Do you need a wetsuit for an open water swim?
If you’re just starting out with open water swimming or triathlon, you may be wondering when you should don a wetsuit. Much of the time, that’s a personal decision and there can be a wide range of answers to that question. For some people, when the water dips below 80 degrees, it’s time to suit up in a full wetsuit. A wetsuit that is too small will feel uncomfortably tight and may restrict your movement, making activities like swimming or surfing difficult. You may also experience trouble zipping up the suit, especially around the chest or shoulders. If the wetsuit digs into your skin or causes discomfort, it’s likely too small.A wetsuit that fits well will be snug against your skin. There shouldn’t be any loose bits where water can pool. You should have a tight but not choking seal around your neck and you should have full range of movement around your shoulders.The first few times you wear a wetsuit may be uncomfortable because of the new sensation of having tight fabric against your body. Once you get used to swimming in a wetsuit (there’s plenty of helpful guides on our blog), you can use the wetsuit as a tool to help make swimming easier.If you land between two sizes, or you’re at the top of the size range and are unsure which would be best suited to you then we would always advise sizing up, wetsuits are already designed for a tighter fit without restricting your range of movement therefore its best to accommodate for this by sizing up.Wetsuits for both men and women shall completely cover torso, back, shoulders and knees. They shall not extend beyond the neck, wrists and ankles. BL 8. BL 8. BL 8. Open Water competitions.
Can you swim without a wetsuit?
One of the most common questions we get asked at Outdoor Swimmer is, do I need a wetsuit? Outdoor swimming can be fun, spontaneous and done with very little kit. If you find a swim spot remote enough, you might not need any swimwear! But, for longer, more adventurous swims or events, a wetsuit is an excelle. Most swimmers will be comfortable without a wetsuit and able to swim for as long as they like without problems. Pleasant swimming temperatures, the lower end of this category is usually the height of summer water temperatures in the UK. Some more susceptible to the cold may still want to wear a wetsuit.The water in the wetsuit then warms up to the temperature of your skin – about 91F (32. C). Contrary to popular opinion, that layer of water doesn’t warm you. But because it’s the same temperature as your skin, it doesn’t feel cold or conduct heat away from your body.If your wetsuit already has a hood attached to it, you can add extra insulation to your core by wearing a 3mm shorty under or over your full wetsuit. In addition to a hooded vest, I find that some of the assorted thermal products made for layering under your wetsuit can make a big difference in your warmth.The quick answer to the question of what to wear under a wetsuit is – it can be either nothing at all, a thin garment like a rash vest, compression shorts or bikini for comfort or for extra warmth a thermal hooded rash vest.
How much of a difference does a wetsuit make?
Wetsuits help solve this problem in three key ways: Increased Buoyancy – Neoprene lifts your body higher in the water, especially your legs, reducing drag. Improved Streamline – With better body alignment and buoyancy, you hold speed with less effort using less oxygen and energy at the same or faster paces. Cons of Using Wetsuits While wetsuits offer great insulation, they are bulkier and restrict mobility more compared to spring suits. The thicker neoprene material limits flexibility, making paddling and maneuvering slightly more challenging.THE SCIENCE BEHIND WETSUIT THICKNESS Your body heats that water, and the neoprene helps retain the warmth. The thicker the neoprene, the warmer you will be, so thicker wetsuits are better suited for colder water. Wetsuit thickness usually ranges from 2mm for hot summer days to 7mm for very cold conditions.Yes, wetsuits are naturally buoyant. The buoyancy comes from the neoprene material they are made of, which contains small gas bubbles that displace water, helping you float more easily. The thickness of the wetsuit also plays a role—the thicker the neoprene, the more buoyant the wetsuit will be.A triathlon swim skin can be a game-changer for athletes competing in races that don’t allow wetsuits. If the water temperature is too warm for a wetsuit, a swimskin provides hydrodynamic advantages without the added buoyancy of a triathlon wetsuit.Additionally, wetsuits are made from neoprene, a highly buoyant material. The combination of the insulating water layer and the positive material contributes to increased buoyancy, lifting the swimmer’s body and altering their position in the water.
How much does a wetsuit help in open water swimming?
