Want to get into open water swimming or triathlon this season? One of the most important pieces of kit you will need to invest in is your very own swim wetsuit. Some coaching brands (including Strive) offer wetsuit rental but if this sport is one you'd like to feel at home in, the investment in your very own suit will be worthwhile.
Your first swim wetsuit will be your most important one. Choosing the right one will help make your first season in the open water more comfortable and even relieve some of that anxiety you might be feeling about being in the cold(er) water. Even better, choosing the right open water wetsuit will give you extra buoyancy, balance and could even increase your swim speed by up to 10%. Your first swim wetsuit might also be your first encounter with the feel and fit of these types of suit, so provided you get it right, it will inform any future purchases you might make.
The good news is, Strive has heaps of experience working with athletes of all abilities, shapes, and sizes, as well as our own experiences as seasoned open water swimmers, triathletes and swim-runners, so we know a thing or two about choosing the right kit.
WHAT IS A SWIM WETSUIT?
Wetsuits used for swimming and racing are very different to wetsuits used for water sports like surfing. The biggest difference being the neoprene; it's thinner, softer and more flexible. This allows for more movement around the neck, hips and shoulders but doesn't compromise too much on warmth.
Swim wetsuits offer more support with body position in the water, helping you to stay streamline. They're ideal for those who might find the front crawl leg kick a challenge or find their legs naturally drop low in the water. The thinner neoprene (between 2 and 3mm in the torso and legs and as low as 1mm around the shoulders and hips) however, gives you move control around your movement in the water. Anyone who's ever tried swimming in a surf wetsuit (offering a thickness of up to 7mm) will be familiar with the feeling of being 'too buoyant' and unable to stay balanced.
WHAT ARE YOU USING IT FOR?
Before you start searching for your first swim wetsuit, be clear on the ways you intend to use it. Will this be a suit for triathlon, swim-run or longer endurance swims? Perhaps it's all of these things, or more simple than that - something to get you through a couple of super-sprint novice events this season.
Knowing how much time you plan to be in the open water and what your aims are will help you identify your budget (you can spend anything from £150 up to £800) and even some of the more technical requirements of a suit, like how easy it is to unzip.
What you plan to do in the open water may also determine whether you need a FULL wetsuit (long arms, long legs) or whether you need some neoprene support around your core or legs only for extra warmth or buoyancy. The market offers two-piece suits, sleeveless wetsuits, triathlon, swimrun and open water wetsuits.
Once you've identified what kind of swim wetsuit you want, you can start your search!
DON’T BE FOOLED BY LINGO
Wetsuit brands, like any sport's brand, can lean heavily on technical jargon to help differentiate their products. We love brands that use clear, simple messaging and don't baffle our minds by science and tech. Our advice will always be to not make any purchases based on perceived levels of sophistication.
However, it is important to read the product descriptions as every wetsuit will have its own unique performance features that will hopefully tick your boxes. More recent innovation in the wetsuit market means you can even choose brands based on their sustainability credentials and select a suit made from biodegradable materials.
Start your search with an idea of what you're willing to spend (decent entry level suits start around £150) and then look out for key terms in the product descriptions that you feel meet the needs of your sport and your needs as a swimmer e.g. extra buoyancy, high flexibility etc.
SIZE MATTERS
Be prepared to get your tape measure out! Wetsuit manufacturers usually use Chest, Height and Weight for sizing charts so make sure you know your numbers before you add anything to your cart.
The ideal wetsuit FIT:
Will feel snug but not restrictive, particularly around the chest. When you enter the water, the wetsuit should allow a thin layer of water to enter the suit and remain there. This water will be warmed by your body temperature and continue to keep you warm throughout your swim. What you don’t want is an ‘exchange’ of water i.e. a continuous flow in and out; this would suggest the suit is too big.
Will feel tight around the neck (we always recommend adding some body glide into your shopping cart to use around the neck and even arm pits!)
Will have shorter legs and arms but this is a design feature to help you get them on and off easily.
Ideally you will 'try before you buy'. Locally, in Guernsey, Strive offers wetsuit rental and the Guernsey Triathlon Club have second-hand wetsuits to borrow. Some of the water sports stores also stock swim wetsuits.
If you are buying online, check the retailers returns policy first.
BRANDS WE LIKE
Wetsuits are highly personal. We’ve provided you with key criteria and things to consider before you look but ultimately, it really comes down to what fits and how comfortable you find it to swim in. There is little point spending £800 on a high performance suit unless it works for you and your body shape.
Here are some of our favourites:
YONDA SPOOK OPEN WATER SWIMMING WETSUIT, available in women's and men's sizes.
ORCA ATHLEX FLEX TRIATHLON WETSUIT, available in women's and men's sizes.
ZONE 3 VISION WETSUIT, available in women's and men's sizes and made from biodegradable materials.
AQUASPHERE PURSUIT, available in women's and men's sizes.
YONDA SPOOK SWIMRUN, available in women's and men's sizes.
OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER
Never underestimate the importance of being able to get in and out of your wetsuit with the greatest of ease. Many performance wetsuits come with a reverse zip I.e. top to bottom to do it up, which is designed for undoing the zip under race conditions. However, an upside-down zip can be enough to put you off a wetsuit for life so it’s worth having a go with a friends'!
Your new wetsuit should come with a bag and gloves. Don’t be too quick to assume gloves are for overly-precious, OCD-types because thin neoprene can rip and snag at the sight of a fingernail, and this can very quickly ruin your brand new wetsuit.
Finally, we always recommend popping some Glide into your shopping basket too; this lubricant not only helps the wetsuit go on a bit easier but it reduces the chances or salt-water irritation where your wetsuit rubs against your skin. Key places to use the lubricant are on the sides of your neck, where the ‘collar’ of the wetsuit will be, and under your arm pit, where the torso area of the wetsuit meets the arm pit. For those taking part in triathlons you can also use lubricant to aid quicker removal of the suit. Lubricant around the wrists and ankles can make the process that much easier!
FINALLY
Take your time finding that suit. Try on your friend’s, check our our hire scheme, and be prepared to send something back!
If this is your first swim wetsuit, watch a video on how to put one on properly and how to care for your wetsuit. Alternatively, come and join a Strive open water session this season for some extra guidance. Whatever you choose, we're certain you're going to love this new hobby.
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