sleeveless surf wetsuit
4404
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1624 days
beads1985 posted 7 weeks ago.
I have used a sleeveless surf suit. ONCE.
It is not made for efficient swimming.
I checked the tri sites and found one on clearance and I got my other one on ebay.
''Nothing to it, but to do it''
http://beads1985.trifuel.net/
117
Member
227 days
ryanweeg posted 7 weeks ago.
I have a long-john (sleeveless) wetsuit by Victory Wetsuits in Huntington Beach. Wouldn't use it for triathlon unless I absolutely had to, which I wouldn't because I have a pretty nice Rocket Science Sports suit. The problem you may encounter from my experience would be
1. Suit won't come off too easily
2. Shoulder straps would not typically be made for ultimate chafe free performance. Might affect you more the longer the swim distance of your race is.
3. No coating on the neoprene, meaning more drag in the water.
4. Less flexibility, due to the surf suits not needing varying thickness' of neoprene.
5. Suit won't fit as well as a triathlon suit.
Bottom line, Surf suits still run at a fairly expensive price, and triathlon specific suits (the bigger companies mainly) offer lower end suits at a pretty good price. Blue Seventy Sprint suit is $200 bucks and will suit you better than any sleeveless suit and any surf specific suit regardless of it's price. My girlfriend has the blue seventy sprint and loves it, and I used to have a stealth suit.
"If one can stick to the training throughout many long years, that willpower is no longer a problem. It's Raining? That doesn't matter. I am tired? That's beside the point. It's simply just that I have to."
-Emil Zatopek
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365 days
danpatgal posted 7 weeks ago.
I did my first two triathlons in a sleeveless surf wetsuit. And although it kept me reasonably warm and was not constrictive, it scooped water like crazy. The following year I used a sleeveless tri-specific suit and it was much more efficient in the water, I reduced my 1500m time by 4 minutes, with a lot less effort. So, that's one reason to go with a tri specific suit, especially around the neckline, it's made to keep the water out of the suit when you're moving forward in the water (which also keeps you a bit warmer). Also, I think a full sleeve suit would keep me more level in the water compared to the sleeveless (tri or surf suit), but that was out of my budget and figured it would just take me that much longer to get off (perhaps a misconception though, I'm not sure).
301
Member
51 days
trigirltina2 posted 7 weeks ago.
I sound like a broken record... Our coach says, "Full sleeves." The purpose of the wet suit is to glide through the water efficently. No sleeves means not efficent. (By the way, I do not spell great.) No wet suit compared to wet suit will make a difference in time.
2
Member
55 days
kroberge posted 7 weeks ago.
I don't know, I think the purpose of a wetsuit is to stay warm. If you just want hydrodynamics get a speedsuit which does nothing for warmth nor for floatation. For me, a wetsuit is about warmth and comfort. If I'm two minutes slower in the water because I saved $100 so be it. My current (borrowed) wetsuit is plenty warm enough, its just restrictive in the shoulders. The scooping argument posed danpatgal gives me pause for thought, but I'm afraid I'm not at all worried about whether full sleeves will make me faster or not.
Cheers,
Kevin
152
Member
351 days
Captain Mal posted 7 weeks ago.
I use my waterskiing/scuba shorty suit. I would like a tri specific suit, but not enough to spend money for one.
On the other hand, I already had that suit before I started triatholons. If you are going to invest money in a new suit for triathlons, start by looking at the ones made for triathlons. For the money it would take to buy a wetsuit designed for something else, it might make sense to rent a tri specific suit a few times a year.
"Faster would be better!" -Captain Mal, Serenity-
1478
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1304 days
brittda posted 7 weeks ago.
I have a sleeveless tri wet suit. I almost rented a full suit for my recent tri (low 60's ) and canceled it and stuck with the sleeveless. Even with temps that low, I was perfectly fine, and I am so glad I did not wear the full. I HATE THE FULL SLEVES and am not willing to put in the time swimming in them to get used to it. I think its a lot easier to get a full suit than be more efficient swimming which is why people use them. I know I will get disagreements on that. I am sure there may be a difference for some people, as well as a bit of a feeling of security. I have timed myself with and with out a suit (sleeveless) and honestly, no big difference (like a minute if that on the HIM distance) easier to just take a minute off my transition or heck with my crappy cycling many minutes there. For a HIM or IM that I do that minute is not any benefit. Warmth is however so I will wear it when the water is cold enough to warrant it.
I cannot comment on a non tri specific suit, but I would imagine they cause more drag and can get water in the neck, don't have that problem with a sleeveles sit.
301
Member
51 days
trigirltina2 posted 7 weeks ago.
Sleeved or sleeveless?
That is more of a personal preference, but almost everyone is faster in a full suit (with sleeves) than in a sleeveless suit, no matter what they say or think about losing some feel for the water. Sleeves reduce drag, sleeves help with float, and that adds up to more potential speed
What is the primary way that a triathlon wetsuit helps you swim faster? Floatation - drag reduction - the wetsuit should put your body in a great swimming position (horizontal) regardless of your head position or regardless of where your eyes are looking. Your head position generally controls your body position, and a good head position generally results in a good body position - but with a swimming-specific wetsuit on your body, your head is taken out of the equation. The wetsuit material should also offer a slicker surface than your skin, further reducing drag.
http://swimming.about.com/od/triathlon/a/buy_a_wetsuit.htm
Money can be an issue- but you can rent when needed.
I've been reading a number of articles/forums on sleeves versus non-sleeves. I've also been reading a number of articles/forums on using non-tri-specific wetsuits for races. I just completed my first tri (modified Olympic) with a paddler wetsuit (880yds) and found the shoulders very restrictive. I also find my budget very restrictive.
My idea is that perhaps I can get by the rest of the season by wearing a sleeveless surf wetsuit (with a good collar). The only reason I need a wetsuit is for some warmth. I don't get too cold in the water (once I warm up) and I don't care about bouyancy (I like swimming across lakes in my speedo once its warm enough). It seems to me that for a beginner like myself, I could get some warmth and freedom from such a compromise and I can always save up over the winter for a tri specific suit.
Has anyone tried a sleeveless surf suit. Or, better yet, if you swim sleeveless, why pay more (for a tri-specific suit)?
Thanks,
Kevin