Wetsuits for open water swimming.

What sort of money would I expect to pay for a wetsuit suitable for swimming in open water in summer? It's only likely to be used a couple of times a year, so I don't want to pay a fortune, however I figure that over a few years it would be cheapier, and handier, than hiring. Any other advice welcome too. Cheers.

£100+

Or hire at about £50 for the season, and usually you can pay an extra fee (or just don't return and don't get your £50 deposit back) if you want to keep it.

Orca S2 from Wiggle @ £99 would probably be a sound choice (if they have your size left)

I have no idea when it comes to Wetsuits but they seem to be this years thing, Co-op and Sainsburys doing version of them. Got one each for the kids and they're not bad.

I have the same dilemma.

This year is my first forray into open water.

I have decided to rent from tricentral for the w/e for £20.

If it is a goer I will buy one for next year.

If its summer, don't use a wetsuit.
(I do swim in open water in summer, I don't use a wetsuit. Not do all the 70-year olds)

Here: in Bristol's suburbs[/url]

Madbill, my first venture was last year at the Durty triathlon. A cold Scottish loch at 9.00 in the morning wasn't the most enticing of prospects, but it was fine once I got going. I got seriously left behind by almost all the "proper" swimmers though, and it wasn't till we got to the mountain bike bit that I began to catch a few up. All in all a good laugh, which is why I'm now thinking of buying one.

I'll check out that Orca recommendation. Ta.

Are you doing the Durty again this year then?

I'm considering the sprint one at the moment.

I got my IM wetsuit 2nd hand from the classifieds on this 'ere website. Try a wanted…you might get lucky. IIRC mine was £90 for a wetsuit retailling at £250

Snugg do custom jobs. Memory seems to suggest they do a specific Tri design.

Why not old-school it up with a nice beaver-tail?

What's a beaver tail?

ebygomm…yes, put my entry in the other day for the sprint. It was a good laugh last year.

Moses…wetsuits are compulsory for this race. Plus, not sure where you live, but if you swim in just trunks in Scottish lochs you're more of a man than I'll ever be!!

Just curious. do you notice any bouancy from wearing a wet suit?

It was just Speedos and a trade tub of Vasseline in my day, and some hot blackcurrant when you got to shore.
(shakes fist at the young'uns and their gizmo's)

You might want to get a triathalon suit – as swimming is (presumably) part of their design criteria (so will be designed to allow good an easy arm movement). (I would suspect that most 'wetsuits' aren't designed for proper swimming – winsurfing, diving, surfing etc))

Also check fitting type – personally I don't like velcro or stretch and use zip – however if the zip rubs you might be unhappy. Esp how it interacts with shoulder and arm movements, as you'll be doing a lot of them. Seam type is also worth understanding (but probably not too relevant to summer usage) – but for winter you want a waterproof seam to minimise flushing.

Would a shortie do (short arms, short legs) – I use that to windsurf/surf in summer. You also get convertibles (addable arm/leg lowers etc)

You probably want a 1 or 2 mm (5/6 is winter) A 3/2 means that the body part material thickness is 3mm and the arm/leg part is 2. The thicker is warmer (* also depends on quality and exact type )and harder to move as it exerts more 'force' when you try to move it. ie you don't notice a rash vest you DO notice a full winter suit with a chunky shoulder back zip.

Try searching for rash vest – – it's about a .5/1 mm T shirt style top (£25 ish)- would that help. I use it as a base layer in winter but you seem people surfing them in summer)

@ oldgit…yep, you really notice buoyancy, esp on the legs where the material is as thick as you can get away with. I think I heard something about being 5-7% quicker due to a flatter/higher position in the water.

I would really avoid a normal surfing suit as it could make you slower. Their fit isn't so close, so they can act like a parachute. They're not as flexy in the shoulders either so screws your stroke up.

kennyp – Member
…if you swim in just trunks in Scottish lochs you're more of a man than I'll ever be!!

Maybe, but after "shrinkage" he won't look it 🙂

gusamac…..thanks for the advice. Plenty to think about there.

I think I heard something about being 5-7% quicker due to a flatter/higher position in the water.

A lot depends on how good your stroke is, if your freestyle isn't great you'll gain more by wearing a wetsuit than someone who swims really well.

So where can I hire a wetsuit from?? HOw does that work?

Hire – all surf places, windsurf, probably some sailing, diving etc etc. Hunt on internet. Daily etc etc hire.

For surfing it's about £10ish a day (*I get a cheapie from a bloke I know – he does board, suit, hat, gloves, £25 for 2 days, delivered – which is good)

Tip – if it ain't a *ugger to put on (ie tight EVERYWHERE, hard to pull up, need to be wriggled into etc) it ain't going to be warm [ and will create a lot more drag] (the more space there is between your body and suit the more [cold] water you need to warm with bodyheat), and must be a good fit at holes (neck, ankles, wrists etc) – as the more water can flush (water inside the suit you have warmed gets displaced by new incoming cold water – which needs heating) the less warm it will be (*also depends on seams – blind stitched [sewn without making a hole right through and glued and the taped is possibly best], on a cheap suit the different panels are just sewn together – ie a blind stiched etc suit is truly waterproof (except at 'holes') whereas in a cheap suit water will get in at all the panel joins etc etc.

Tri UK hire wetsuits for 25 quid (+50 refundable deposit)

Edit: just noticed they charge 15 quid postage too, in which case doesn't make them that different to wiggle where you buy the suit for 100 (or less if you're a gold member) and get 50 quid when you return it.

Thought I'd better add this.
*FYI – re hire.
*This is truthful fact ;+)
It is common for people to urinate in wetsuits
– being cold makes your body want to displace water inside it
– urinating increases the temprature of the water inside your suit
it's a win win situation ;+)

pps
If you hire a suit and boots you do NOT tuck the suit into the boots – see point above.

If I'm doing a triathlon in open water do I need to hire boots!? I didn't realise you could "hire" them from wiggle, am I getting confused here? Or is it a dodgy use it and return!!??
Since I saw this:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/Womens/11/Orca_S2_Womens_Wetsuit/5360041585/

You can hire the same suit from wiggle

http://www.wiggleorca.com/hire.html

You pay for it in full, but you can use it and then return it at the end of the season and get 50 pounds back

You don't want boots for a triathlon

gusamc, not being cheeky but do you OW swim or surf or windsurf, as some of your advice is a little contradictory to usual triathlon (at least) thinking. Do check, but I _think_ boots would be illegal to race in and it's generally accepted that tri wetsuits are worn far tighter than regular suits. A reuglar windsurf or surf shop would be unlikely to hire swimming wetsuits which are quite a bit different from surfing wetsuits.

Hi Adam , I surf/windsurf – in my first post I thought that was the point I made – I've never done triathalon – but felt that most wetsuits I have used would stop proper arm movement and having seen triathalon – the suits look a lot tighter/thinner. The original post asked for any other advice and MC didn't actually say triathalon hire, apologies if I've mislead anybody who was after triathalon specific advice.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1537

If you are still looking for a wetsuit I have a proper Tri one for sale. Drop me a mail or post here if you want some more info.

Rio