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Why wear a wetsuit in your next triathlon? If you’re a great swimmer, you
probably don’t need one. But, if you’re preparing for your first tri,
are a novice swimmer, and especially if the course will be long and the
water cold, you’ll benefit greatly by getting and wearing a wet suit.
Prices aren’t cheap so rent or borrow one if you’re not sure you’ll be racing
more than once.
Advantages
The benefits of using a wetsuit depend on a myriad of individual factors,
such as percentage of body fat, stroke efficiency, body temperature, and a
host of other variables. However, there are four key advantages:
- Buoyancy: Wetsuits come in different thicknesses, but all help you float higher
in the water and keep your body balanced. This helps novice swimmers who
have poor technique and tend to drag their lower body in the water. It also makes
staying afloat in the chaos of a race start, when better swimmers have a nack for
dunking you, that much easier.
- Warmth: Hypothermia is a constant danger in chilly open waters. Wetsuits keep
you warm by initially trapping a thin layer of water between the fabric and
your skin. This layer is quickly warmed by your body heat, acting as an insulator
to keep you safe and comfortable (Proper fit is key for optimum warmth.)
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- Energy conservation: With increased buoyancy, you won’t have to work as hard
to get ahead. That means you shouldn’t have to take as many strokes to move
through the water. So your stroke count as well as your energy expenditure
should decrease.
- Speed: Though the less-experienced swimmer will benefit much more than the veteran,
wetsuits help bring your swim time down. For example, depending on race conditions,
your technique and the type of wetsuit you use, in a 1.5 kilometer swim, a
wetsuit could save you anywhere from one to five minutes!
The Wetsuit Cut for You
Wetsuit styles or cuts fall under one of three categories: full-cut, sleeveless,
or the most recently introduced short-cut. Choose based on where you swim and
personal preferences. Here’s how the suits differ.
- Full-cut wetsuits
These cover your arms and legs and are the warmest and most buoyant. So why look
elsewhere? Not so fast. Full-cuts can be uncomfortable and take longer to get out
of, so their benefits may be offset by slow transitions. Additionally, full-cut
suits can significantly alter your swim mechanics. Manufacturers are striving to
improve full-cut designs to be more comfortable and less taxing on transitions so
try the latest designs. Due to the risk of hypothermia, for cold water swims,
full-cut wetsuits are the most appropriate. They’re also the most costly.
- Sleeveless wetsuits
These are the most popular choice for triathletes. For beefy, muscle-bound
types, they are the obvious choice. The sleeveless design still provides most of
the warming benefits, but leaves you with complete freedom of movement in the
arms, a less harrowing transition, and a slightly smaller bill.
- Short-cut wetsuits
These mimic a design surfers have used for years. These suits are sleeveless and
extend only to the knees. You sacrifice warmth and buoyancy but gain quick exits
from your suit during transitions. Also, the minimum coverage provides a more
natural feel during the swim.
Shopping tips
Convinced you need a wetsuit? I’m not surprised. Most newcomers to the sport,
especially those who dread open-water swims, gladly plunk down a hundred or so bucks
for a little more confidence in the water.
Go for a great fit first. Don’t stop shopping until you find a suit that fits like
a second skin. Fit should be tight but not to the point of restricting motion or
normal breathing. Pay close attention to how it fits in the arm holes (sleeveless
models) and neck area. That’s where water is most likely to enter.
The main fabric in wetsuits is neoprene, a soft rubber that is comfortable, resilient,
and a good insulator. On better suits thicknesses vary to facilitate both buoyancy
and flexibility. For example, many makers use a thick five millimeters of neoprene
in the chest and leg areas for greater buoyancy and a level swimming position. Yet
in the sleeves, neck and arm holes, a thinner three millimeters is used to allow for
greater flexibility. Choose thickness based on your swimming experience, where you
swim (cold or very cold water), and whether you have a tendency to drag.
Cost is certainly a factor too. Most full-cut suits surpass the $200 mark, sleeveless
wetsuits sell for just under that, and the short-cut designs usually hover around
the $100 to $150 range.
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