You are about to tackle your first open water swimming event or triathlon and you need a wetsuit. Why do you need a wetsuit? There are many advantages to wearing a wetsuit and the main three are:
- Floatation – Additional buoyancy keeps you on top of the water and in an optimal swimming position making for a much easier swim.
- Warmth – Neoprene helps trap some of your body heat so you expend less energy keeping your core body temperature.
- Speed- Less energy expended swimming and staying warm leaves more energy available.
When it comes to selecting a wetsuit we recommend you visit a specialist retailer and avail of their expertise in store. They will guide you through the selection of an appropriate wetsuit model and allow you to try on suits to get the best fit. Wetsuits are impossible to buy online. A good fitting suit should feel like a second skin and there should be no space or pockets for water to accumulate, thus making the suit feel heavy and impede your stroke.
Putting On a Wetsuit
A good wetsuit fit is all about the way you put it on. You can drag it on and it won’t feel great or you can take your time and work it in to all the nooks and crannies. There are plenty of videos on YouTube to offer tips and tricks on getting it on such as:
- Wear a swimsuit or tri suit when putting on your wetsuit. Wetsuits tend to stick to sweaty skin. Leave your socks on while fitting or use plastic bags over your feet. Also remove any watches/jewellery and make sure you have cut your fingernails or wear gloves.
- Your skin should be dry, and we suggest you use a mat while fitting on the suit or making a transition as this prevents sand and grit coming between you and the suit
- Remember the zip goes to the back (unless you are wearing a swim run suit). Use your thumbs and fore fingers to pull. Avoid using your nails as this can lead to a nick in the suit.
- Select one of the legs and pull on the suit. Pull the suit as far above your knee. The end of the suit should be around 4” above the ankle.
- Using both hands bring the suit up to your midriff taking care to fit the suit well into the crotch and stretch your legs to make sure the fit is good.
- Start to bring the suit further up to your chest and put one arm into the suit. It should end at your wrist. The wetsuit material should touch your arm pit.
- Finish up by asking a friend to push your shoulder blades in and zip you up. Getting someone else to zip you up will also help putting any undue force on the zip.
Before starting any swim or event, we advise you do the following:
- Allow plenty of time to get into your wetsuit.
- Get into the water and let the water down the front and back of the suit. When you get out of the water push the water down using both hands. The water will squeeze out by your ankles.
- You will now find the suit now sucks to you and really feels like a second skin allowing it to be more flexible. You can also make minor adjustments to make the suit fit better.
Exiting the Water
If you are taking part in a triathlon time is of the essence! As you exit the water unzip your suit and peel it down to your waist. When you reach bike transition take the suit off your legs, pull down half of the first leg and then the other leg then half again on the first leg and so on. Leave it inside out.
Caring For your wetsuit
Ensure you rinse out your wetsuit with fresh water after EVERY use. Hang it up to drip dry over the bath or shower area. When it is dry (it will take up to 24 hours) fold it up or roll it up and put it back into your mesh bag for your next swim/event.
- Don’t leave it hanging on a hanger as it compromises the neoprene in the shoulder.
- Don’t hang it in direct sunlight
- Don’t leave it in a plastic bag (stinky!).
- Use body glide or wetsuit juice if required in the areas prone to chaffing. Do not use Vaseline near your wetsuit.
- The wetsuit is strong but any undue force on the seams will split it.
- You might accidentally put a nick in your wetsuit with fingernails. These nicks can be used using wetsuit glue (again – lots of tips on YouTube about fixing wetsuits). The Drysuit Tailor in Dundrum are the experts in wetsuit repair. Drysuit Tailor contact details can be found HERE
Our range of wetsuits, can be found HERE
