What is a swim wetsuit?
While thicker neoprene provides more warmth, swim wetsuits use varying thicknesses across different panels to optimise buoyancy and movement. Thinner neoprene is used in the arms and shoulders for better flexibility, while slightly thicker neoprene at the hips helps your body sit higher in the water. If you surf much during winter or early mornings you can get the warmer 4/3mm thickness for just a bit more than the 3/2. Wetsuits are typically made with thicker (3 or 4mm) panels at the legs and trunk, and thinner panels around the arms where more flexibility is needed.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.Buy a swimming specific wetsuit with the more continuous motion of swimming, all over thickness of the wetsuit for warmth is not required. Instead, a thinner suit with carefully positioned panels allow more flexibility in areas such as the arms and legs and thicker panels for warmth on the and buoyancy.Men can wear swim shorts, briefs or jammers under a wetsuit. 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.Ultimately, what you wear under your wetsuit is your choice. Whether you choose swim shorts, a swimsuit, a bikini, a rash vest, or nothing at all, the goal is optimum comfort, ease of movement and total confidence when in the water. If you’re unsure, try out some options before settling on what suits you best.
Why don’t open water swimmers wear wetsuits?
The first thing to consider is the weather and water temperature. If the air temperature is warm, then you probably don’t need a wetsuit—unless the water temperature is much colder than the air temperature. In this case, a wetsuit will help keep your body temperature regulated and prevent hypothermia from setting in. Generally, a wetsuit should fit snugly, like a second skin, but not so tight that your range of motion is limited.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.Absolutely. Just always be sure to rinse the wetsuit thoroughly after you are finished and allow it to air dry (not in direct sunlight).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.
Can a wetsuit be used for swimming?
Short answer is, YES! So read-on for the longer answer. We’re confident that we’ve created the best quality wetsuits for open water swimming on the market, designed to keep you comfortable, buoyant, and swimming faster every time you hit the open water. Wetsuit sizing is based on a combination of height, chest circumference, and waist width. For women, hip measurement is also an important factor. To help you find the perfect fit, we developed an intuitive online Size Finder that makes choosing the right wetsuit size easier than ever.Ultimately, what you wear under your wetsuit is your choice. Whether you choose swim shorts, a swimsuit, a bikini, a rash vest, or nothing at all, the goal is optimum comfort, ease of movement and total confidence when in the water. If you’re unsure, try out some options before settling on what suits you best.The primary function of a wetsuit is thermal insulation to keep the wearer warm in conditions where they would otherwise lose body heat rapidly due to heat transfer by relatively large quantities of water.Wetsuits are designed to be worn in the saltwater only and not in chlorinated pools. Chlorine will shorten the life of a wetsuit. Never use a washing machine, dryer, iron, bleach or professional dry cleaner.
What are the disadvantages of a wetsuit?
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. 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.When the water temperature measures between 50 and 65 degrees, wetsuits are strongly encouraged, and some races may require their use. Between 65 and 78 degrees, it’s typically the athlete’s choice of whether to wear a wetsuit.When you first get into the water in a wetsuit, you’re still going to feel the cold water. A wetsuit works by letting water in between the neoprene and your skin, which your body then warms up. However, this can still cause cold water shock, especially for first-time wetsuit swimmers.Wearing a wetsuit in a swimming pool is technically possible, but it may not always be practical or necessary for most recreational swimmers. The decision to wear a wetsuit in a pool depends on various factors, including personal preference, activity goals, water temperature, and pool regulations.In most cases, the answer is no, you don’t need to wear a bra under a swimsuit. That’s because most modern swimsuits are designed with built-in support—including features like underwired cups, removable padding, shelf bras, or power mesh linings—to provide shape, lift, and security.
Is it okay to wear nothing under a wetsuit?
Yes, it is generally okay to not wear anything under a wetsuit. Many people choose to wear the wetsuit directly against their skin for several reasons: Comfort: Some find that wearing a wetsuit without additional layers allows for better movement and comfort. Sports bras and appropriate underwear provide extra support and comfort under a wetsuit. A sports bra enhances warmth and helps prevent chafing and these undergarments ensure a snug fit, allowing for freedom of movement and added comfort during water activities.Yes, you can wear a bra under a swimsuit if you need extra lift, support, or shaping—especially for heavier busts. However, regular bras aren’t designed for water; they can feel heavy, cause chafing, and may lose durability when wet.While you’ll rarely see a surfer wearing a rash guard under their wetsuit, rash guards are still very commonly used and worn for sun protection. Another key reason for going commando under your wetsuit is due to the technological advances in neoprene wetsuit linings.Sport bras and sports underwear are excellent choices for what to wear beneath a wetsuit. They are often more secure and provide excellent chest support than standard underwear or bikinis.
What do you do if you have to pee in a wetsuit?
Needless to say, we are talking about peeing in wetsuits in the water. If you have to do it, do it at the beginning of the dive. The water will have time to rinse off the urine. Just before getting out of the water, open your wetsuit and let the water run inside. While peeing in a wetsuit might provide a momentary illusion of warmth, it does not contribute to long-term thermal comfort and can even be counterproductive in cold environments.When a diver urinates in their wetsuit, the initial warm sensation comes from the body-warmed urine. However, this effect is fleeting. Urine, like any liquid, cools quickly once it comes into contact with water at a lower temperature.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.Human urine is said to be 95% water, 2. Nothing in your urine will eat away at the seams of your wetsuit or create holes, so don’t worry about damaging your suit with a little bit of pee here and there.