A wetsuit can help you to float better and swim faster A lot of triathletes find that once they put a wetsuit on, their body position is a lot better in the water because the wetsuit helps to keep their legs lifted. This can help you to swim faster. When used properly, triathlon wetsuits absolutely make you a faster swimmer. There is a big caveat to that though, you must make sure that your wetsuit fits properly and has the right buoyancy combination (thickness) for the distance and water conditions that you’re swimming in.When assessing regional-level swimmers and national-level triathletes, swimming speed in a full-sleeve wetsuit improved by 7. But when using a sleeveless wetsuit, swimming speed increased by 11.Wetsuits need to be snug to do their job, but you have to be able to move freely and breathe while wearing it. Think of them as needing to be more form-fitting than tight. Try on your wetsuit before your first swim or surf session, just to make sure you are fairly comfortable.A wetsuit will make you more buoyant in the water which in turn can make you feel more confident in the water. Wearing a wetsuit is like having your own life jacket on, it’ll help keep you afloat which means if you get tired on a swim you can float and rest easily.The majority of wetsuits on the market are only designed for surface swimming and don’t allow for the lateral leg movement required for the breaststroke technique. This is where the Aspect is different.
Is it harder to swim in a wetsuit?
So, if you’re not a particularly floaty person wearing a wetsuit might make you feel less “sinky” in the water and can make swimming feel a little easier (and sometimes faster). If you’re a naturally buoyant person wearing too thick a wetsuit might make you too floaty. That, in turn, can make it harder to swim. A loose wetsuit will allow too much water in and defeat the purpose of keeping you warm. A wetsuit should fit snug but not too snug that your movement is restricted. It should feel lightly snug and free, similar to how a rashguard feels.When you enter the water a very thin layer of water will squeeze between the wetsuit and your skin. If the wetsuit is baggy then a whole lot of water will flood in to fill the gaps between the wetsuit and your body.Wetsuits are not meant to keep you dry. Despite being composed of waterproof neoprene foam, they allow a tiny layer of water to enter via the zippers, wrists, neck, legs, and ankles. The water quickly condenses into a thin layer of liquid and gets trapped between your skin and the neoprene.So how tight should it feel? Your wetsuit should feel close-fitting but not uncomfortable or overly-restrictive and you should be able to move in it. Wetsuits do feel slightly looser once you get in the water and water is allowed into them, too.
Do I really need a wetsuit?
A wetsuit may not be necessary if the water temperature at your surfing location is around 65°F (18°C) or above. But many surfers prefer to wear a wetsuit or black suit—even in warm water—as the body can still feel chilly after a while, especially during technical or deep scuba diving. 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.Nothing At All Swimsuits or shorts create an extra layer that could potentially cause discomfort. However there are other factors to consider including your own sense of modesty – do what feels comfortable for you. Children also often prefer to wear swim wear under their wetsuits.Can you swim in a 5mm wetsuit? Yes, you can swim in a 5mm neoprene thickness, but it depends on the activity and conditions: Pros: A 5mm wetsuit provides excellent insulation, making it ideal for cold water swimming.C) – 3mm thick wetsuits are perfect for average water temperatures in the UK between July and October. Gloves, boots and hood are not required in these temperatures. The O’Neill Hyperfreak Chest Zip 3/2mm wetsuit is one of our bestselling 3mm wetsuits; made from super lightweight TechnoButter 3 neoprene.
What should I wear if I don’t have a wetsuit?
Without a full wetsuit, you’re going to need to layer up to protect yourself from the cold. And it’s worth repeating again – no cotton. Instead, aim for a base layer made with polypropylene (or anything similar such as Under Armour cold gear). Wetsuits are made of neoprene. If you end up in the water, you will get wet inside the wetsuit, but it offers a layer of insulation that warms the water next to your skin with your body heat.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.So in theory not wearing anything that can interfere with that layer will make your wetsuit work more efficiently. Also wearing anything under an already tight-fitting wetsuit will reduce flexibility, so if you want the maximum range of movement in your wetsuit, it’s probably best to wear nothing under it.Unlike traditional swimwear, which might leave large areas of skin exposed, wetsuits cover the arms, legs, and torso, minimizing the risk of sunburn and skin damage.