (in Sangria & Dragon Fruit & White Sand, and Blue Lagoon & Pacific & White Sand) and one Perfect Wrap One Piece in Sky & Blue Mountain.

The Sidestroke

This is the one I reached for the most. It’s the one-shoulder one-piece everyone knows, for good reason. Great compression, great coverage, and so cute on. My only real hesitation is the tan lines, because that single shoulder strap gives you a slightly funny tan situation. I’m wearing so much sunscreen and self-tanner for color anyway that it’s not a dealbreaker for me, but it’s worth considering.

The Perfect Wrap One Piece

This is the suit I own now, in the Sky & Blue Mountain colorway (it’s sold out and I’ll get a picture of me in it this week). It’s a wrap-front style with a tie. The neckline sits a little lower than I expected. If I had more cleavage, that might bother me, but after four babies there’s not a lot going on up there, so it works out fine for me. It has medium support, which is plenty for me. If you’re bustier, factor that in.

I love this suit for the beach or the pool (or just lounging with some wide leg linen pants on top).

Any style I regret? No. I would rebuy all of them.

Summersalt sizing: how they actually run

My short answer used to be “true to size for a very close fit,” but having lived in them, I’d actually tell you to size up one.

For reference: I’m a true size 0 right now, and I wear the Perfect Wrap in a 2. A few years and a couple sizes ago I was around a 2, and I wore the Sidestroke in a 4. So across the board, I’ve worn a size up from my dress size, and they’re still compressive and flattering.

I’ve only owned one-pieces, so I can’t speak to the bikini fit firsthand.

On postpartum bodies: these are excellent at holding things in. I haven’t worn one while actually pregnant, but I can tell you that even after you lose the weight postpartum, when everything is still a little soft and loose, the compression really helps.

Quality and durability after 6 years

Overall, the suits have held up well. The fabric keeps its compression for a solid few years of regular wear, the colors stay rich, and nothing fell apart on me. That said, I have two cautionary tales:

1. Don’t leave them wet and crumpled. I made this mistake with one of my Sidestrokes. I wore it once, it got wet, and I left it balled up before washing it. The color from the dark bottom of the suit transferred onto the white stripe on top, and I could not get it out. I loved that suit, and it was such a sad lesson. Rinse and lay them flat to dry, every time.

2. Self-tanner and the white top stripe. Most Sidestroke colorways have a white stripe across the top, and if you’re a self-tanner person like me, that color can transfer onto the white over time. After about four years of wear, the self-tanner buildup on mine had gotten to the point where I let the suit go. I still love the Sidestroke and would repurchase it, but if you’re a heavy self-tanner user, I’d steer you toward a non-white colorway. That’s exactly what I did with my Perfect Wrap, and it’s been a much better match for my routine.

So my durability verdict: the suits themselves are built to last for years. The two things that shortened my suits’ lives were a wet-storage mistake and self-tanner on white, both of which you can completely avoid.

Are Summersalt swimsuits worth it?

I paid $95 each for my Sidestrokes and $125 for my wrap one piece, at full price, and yes, I think they’re worth it. Here’s the math: I wore the Blue Lagoon Sidestroke at least 50 times, which works out to under $2 per wear. For a suit that made me feel confident through a postpartum summer and lasted years, that’s a good deal. I’d buy them at full price again (and did, a few years later).

Summersalt pros and cons

Pros:

• Standout styles, colors, and prints
• High quality with compression that flatters and holds you in
• Great coverage options, especially for moms and postpartum bodies
• They last for years with proper care

Cons:

• On the pricier side
• The Sidestroke gives you funny one-shoulder tan lines
• The white top stripe on many Sidestroke colorways can pick up self-tanner over time

Summersalt vs. other swimwear brands I own

I’ve worn a few comparable brands over the years, so here’s how Summersalt stacks up.

Summersalt vs. Aerie: Summersalt wins for me. I actually bought an Aerie suit that same 2020 summer, and it wasn’t quite as flattering. The Summersalt fabric is thicker, it’s lined, it’s just nicer, and it has held up better over time.

Summersalt vs. Andie Swim: These two are comparable. They’re different styles, but the quality feels similar, and I really like both. If you’re choosing between them, go with whichever silhouette and colors you like best. I have a slight preference for the material on the Summersalt Swim vs Andie.

Summersalt vs. Left on Friday: Left on Friday is the more comfortable suit and the superior fabric (truly, I haven’t tried a swimsuit with more comfortable compression fabric). But they’re a really different style. If you love the look of a Summersalt, you won’t get that same vibe from Left on Friday, so it comes down to what you’re after.

Summersalt swimsuit FAQ

My final verdict

Six years, three suits, four babies, and countless beach and splash-pad days later, Summersalt is still the brand I trust to make me feel confident and put-together in a swimsuit. If you’re shopping for your first one, I’d start with the Sidestroke for the iconic look, or the Perfect Wrap One Piece if you want a tie-front style in a colorway you won’t have to baby around self-tanner.