Best Bathing Suit FOr Active Women
A Review Of SEnsi Graves Bikinis
Updated: April 18, 2019
Looking for the best Swimsuit suit for active women? Sensi Bikinis offer great Active Wear for kiteboarders, surfers, yogis, and other athletes looking for a suit that will stay put and perform! Check out Destiny's top picks for best kitesurfing gear!
Ah, there’s no confidence boost as sweet as pushing your body to it’s max, utilizing your temple for all it’s worth. Jumping higher, swimming faster, feeling the breeze as you sail through the air with your kite. Feeling the breeze in unintended areas? Suns out buns out kinda moment? Sometimes the urge strikes to bare all, but we should get to say when and where, right?! Finding a bathing suit that is a proper blend of cute AND functional is no easy task. So hats off (and suits on!) to Sensi Bikinis, a line of swimsuits and active wear designed by professional kiteboarder Sensi Graves that hold true to their motto of, “bikinis for girls who rip”. After putting my Sensi gear through the ringer in Asia (picture a lot of crashes in shallow water scattered with sharp rocks…) I (Destiny) am stoked to return as an ambassador for Sensi Bikinis! These suits stand the test of of time and truly stay put. Read on to discover my top picks from the Sensi Bikini line up.
I’ve tried A LOT of different swimsuits. As an active woman with a larger chest, it seemed near impossible to find a swimsuit that wasn’t a triangle top affixed to a flimsy string that was still stylish and cute to wear. To make matters worse, most of my shopping was done online. I would buckle down, spend hours researching surf tops finally order one, proceed to track track track the baby until it assured me “out for delivery” and then rush home to open my new ta ta talisman. Imagine my disappointment after ordering a “surf specific” top that after a couple of skips around my house caused some serious bosom blow outs. Was I doomed to a life of the one piece version of mom jeans? Or could I find a swimsuit line that would stand tough water crashes and still be cute? Luckily, I lived in Hood River Oregon. It wasn’t too long until I stumbled upon Hood River based Sensi Graves bikinis and decided to give them a try. In the Sensi Bikini line up, I have found a couple of pieces that have become true essentials in my travel bag. In my opinion, the Sensi Bikini line offers secure fits for all shapes and sizes. There is a wide range of high quality made tops and bottoms, as well as one pieces and surf leggings My Sensi gear is one of the first things I pack when organizing my travel bag. I know, without a doubt, they will be the most used items on the trip!
My Top Picks
My body weight fluctuates but generally I weigh in the 160 region. I am 5’7” with a bigger chest (34 D), broad shoulders, short torso and a bit of a booty! Pictured below is (for my body) the holy grail of women’s kitesurfing gear. In the past, I was notorious for packing a bag full of various swimsuit tops and bottoms, then really just utilizing my favorite pieces and toting around a lot of extra, albeit cute and colorful, dead weight. Because of my variosu experiences, I’ve narrowed down my top picks for swimwear styles to pack for a kitesurfing trip.
Paula Surf Suit
Destiny’s Size: Medium
This was the first piece I purchased from Sensi Bikinis and it remains one of my favorites. One thing I love about the Paula surf suit is how light it is. Made with high quality lycra, this suit is perfect for long sessions in the hot sun. The thin but durable quality of the material protects your skin without weighing you down in the heat. Not only is your skin protected, but by wearing pieces that offer greater UV protection for more of your body, the need to use sunscreen is reduced! This minimizes the amount of products you are introducing to the environment. This is great for the environment and oceans worldwide that are experiencing negative affects due to chemicals found in many sunscreens (use reef safe and pollutant free sunscreen, folks!). On my more budget adventures, my bank account really appreciated the switch to longer more protective wear as it helped minimize the amount of pricey sunscreen I was using! A true win-win situation! The Paula surf suit is not clingy and is comfortable to wear during long sessions on the water. No slippage issues here whatsoever! A particularly nasty fiberglass repair job on a rental board scratched my Paula Surf suit. I was bummed. I fully expected the light material to keep on stretching. To my delight, the small rip has remained the same size. Six months and countless sessions later, my Paula surf suit is still kicking butt!
