To wear a wetsuit or not to wear a wet suit, that is the question

Whenever legal to do so. I believe that's 77.9 or below.

Upon further review, I would say 78 or lower:
http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&filename=wetsu...
USAT rules state that competitors may wear wetsuits if the water temperature is 78 degrees or lower.
USAT rules also state that if the water temperature is between 78.1 - 83.9 degrees, competitors may wear wetsuits but will not be eligible for awards.
If the water temperature is 84 degrees or above, participants may not wear wetsuits.

Edited by DanielG 2010-05-19 8:08 AM

x2, whenever legal.

As mentioned, if it is legal, use it - no matter the distance.

+1, if you own one, and its legal = wear it, no matter the temp, no matter the distance.

I have worn one in a 78 degree, 500m sprint. Why not?

I can understand this question more from people that don't own one and are contemplating renting one. Then it just becomes a question of cash vs. comfort. What temp is it needed vs. wanted? I would say sub-65 definitely, 65-70 becomes more of a question of how much you like cold water. Sub-70 is relatively cold water compared to your typical 74 degree pool.

I'll wear one when it's legal MOST of the time, but not all the time. Why not? When the cost outweighs the benefit. I've not done any scientific studies, but for me it's not worth the hassle for a relatively short swim;

prep it for race (wet it a few days before if it's been dry for a while, the hang it to dry), remember to pack it for the race, wriggle in to it race morning, wriggle out of in in transition, "manage" a wet wetsuit post race (from transition to home), wash it, hang it to dry, put it back where it was.

Going a "few" seconds faster over a 1/4 mile swim in chilly water is NOT worth it for me.

Whenever one wants to and it is legal.

To each his own I guess...these aren't really "costs" in my mind, just part of race prep. The only real "cost" I have debated is the transition "penalty" of slowing you down in T1...but to me its not really a penalty. My T1 time is not radically different with or without a wetsuit, but my swim time is faster...so I still net ahead of the game.

Just on the side, Never heard of or done the pre-wetting of a wetsuit.

Soak your wetsuit in the tub overnight or for a couple hours during the day a few days before your first race of the year. It's a tip Emilio gives every year to help keep your suit from tearing because it's dried out over the winter.

I've never had a diving wetsuit tear on me but I've had a tri wetsuit tear the first time I put it on. After I read that tip I've soaked it and not had another tear.

I guess it makes sense and really can't hurt.

I will NOT be wearing one for my first Tri this year, which is July 3rd, mainly because I don't have one, and this is my first outdoor Tri.  My 2nd and 3rd Tri's are in August and Sept, and I'm sure the water temps will be 70ish, so again probably not.

Now when I do a HI next year, I'm sure I'll wear a partial one for a little better float, since it's a much longer swim.  This year, up in the air still.

Do I need to pre-soak a brand new wetsuit?  I just bought one a couple of weeks ago and I'm a little scared to practice putting it on and off for fear of tearing it.

This past weekend, a group of us did a race where last year the sprint swim times were around 6 to 9 minutes because of a fast (ocean) current. The water was 77°F this year, so my wife was debating not using the wetsuit (with sleeves) because of fear of getting too warm and the time it takes to get it off, especially since it was such a short swim.

Turned out, the current was going the opposite direction this year, and we couldn't tell until we got in the water. Average swim time was like 25 minutes for the same distance. She was very glad she had decided to use it, and didn't have any problems with getting too hot.

From now on, neither of us is going to debate it. If it's legal, we're using a wetsuit.

I doubt it. Let's put it this way: I didnt pre-soak mine when new, and have not had a problem with it. I havent heard of others pre-soaking (at all, new or used) and I havent heard of problems, either.

My guess is that when new, the rubber is relatively new and supple, etc. and it is much less likely to tear. But after a year or two or three of being wet/dry/wet/dry/wet/dry and then sitting around for a few months in dry winter air...it could dry out more and be more prone to tearing. I called a few shops and they said it is probably not a problem, but it "can't hurt" to soak a used one.

Just my $0.02.

Have you put it on and tested it out yet? Just be easy with it and you should be fine. Then go for a pool swim..and there you go, you have your pre-race pre-soak

Edited by JohnAgs3 2010-05-19 12:17 PM

Do you need to? Probably not.

Another question to ask, what would it hurt to soak it for a night? A little water and the use of the bathtub is all.

Up to you, I doubt it's necessary but who knows how long yours has been sitting around or if it's fresh off the assembly line.

Whenever legal... I think the time and energy savings is significant.