swim:training
chooSing the
right WetSuit
By Marty Gaal
S
wimming specific wetsuits purchasing a full (sleeved) wetsuit that has a If you are on a fixed budget, you can find
have undergone intense thickness of 5 millimeters or more in the torso excellent entry-level wetsuits from most
improvements since their and legs. Most high-tech wetsuits are thicker manufacturers under $200. If you keep a sharp
introduction to the triathlon in the chest and legs, and thinner in the back eye out online and at your local triathlon
world by Quintana Roo in the and arms. A thicker wetsuit will put more retailer, you may find a clearance sale or end-
late 1980s. The first versions material between you and the cold water. of-year rental sale that could net you a solid
were inflexible, bulky, and heavy. If you will be swimming in warmer entry- or mid-level wetsuit for much less than
Today’s wetsuits are vastly superior in terms of conditions (over 74 degrees), a wetsuit with that.
technology, cost and performance. thinner paneling or a sleeveless wetsuit may If you’re somewhere in-between, then
The top-of-the-line versions by most be a better choice to help avoid overheating. you’ll need to consider other factors of your
triathlon wetsuit manufacturers are made with While this choice will give up some of the swim into your decision.
low-density neoprene produced by Yamamoto speed a full wetsuit usually provides (for most
Corporation of Japan and composed of swimmers), you don’t want to overheat or What Sort oF SWim Stroke do i have?
separate panels glued together, with multiple become dehydrated in the first leg of your This question refers to your stroke rate
layers, which increases both flexibility and race. and extension phase more than anything else.
comfort. Some of these are coated with a Some swimmers have long arms and/or a
material designed to reduce the drag surface What diStance race(S) am i purchaSing significant extension and glide during the swim
of the wetsuit and less drag allows you to the WetSuit For? stroke. Other swimmers have shorter arms or
swim faster. Lower end versions are made of As the swim distance gets longer, the use a faster stroke turnover rate, which usually
neoprene that is not quite as hydrodynamic or technology differences between high-end suits implies lack of a full or hyper-extension at the
flexible, but these are still fantastic suits for the and entry-level suits for swimmers of the same front end of the stroke. This is not necessarily
lower price that should make you much faster ability become more apparent. The high-end bad; some swimmers’ bodies are simply better
than swimming without. suits are made with different material and suited to this type of stroke.
Triathlon wetsuits can be broken into four constructed in such a manner that they simply Here’s the rub: if you have a fast turnover
main sub-categories: perform better and are more comfortable than and/or shorter stroke, then you want as little
Full Sleeved – high tech the entry-level versions. So, if you’re racing in material on your arms as possible, because
SleeveleSS – high tech an Ironman, not only is a high-end suit faster, it you will be moving them through the air more
Full Sleeved – entry level is more comfortable, and you probably want to often. Wetsuits do take on water (hence the
SleeveleSS – entry level be as comfortable as possible when swimming ‘wet’ in ‘wetsuits’), and the combination of a
Most suits are manufactured in a one-piece for just around an hour. bit of water in your arms and material there
design. Some companies manufacture two- If you’re planning to race mostly in sprint might have the deleterious effect of making
piece suits that also come in high-tech and triathlons with a swim distance between 400 your shoulders fatigued more quickly. So,
entry-level variations – with or without sleeves. meters to 1 kilometer, the time and comfort consider a sleeveless suit or one with very little
Now, before you run out and buy a wetsuit, differential between the top models and lower material in the arms.
there are a few questions you should ask models is not as significant because the swim is If you are more of an extend and glide
yourself: shorter. In this case, while a high-end suit will swimmer, then the material on your arms is
• What water temperatures do I still be fastest, the significance is reduced quite not quite as much of a concern, because you’re
expect to swim in most of the time? a bit (unless you’re battling for a top spot). The not actively swinging them through the air as
• What distance race(s) am I entry-level suits are very well designed – just often as a swimmer with a fast stroke rate.
purchasing the wetsuit for? not quite as well. In general, the neoprene in the arms is
• What is my wetsuit budget? If you’re racing in Olympic distance or half- made to be light and slim, and some wetsuits
• What sort of swim stroke do I have? Ironman events, you’ll want to consider some have specially designed paneling made to
• What is my body type? of the other questions in this article. increase the ‘grip’ of the forearm. In general,
• Am I claustrophobic? the extra material does make you more
• Salt water or fresh water? What iS my WetSuit budget? buoyant than swimming without. But the
• How competitive do I plan to be? If you have a significant amount of only way to be sure which one is best for your
disposable income, I would advise you to limit stroke is to try them in the water.
What Water temperatureS do i expect to
your search to the top-of-the-line wetsuits
SWim in?
made by companies like XTERRA and USA What iS my body type?
If you will swim primarily in cold water
Triathlon Wetsuits, Quintana Roo, De Soto, If you are slim or have low body fat, then
(under 65 degrees), you should lean toward
Blue 70, and Zoot. any cold-water swim and even some warmer
40 USA TriAThlon fall 09winter 10
USATTriWinter10pgs3-51.indd 40 12/9/09 12:34:55 PM
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