Laura Leggings
Destiny’s Size: Medium
Finding surf leggings is a toughy. Exasperated after hours of searching, I felt left with either a choice of a thick neoprene bottom or thin leggings with some pretty funky styles that were not quite my cup of tea. With all the neon pink in women’s active wear, the options can sometimes take on a Kitesurfing Barbie vibe. Sensi Bikini leggings come in a variety of designs that are stylish and unique. The Laura Leggings are an awesome addition to any kiteboarders clothing quiver. And the best part? They’re not just limited to kitesurfing! Sure, I’ve worn these babies during some long sessions in grueling heat (yay for protecting my skin!), but they’ve also kept my legs company during yoga sessions, Vietnamese camping adventures, some lengthy searches for hot sauce in the grocery stores of Tarifa and brunch festivities with friends! The possibilities are limitless here. These types of pieces are essential to a minimalist traveler. To be able to bring an item that will remain versatile with its purpose saves priceless weight in your bags. Traveling internationally? During my adventures in regions with more conservative cultures, I’ve found the Lauara Leggings to be a go to piece in my aqua adventures. While I’ve never visited a place where it is strictly required to cover up, I always try to respect the locals and their customs by observing what is the norm in the area. Unfortunately, in a lot of these areas I’ve visited it can be crazy humid. The Laura leggings, made out of the same material as the Paula surf suit, offer a covered look with a lightweight feel that won’t bog you down.
An added bonus of the Laura leggings? Protection against sea creatures that are a bit too friendly! Check out my relief in the above photo as I point down to the site of a jellyfish sting. With the Laura Surf Leggings, I was only stung on my ankles as opposed to a potentially much larger area!
Jennifer Bottoms
Destiny’s Size: Small
As I prefer a more cheeky look (insert peach emoji here), the Jennifer bottoms are hands down my favorite bikini bottoms from the Sensi line. These cuties are best sellers for a reason! Ruched detail along the backside is super flattering on the booty, and zero elastic on the sides equals no uncomfortable digging. My recommendation with the Jennifer bottoms is to go down one size from what you normally might do for maximum staying power while surfing. For example, I am a solid medium in the Laura leggings. After trying on both the medium and small Jennifer bottoms, I preferred the slight tightness of the small. Please note, the smalls are not uncomfortably tight on me they simply felt a bit more sporty than the mediums which did not have as much cling power. Comfort is key! Go with what feels good. I was surprised at the Jennifer bottoms ability to stay on. I once heard a lovely lady in surf shop say, “unless its a thong, it’s not staying on” when referring to bikini bottoms. In the past this adage has proven to be quite true for me. However, when I’m feeling like a bit more coverage is needed, the Jennifer bottoms are a good choice for a more durable, non-thong bottom.
Sofi Top
Destiny’s Size: Large
As long as I can remember people have asked me, “do you do gymnastics?” “Are you a swimmer?” “No? How do you have such broad shoulders?” I have vivid memories of me shrinking down in the line of the DMV next to my mother after being prodded with such questions. All inquiries were well meaning and coming from a good place. Unfortunately, my broad shoulders have caused me some insecurity over the years. As maybe some of you can relate, when something you are not quite stoked about has attention drawn to it, some serious lumps can form in your throat! I’ve always had wide shoulders, and while I (*am learning to*) recognize that these are a useful, strong addition to my body, insecurity can be unforgiving. Having a top that is comfortable for me to wear and does not cut in on my shoulders gives me a real boost of confidence.
While it is my newest Sensi piece, the Sofi top is slowly becoming my favorite piece. The wider shoulder straps and flattering neckline is a great style for those with broad shoulders. Slinky, skinny straps can make shoulders appear wider and I’ve found are less flattering on me. The Sofi top is so comfortable to wear that though I mainly use it for kiting, I’ve found that it makes a cute crop top for lounging around in as well. The simplistic style of the top make it one of my favorites to wear under wet suits. No annoying hardware or jutting straps pushing into your harness or wet suit design. Bonus, it’s reversible! The 2019 styles feature some great two in one colorways. For the weight of one top in my suitcase, it feels like I’ve packed two! The Sofi top is a super solid piece that, similar to its Sensi Bikini sisters, is incredibly versatile, comfortable to wear, and durable during activity.
Stoked On Sensi?!
Have you stumbled here after hours of searching through the deep interwebs after typing “best bathing suit for active women” in your search bar? I’ve been where you are my dear, and it is exhausting. I sincerely hope the recommendations I have provided you will get you stoked on finding a great suit that will boost confidence and perform exactly how you want it to, with no surprises! Sensi Graves makes killer bathing suits that are unique and durable. Based out of beautiful Hood River, a place I consider home, Sensi Bikinis does an amazing job of being part of a larger community of conscious consumers. It feels great to be an ambassador to a company that prides itself on being sustainable; many suits are constructed from materials sourced from recycled goods and the company donates 1% of sales to environmental causes. Ready to buy an awesome piece of gear? Feel free to message me to receive my referral link, for 10% off your purchase, or simply use the code “destinykucko” in your cart. Click here to check out the Sensi Bikini website.
Aloha, friends! We hope you enjoyed our article on Great Swimsuits for Active Women. We hope that our experience helps you feel confident and comfortable. All of these opinions are our own. May this information stoke your adventures!
Feel free to contact us with any thoughts, questions, comments or concerns.
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