Understanding Triathlon Wetsuits

Swimming is a part of a triathlon, normally taking place in open water. Naturally, the temperatures of such bodies of water tend to be very low. Coupled with that, swimming is strenuous exercise on the body that can drain the energy of a triathlon competitor. Keeping these factors in mind, a special wetsuit has been designed for competitive swimmers, aiming to conserve energy and keep the body during the swimming part of the triathlon. Besides these, wetsuits have more advantages for the participant, such as increased buoyancy, range of motion and speed.

Speed: Since buoyancy around the leg and hips areas decreases, a person can swim much faster in water. The slick material reduces drag because of the water surface. It’s easier to breathe as well. Warmth: Because of the material of a wetsuit, a layer of water is trapped close to skin, warmed by the heat your body naturally produces. The likelihood of hypothermia in water less than 78 degrees decreases. Energy Conservation: Thanks to the buoyancy offered by your suit and the reduction in water friction, less energy is expended, which can be utilized by a competitor for the biking and running parts of the triathlon.

The material of a triathlon wetsuit gives added buoyancy in water, which boosts speed. This is possible since the drag effect of water against the surface of the suit falls. The smoothness of the material makes movement of the arms and legs easier. Breathing is also made easier. The collective effect of these two properties increases speed and conserves energy, since less power is used while swimming.

However, LJs are easier to remove after a swim than full suits, since LJs do not have sleeves. Sleeves can be omitted in the design since sometimes, friction against the shoulders and arms can cause a swimmer to slow down and use up more energy.

Wetsuits are designed to keep the body warm for that temperature and below it, since the wetsuit collects a layer of water close to the body that is kept warm by the natural heat the body generates. This reduces the likelihood of hypothermia in such conditions.

When buying a wetsuit, the most important thing to be kept in mind is that it should ALWAYS fit right. This means that the regions of the legs and arms must be tight and snug, so as to avoid the collection water, which will just add to the weight of a swimmer’s body and waste more energy. The swimmer should not feel suffocated by the wetsuit around the neck, since easy breathing is very important. The shoulders must be able to move easily when wearing the wetsuit. Lastly, the wetsuit should have zippers, so it’s easier to remove it when the swimming part of the triathlon is over, as per the personal preference of the swimmer.

If you would like to know more about Speedo wetsuits please head on over the to the tri suit website where you will find a great selection of triathlon equipment from top brands at great prices. We hope you found this article informative and helpful.