What is the best thickness of wetsuit for a triathlon?
As long as it fits and you swam in it before. Colder temperatures or middle-long distances Moderate climes of 10 – 19°C necessitate a wetsuit of at least 3mm/2mm thickness. If you want a suit that can cope with both moderate and colder water, or suffer from the cold more easily, then look for a suit with a 4mm or 5mm neoprene thickness.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.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.Wetsuits are designed to help keep a swimmer warm. For age groupers, USA Triathlon requires wetsuits when the water temperature in an event is below 60. Fahrenheit. At most races, age-group athletes are permitted to wear wetsuits, up to 5 millimeters thick, in water up to 83 degrees.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.
How to pick a triathlon wetsuit?
The best wetsuits for triathlon enhance your experience in the open water by helping you float at the surface and keeping you warm in cold temperatures; it should allow full stroke mobility through the shoulders and avoid excessive tightness in the chest for ease of breathing; it should feel like a secure second skin . Customers find the wetsuit fits well and provides good value for money, keeping them warm in cold water and working well in the water. The quality receives mixed feedback, with some praising its construction while others report poor stitching.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.You are correct in that the elasticity of a wetsuit will change. A suit that is used daily will stretch out over time, whereas in contrast, a suit that is never used will begin to harden and seem to have “shrunk” when put on.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.
How tight should a triathlon wetsuit fit?
This is a classic mistake that new triathletes make when they’re trying on a wetsuit for the first time. Yes, your suit should be snug – not quite to the point of choking you, but pretty close. 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.Here’s how to achieve the ideal wetsuit fit: Snug but Not Restrictive: The wetsuit should fit snugly around your body without restricting your breathing or movement. If you feel constricted or unable to bend comfortably, the wetsuit might be too small.Cool Water (12-16°C): For moderately cold water, a wetsuit with a thickness of around 3-4mm is suitable. This balance offers sufficient warmth while still allowing for good flexibility. Warm Water (16-20°C): In warmer conditions, a thinner wetsuit (2-3mm) is ideal.Thickness and Material Neoprene thickness ranges from about 1mm-5mm (5mm is the maximum thickness allowed in competitions). There is “stretchability” throughout tri wetsuits, but the thinner, most-flexible material is around your shoulders and arms for fast, easy movement.One of the most critical differences between triathlon race wetsuits and open water wetsuits lies in the flexibility of the shoulders. Triathletes need a wetsuit that allows them to move their arms freely and efficiently without restricting their stroke.
How many mm should a triathlon wetsuit be?
For this, look for a suit and cold water swim gear with thermal lining and a neoprene thickness of at least 4-5mm. Just bear in mind that anything above 5mm is not permissible for triathlon racing. HUUB has been awarded the ‘Best triathlon wetsuit brand of the year’ by 220 Triathlon magazine from 2013 to 2018 so you know you’re getting the best. Innovations such as bicep and calf release and the break-away zipper help you to perform at your best and transition as fast as possible.At Decathlon, we stock a huge selection of open water swimming wetsuits for kids, men, and women in a range of designs.The best wetsuits for triathlon enhance your experience in the open water by helping you float at the surface and keeping you warm in cold temperatures; it should allow full stroke mobility through the shoulders and avoid excessive tightness in the chest for ease of breathing; it should feel like a secure second skin .
Is there a difference between a wetsuit and a triathlon wetsuit?
These garments called triathlon suits or ‘swim skins’ are thinner than wetsuits and are made of water-repellent fabrics. Triathlon suits are less popular than wetsuits as they guarantee glide but do not offer thermal protection and are used by the most demanding athletes for ‘fast’ races. Triathletes need a wetsuit that allows them to move their arms freely and efficiently without restricting their stroke. Triathlon race suits are designed with thinner neoprene around the shoulders (usually 1-1.The 2XU Light Speed Sleeved Trisuit is a very comfortable one-piece tri suit with plenty of technology to give triathletes an edge when training and racing.The Varman Tri wetsuit comes with the Rational Freedom upper body design and uses incredible stretch neoprene allowing great freedom of movement. The wetsuit fits like a second skin it contours to your body with HUUB’s body alignment constrictor system. Transition faster with the breakaway zipper.You can opt to wear your usual swimsuit, jammers or Speedos. Or you can wear a tri suit. Come race day, the most efficient option is to wear a tri suit under your wetsuit. This means you won’t have to waste any time changing kit between the swim and the bike.Triathlon is a sensory overload: blinding sun glare off the water, road haze during the bike, sweat in your eyes on the run, and frantic transitions. Your sunglasses aren’t just an accessory; they’re critical safety gear and performance enhancers.
Should you size up or down in triathlon wetsuits?
Suits that are too small will feel awful and wear you down. Ladies should always opt for their dress size, however once again if you are between sizes always go for the size up! Swim suits are notoriously tight fitting, so be prepared for that and calculate that into your choice if you are stuck between sizes. 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.The most common faux pas among men is wearing boardshorts under a swim wetsuit. This is a classic rookie error. Boardshorts will tend to bunch up under a wetsuit, giving the wearer a wedgie, generally feeling horrible, and if anything increasing the chances of a rash.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.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.
How long do triathlon wetsuits last?
With good care before, during and after your swim, a triathlon wetsuit should last for a good few years without any notable drop in performance. However, they can also be delicate and wear easily if adequate care isn’t taken. HUUB has been awarded the ‘Best triathlon wetsuit brand of the year’ by 220 Triathlon magazine from 2013 to 2018 so you know you’re getting the best. Innovations such as bicep and calf release and the break-away zipper help you to perform at your best and transition as fast as possible.