As a coach, I’m often asked questions about wetsuits. In the early days of triathlon, a wetsuit truly was an optional piece of equipment. More and more, it is becoming a required piece of equipment.
To the most basic questions: Do I really need a wetsuit? Will a wetsuit make me faster? I respond: it depends. Overall, when the water is cold and you want to be competitive, the answer is a resounding yes. Novice swimmers to open water conditions may struggle with a wetsuit, potentially causing more problems than they solve.
Certain body types will benefit more from a wetsuit than others. Some athletes’ bodies naturally sink and some bodies naturally float in the water. For those who struggle to stay on the top of the water, a wetsuit is an angel from heaven. For those who have a high body position, the wetsuit can potentially put them too high on the water, making it difficult to get propulsion.
Here are 9 guidelines to help you find the right wetsuit for you and your race conditions:
- How a wetsuit helps you
Not all wetsuits are triathlon specific made for swimming on the surface of the water. Dive or water sports suits are designed for protection from the elements, they do not provide much buoyancy. It is the buoyancy or lift on the water that helps you conserve energy while riding high on the surface.
Tri wetsuits come in different styles: sleeveless and long sleeves are the most common. You will be more hydrodynamic in the wetsuit as drag forces are reduced enabling you to swim faster. They do provide warmth and protection from cold waters, but they’re designed more for performance than protection. Neoprene makes the wetsuits naturally warm. Tri wetsuits are more flexible to allow both range of motion and speed of movement most importantly at the shoulders.
For those new to wetsuit swimming, some water will always get inside the suit. This is normal and why it’s called a wetsuit (vs a dry suit for super cold temps). Your body will warm the small amount that gets between your skin and the suit.
- Note: water and air temperatures for training and racing
Water is a perfect conductor of heat from the body. This is why water is so wonderful when we are overheated. Air and water temps are not equivalent. A 65 degree day is quite comfortable, but 65 degree water temperature is very cold. Most pool temps are between 78 and 82 degrees. We can swim comfortably in temperatures from the mid-70’s and above. Temps in the 60’s are uncomfortable and may not be tolerated for long bouts in the water without a wetsuit. The 50’s and below are dangerous without proper protection from a wetsuit. Every body is a little different in what they can tolerate. All bodies can be trained to adapt to the cold.
- Proper fit and sizing
This is key to swimming faster and more comfortably in a wetsuit! It needs to be snug, fitting like a glove, but not too tight as this can cause a sense of panic and claustrophobia from the restriction to breathing. Too loose means dragging gallons of water along with you resulting in a much higher effort level and slower times.
The main areas to check for fit are crotch and shoulder areas. You will need space in your torso to swim without restriction. Shoulder areas should provide the ability to reach fully and rotate allowing full range for the arm pull and recovery. The wetsuit needs to support your swim stroke, not restrict it.
A note on comfort: a high performance wetsuit may not feel comfortable as it is designed for speed. A lower end model may fit a little looser and feel more comfortable. Be careful not to go too lose as this can cause chafing. A suit may become looser over time and you want to avoid carrying too much water with you around the course.
Sleeved or sleeveless? A sleeveless wetsuit is best for warmer water temps and for those who feel too much restriction in the shoulders with a sleeved suit. Colder temperatures make a full sleeved suit much more comfortable. New technology and thinner neoprene makes the long sleeved suits very flexible providing no restriction to arm turnover. Do train with the wetsuit to get used to the extra effort wearing neoprene on your arms and shoulders creates to push your arm through the water repeatedly. Full-sleeved suits are the most popular and provide the best option for swimming faster as they are more buoyant and create less drag. Sleeveless suits let in more water.
In part 2, I’ll cover the variable costs and how to be sure to get the right suit for you.
