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2008-07-14 11:08 AM

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Master
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Subject: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?
What is the shortest distance you would use a wetsuit for? I have a race with a 500m swim coming up, and the water will be warm (enough not to need one).


2008-07-14 11:11 AM
in reply to: #1527846

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Cycling Guru
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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?

About 100 yards or so would be where I wouldn't wear one.

If it is legal to use one, it is always advisable to use one (assuming you are not a super fish and your suit is fit properly ..... by superfish I mean like 1:00/100 sort of times).  It's that simple.

I used mine in a 250 yard pool swim and still had a T1 time of 1:16.

2008-07-14 11:22 AM
in reply to: #1527846

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Expert
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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?
Sometimes I just put mine on and sit on the couch and watch tv. It's about 15 feet from bedroom to living room, so I'd say 15 feet.
2008-07-14 12:38 PM
in reply to: #1527913

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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?
chriselam - 2008-07-14 12:22 PM

Sometimes I just put mine on and sit on the couch and watch tv. It's about 15 feet from bedroom to living room, so I'd say 15 feet.


OMG - LOL!

I think any race distance is worth putting it on, especially if the water is cold.
2008-07-14 12:44 PM
in reply to: #1527846

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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?
I would use one on anything longer than a 300 yd swim.
2008-07-14 1:07 PM
in reply to: #1527846

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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?

Just to be a nerd about it... and given that you say the water is warm enough (for you) to not wear one:

First,  you need to have an idea of how much faster you swim with a wetsuit vs without one (better swimmers don't have as big of an improvement as somebody like me that needs all the help they can get).

Next, get an idea of how much time it costs you to get the wetsuit off and thrown somewhere in transition. If they have wetsuit peelers and you get the top down to your waist as you get out of the water, that can be a very short amount of time.

Assuming the time savings is greater than the extra time to remove the wetsuit, the other factors are your tolerance for cold water and your comfort with a wetsuit. Took me a long time and many wetsuit swims before I got used to that constricting feeling of a wetsuit.

In other words, it depends!   



2008-07-14 2:19 PM
in reply to: #1528380

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Alpharetta, Georgia
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Subject: RE: Shortest Distance for Wetsuit?
PLMsbr - 2008-07-14 1:07 PM

Just to be a nerd about it... and given that you say the water is warm enough (for you) to not wear one:

First,  you need to have an idea of how much faster you swim with a wetsuit vs without one (better swimmers don't have as big of an improvement as somebody like me that needs all the help they can get).

Next, get an idea of how much time it costs you to get the wetsuit off and thrown somewhere in transition. If they have wetsuit peelers and you get the top down to your waist as you get out of the water, that can be a very short amount of time.

Assuming the time savings is greater than the extra time to remove the wetsuit, the other factors are your tolerance for cold water and your comfort with a wetsuit. Took me a long time and many wetsuit swims before I got used to that constricting feeling of a wetsuit.

In other words, it depends!   



Well said.

Edit: you said the water will be warm enough to not use one... will it even be wetsuit-legal? That would be the first question I'd ask.



Edited by lisac957 2008-07-14 2:20 PM
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