Wetsuit wisdom?

I am a cheapy just glue together a neoprene tube and pull it on.

What's the best wetsuit to buy if you're interested in preventing hypothermia? Signed up for my first long swim (7.5 miles), the water will probably be about 60 degrees, and I have fairly low body fat (5'3, 110 pounds). I don't care about going faster with a wetsuit; with or without one I will probably be dead last (and if so, I will be delighted, as long as I finish), but don't want to DNF because of hypothermia. Thanks!

Hi Sharkbait! Long time, no chat. I hope you are doing well. Congrats on deciding to do the Potomac River swim. Sorry you didn't get into the Bay Swim, but it was tough. I actually paid extra last year to avoid the lottery, so I am already in and training for it. I don't think I will do that next year. If I don't get in the lottery, I will probably do the Potomac swim next year. Swimmy and I are planning to do the Swim for Life - let me know if you are going and we can meet up there. As for a wetsuit, you might want to go with full coverage, since you tend to get cold easily. I don't get cold as easily, and I really don't like wearing my wetsuit at all because I feel so constricted. For you, though, it will probably be a must-have item. Actually, a fellow swimmer won a wetsuit from Bonzai at the Reston Swim last year, and she is trying to sell the voucher (already has a wetsuit). Let me know if you are interested, and I can try to put you in touch with her. I don't think she has sold it yet, but I can confirm if you want. I bought mine at Bonzai and was really pleased. They let me buy it and try it out during a swim, then I returned it and got one without sleeves. They were really nice. I think they just put the one I returned into their rental section, no problem. They were really cool about it. Send me an email if you still have it. Otherwise, send me a private message and I will get back to you. Take care! Diana

I bought mine at Bonzai and was really pleased. They let me buy it and try it out during a swim, then I returned it and got one without sleeves. They were really nice. I think they just put the one I returned into their rental section, no problem. They were really cool about it. Bonzai will be having their annual Road Show on March 17th. I've bought several from them and they have a great selection, especially at the Road Show. I pretty much tried on every single wetsuit they had in my size. Mark has been in the business for years and knows so much about them that he'll be sure to get you in one that meets your needs. Here's info about the Road Show... tribonzai.com/page.cfm

Hi Diana, it's great hearing from you! I sent you a message - yes, I'm interested in your friend's wetsuit voucher if she hasn't sold it yet. Actually I think I might have a better chance of finishing the Potomac swim than the Bay Swim, because although it's longer, there are no time limits (I checked previous years results, and a few finishers took over 7 hours), and although I'm slooow, I can go on and on... and having a kayaker to do the navigating and stop for feeding should make things easier too (I'm going to have to practice drinking water and eating while treading water...) Unfortunately I'm going to be in Kentucky the week of the Swim for Life, or else I'd do that one, too. I probably will go with a full coverage wetsuit. There's a triathlon shop in VA Beach that carries wetsuits, so I'll try renting one with long sleeves and seeing if it's too constricting on my shoulder (my right shoulder's been hurting/ popping; can't tell if it's because of lousy technique or an old injury). But I doubt if I could finish without one. Last Sept. at Lake Montclair I was fine while in the water, but as soon as I got out, I was verrry cold. I'm thinking of joining a group to train with. There's a Masters group at the Y we belong to, but they are all sprinters, and the time doesn't fit my schedule. But there's another group that has triathletes and several Bay Swim finishers; sometimes they do a timed mile as part of their workouts, which are three days a week. A friend from the track club who finished the Bay Swim four times (once third place in age group) told me about it - I'm thinking of joining even though it's a 30 minute drive each way. Maybe that would be better than training on my own. How do you train for your long swims? Good luck with the Bay Swim! Sandra

Can anyone give me some info on bodysuits, esp. the higher end ones like Fastskin? 1. do they create drag over long distances in open water? 2. do they keep you warm at all? 3. are they more useful for hairy dudes? Thanks

I'd love to hear about the fast skins too. While I'm a vetran swimmer - my last personal competition was 20 years ago in college. I was persuaded to do my first open water (3-miles) June 30 - in Pleasant Prarie WI. Thus I'm looking for any and all tips - there are some great ones here. Thanks.

I think the open water swimmers would definitely benefit from a fastskin. It doesn't matter if it's open water, it's all water. If they benefit hairy guys in the pool, the same applies to the open. I may try it this summer. I used my first one this year in the pool and I beat alot of my seed times, but especially in the longer distance events. The older guys say it prevents the excess fat motion drag as well as the hair issue.

Hey Malfox - Maybe I'll see you at Pleasant Prarie in June. From what I've learned, it doesn't seem that the Fastskins create drag over longer distances, they don't keep you warm to any significant degree (no pun intended), and they should help streamline the hairy among us. You can also get new and used ones on ebay at good discounts. Call Kiefer.com for sizing. Good luck

I've seen people use fastskins in open water, but never asked them about it. My initial reaction is "why would you ruin it by swimming in this crappy water?" But certainly if the suits were purchased explicitly for open water races, their use makes more sense. I can't imagine they were created for use in salt-water. I can see where the benefit might come with speed, but for the mens side, I have heard a lot of talk of overheating during distance events in the pool in the full body fastskin-type suits. I would think most open water events, being 1mi+ would have the same issue. As for the hair issues, wearing a wetsuit should alleviate both of those problems. If not allowed, shave. Tri's usually keep themselves pretty well clipped March to October around here - no reason not to do regular trims as swimmers! I've gone speedo only in 75 degree lakes and a pair of 1mile bay swims, and donned a wesuit for the last two years' 4.4 mi swims. I don't think it hurt me not to have the fastskin on.