How thick should a wetsuit be for open water swimming?
A safe open water wetsuit should be a 3:3 thickness for women and a 3:5 thickness for men. Choose a wetsuit based on water temperature, swimming duration, and your comfort. Full suits provide maximum warmth, sleeveless suits allow better arm mobility, and short-cut suits are ideal for milder waters. Make sure the fit is snug but not restrictive.What are the disadvantages of a wetsuit? The main disadvantage of wetsuits is that they can still be quite cold in colder water temperatures, as they allow water to enter and then warm up against the body. They also require more frequent replacement than drysuits, as the neoprene material can degrade over time.Generally, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, but not so tight that your range of motion is limited. The sleeves (if full-length) should fall at the wrist bone and the legs just above the ankle bone, and there should be no gaps, pockets, or rolls of neoprene. Wetsuits fit more snugly than clothing.The key is finding the sweet spot between thickness, buoyancy and mobility. A thinner wetsuit will provide less warmth and buoyancy but more mobility, and a thicker wetsuit will keep you warmer and buoyant but can be more constrictive and uncomfortable for swimming.
Can you open water swim in a normal wetsuit?
Obviously you can wear a normal wetsuit or surfing wetsuit for open-water swimming or wild swimming – nobody’s going to stop you. You just won’t go as fast or feel as comfortable. Step 2: Should you size up or down in a wetsuit? In this case, we’d recommend selecting the next largest size. While we don’t want excess material, mobility is important when surfing and we don’t want the size of your wetsuit to limit your motion.All swimsuits naturally loosen a bit in the water, regardless of the water type. The weight of the excess water naturally makes the fabric heavier, meaning it will pull down and away from your body.We recommend investing in a properly fitting wetsuit. Swimming with a wetsuit in open water is generally safer, especially in water around 18°C or lower, as it helps you retain warmth and improve your buoyancy. A swimming-specific wetsuit has the best flexibility, buoyancy, and warmth.A suit that’s too small could cause a feeling of tightness, making it difficult to breathe and preventing you from moving your body in a way that’s comfortable for you. On the other hand, a suit that’s too big will let water in, which will negatively affect your buoyancy and body temperature.
How tight should an open water wetsuit be?
Wetsuits may feel tight around your neck if you’re not used to them – different brands and styles have higher/lower necks so find what works for you. Suits should feel like they are gently compressing you all over. Although they should be tight, you should be able to stretch to your full stroke in it. A wetsuit should fit as tightly as you can comfortably get into. What you need to avoid are slack areas where water can pool, or loose seals around the ankles, wrists, and neck. If your wetsuit is too loose, cold water will enter the suit freely or “flush through”.Ultimately wetsuits should feel relatively tight and fit snuggly to your skin – there should be no pockets of air or wrinkles when you put one on. However, they shouldn’t be so tight as to limit your range of motion or dig in uncomfortably. Wetsuits work by trapping a layer of water between your body and the suit.Moderate Water (20-24°C/68-75°F): A 5-7mm wetsuit may be appropriate for water with moderate temperatures.The Proteus II is the highest performing dive wetsuit on the market. Available in 3mm and 5mm, the Proteus II is often the benchmark to which other dive wetsuits are compared in terms of warmth.If you’re primarily in warmer waters, a 3mm suit should be sufficient, if you’re primarily in waters where temperatures hover around the mid-teens, a 4mm suit should be more than enough. But if you plan to tackle cold waters or winter waves, a 5mm wetsuit will keep you toasty and ready for anything.
Is it okay to wear nothing under a wetsuit?
Yes, it is. Many people choose to wear nothing under their wetsuit. Wetsuits are designed to fit snugly against your body, and the fewer layers underneath, the better the insulating effect. For some, this is the most comfortable option, especially during short sessions or in warm conditions. Most likely over 90% of all wetsuit users (so our divers, surfers and other watersport enthusiasts) have peed, or choose to regularly pee, in their wetsuits! On a personal note, I used to pee in my suit, however stopped about ten years ago after it kept giving me a rash that looked like prickly heat.Wetsuits are an essential part of open water swimming for many reasons. They provide thermal insulation, buoyancy, and protection from the elements, such as jellyfish stings or rocky surfaces.While peeing in a wetsuit is a common practice among divers and can be considered a minor inconvenience, it is not without its downsides.Some people do choose to wear nothing or “go commando” underneath their wetsuit – especially surfers. To some, the idea of a barrier between wetsuit and flesh is as distasteful and absurd as that of underwear to a kilt-wearing Highlands soldier. Pleasure and pain, however, are never far apart.
Why don’t open water swimmers wear wetsuits?
One of the main complaints of open-water swimming is the fact that, more often than not, you have to wear a wetsuit. While wetsuits keep you warm and afloat, many restrict your arm movement, making your stroke, pace, and energy deteriorate. The tech suits are actually less revealing than swim briefs or lycra shorties or jammer-style swim pants. This is because they are so tight they compress everything down into a smaller, flatter and less defined bulge, compared with the typical bulge in lycra swimwear.You may not choose to wear these briefs to a beach, but they are the standard attire for wearing under your wetsuit. These MAKO lycra suits totally eliminate uncomfortable bulges, often experienced when wearing other shorts, such as board shorts, under your suit.Swimwear We wouldn’t recommend boardshorts as your wetsuit is meant to be really tight and boardshorts are usually not. They tend to bunch up and could cause chafing and generally lead to discomfort. Women can wear a swimsuit or bikini, it’s just important to pick the right one.
Is a 5mm wetsuit too thick for summer?
A 5mm neoprene thickness is ideal for water temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, offering warmth and a fair amount of flexibility for activities like surfing or diving. In warmer waters above 15°C, it may feel too warm, and a thinner wetsuit (3mm or 2mm) is a better choice. Neoprene socks We recommend a 2mm sock for spring/autumn swims, and a 3. The Orca 2. Neoprene Swim Socks are a good choice here, providing enough warmth to see you through the full season.A 5mm neoprene thickness is ideal for water temperatures between 10°C and 15°C, offering warmth and a fair amount of flexibility for activities like surfing or diving. In warmer waters above 15°C, it may feel too warm, and a thinner wetsuit (3mm or 2mm) is a better choice.You’ll feel cold, weighed down, and sad. If your suit fits properly, that single thin layer of water becomes securely trapped, and because it’s trapped it will heat up. You’ll feel warm, lightweight, and happy when swimming. So a wetsuit should be a tight fit.
What do you wear under wetsuit open water swim?
Swimwear: Opt for a thin, form-fitting swimsuit or triathlon suit under your wetsuit. Avoid bulky clothing that could impede your movement or create discomfort. Anti-Chafing Cream: Apply anti-chafing cream to areas prone to friction, such as the neck, armpits, and inner thighs. Description. A rash guard shirt is usually worn by itself when surfing in weather too warm for a wetsuit to prevent chafing from sliding on and off of the waxed surface of the surf board.