What kind of wetsuit do I need for a triathlon?
triathlon wetsuits come in two basic styles: full-sleeve and sleeveless. While a full-sleeve wetsuit offers a little more warmth, more buoyancy and less drag than a sleeveless one, some people find a sleeveless suit more comfortable. For best results, a triathlon wetsuit should fit like a second skin. 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 .Not only this, it’s important to make sure you are buying a swimming-specific wetsuit and not a surf or diving wetsuit. Sadly, surfing wetsuits are often sold to triathletes and swimmers but this type of suit can slow you down and restrict the movement of your arms – not what you want for a race!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.There are four key attributes to consider when selecting the right wetsuit: Warmth, Flexibility, Durability, and Fit.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.
Should I get a 3mm or 5mm wetsuit for triathlon?
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. The 5/4/3 is a fullsuit/steamer wetsuit with 5mm neoprene around the torso, 4mm neoprene around the legs and 3mm neoprene around the arms. This is a popular choice for winter surfing in cool climates and is usually paired with a 5mm hood, glove and booties for optimum insulation and reasonable levels of flexibility.Ranging from $350 to $1,200, we hands-on review and rate eight of the best triathlon wetsuits from 2025 and beyond.At Decathlon, we stock a huge selection of open water swimming wetsuits for kids, men, and women in a range of designs.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.
At what temperature should you wear a wetsuit for a triathlon?
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. An entry level suit will often provide greater warmth and buoyancy but reduced flexibility. Maximum wetsuit thickness for competitive triathlons is 5mm to help reduce the risk of overheating.The thickness of a wetsuit is measured in millimetres (mm); generally speaking, the thicker the neoprene, the warmer the wetsuit will be. For example, a winter wetsuit typically has 5mm neoprene in the arms and legs, while a summer wetsuit only has 2 or 3mm.A bit thicker than the 3/2, the 4/3 wetsuit is a warmer option and a must have for all surfers in the North East. The 4/3 wetsuit features 4mm neoprene in the core and back with 3mm through the extremities. Surfers in NE typically wear these suits in the Spring and through the Fall and early Winter.For many women, the simplest and most common choice is to wear nothing under their wetsuit. This option ensures: Maximum flexibility: No extra fabric to bunch up or restrict movement. Streamlined fit: Allows the wetsuit to conform closely to the body as it was designed for better insulation.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.
What thickness for triathlon wetsuit?
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. Neoprene, the material used in making wetsuits, contains many tiny air bubbles and provides the insulation against the colder water outside the suit. The thicker the neoprene, the warmer you will be.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.Recommended Budget for a Wetsuit The prices of decent fullsuits start at $100 for warm water surfing and over $300 for cold water surfing. But if you have extra money, spend it on suits that range from $200 to $350.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.
Is there a difference between a wetsuit and a triathlon wetsuit?
A tri suit has no flotation so it is fine in any event. A wet suit offers flotation so it corrects for some swimming flaws and makes most people faster. Some people would use the floatation to their advantage so that is where the temp rule comes in. A wet suit keeps you warm, but a tri suit doesn’t. Standard Conditions: deboer wetsuits are permitted in water temperatures up to and including 24. C (76. F). Cold Water Mandate: Our wetsuits become mandatory when temperatures drop below 16°C (60. F).USAT Wetsuit Rules Those guidelines state: USAT rules state that competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower. USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.Wetsuits are permitted if the water temperature is up to (and including) 76. Fahrenheit (24. Celsius) or colder. Wetsuits cannot measure more than 5 mm thick. Wetsuits will be prohibited in water temperatures greater than 76. Fahrenheit (24. Celsius).Zone3 Advance wetsuit can be used in water temperatures ranging from a minimum of 12 C°. International Triathlon Union (ITU) recommends that the maximum water temperature which the wetsuit can be used for racing is 22 C° so use of the wetsuit above this temperature is at the user’s risk.
How long will a triathlon wetsuit 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. Ensure You’re 100% Dry: We don’t recommend putting on your wetsuit while you’re wet. It will take forever! Give yourself time to air dry or liberally towel off before suiting up. Use a Bag and a Chair: A plastic grocery bag can be a huge help for getting the suit over your feet and hands.It should fit like a second skin, tightly wrapped around your body. After all, a wetsuit only works when the fit is right. On the other hand, you don’t want it to be too restrictive or tight, and want to avoid excess material in areas like your armpits, lower back and behind your knees.After every session, you have to wash your wetsuit in order to get it fresh and ready for the next one. Apart from eliminating sand, salt, and odors, regular care will make your wetsuit last much longer. The good news is that washing your wetsuit isn’t that hard.Type of Sport: Swimming, surfing, and triathlons are better suited to wetsuits, while diving or kayaking in icy waters call for a drysuit.
What do triathletes wear under their wetsuit?
For cold water races, a thin, moisture-wicking base layer or triathlon suit underneath your wetsuit can provide extra insulation and help maintain body heat without hampering mobility. In warmer temperatures, many triathletes stick to just a triathlon suit, which is designed for comfort and efficiency under a 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.Neoprene: This is the main material that triathlon wetsuits are made of. It is stretchy, lightweight and keeps the body warm. High-end neoprene: This material is particularly stretchy and lightweight and offers excellent freedom of movement and flexibility.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.