Vasoline..help or worthless in 48-50F water

I'm no wetsuit expert but I believe most manufacturers recommend NOT using any petroleum products on the suit. Try Suitjuice or just make your own soap and water mixture. Plus, when you remove your suit, your skin will be silky smooth and you'll feel clean and fresh as a daisy. :agree:

Body glide helps with caffing from the wetsuit. I tried vaseline once in 56 degree water with no wetsuit and I didn't think it helped. It was not easy to remove after the swim either. George (Geochuck) probably has the most experience. I'd be interested to hear his take.

I'm no wetsuit expert but I believe most manufacturers recommend NOT using any petroleum products on the suit. Try Suitjuice or just make your own soap and water mixture. Plus, when you remove your suit, your skin will be silky smooth and you'll feel clean and fresh as a daisy. :agree: Jeffy is right. Vaseline with dissolve you wetsuit. I use BodyGlide for long OW swims.

Vaseline is to prevent chaffing and friction burns, it doesn't have any value for warmth. You definitely don't want to touch your goggles after applying it! Best to get someone else to do it, or put it on using some kind of long-handled swab.

Yeah, I don't see how it could have any insulating value. Maybe just serves as a way to protect your skin from wrinkling or drying out. Does anyone know? I have a DVD where 2 well known triathletes are talking wetsuits. One has a can of cooking spray (Pam) in her hand and says it works great. I think the wetsuit manufacturers say stay away from that stuff too.

I have swam in the 48 to 50F water and vasoline, lanoin or such have not proved to be any help. Two caps, earplugs and moving as fast as possible is the best way to keep warm or less cold.

I think cantwait4bike is talking about when wearing a wet suit. We never used wet suits when I raced. I used a little vaseline to stop rubbing in certain spots that is all to stop friction burns, the colder the water the friction burns become worse. 48 to 50 degrees for a short period say 2 hrs should not be a problem. It is the 48 to 50 for say 10 hours would be a problem. I wore one cap and I did get too hot and had to let the cold water into the hat to cool down.

Thow out the theory of exposer to water? Move and you die from the cold? How far are your swims in cold water and are they done without a wet suit?? I have swam in the 48 to 50F water and vasoline, lanoin or such have not proved to be any help. Two caps, earplugs and moving as fast as possible is the best way to keep warm or less cold.

I have tried everything, even camphorated oil and baby oil mixed together, this was a very good mixture. But don't get it on the arms. The camphorated oil breaks tension in the water and causes slippage. A friend tried graphite grease it went solid in the cold water and he had great trouble swimming. He said he felt like he was drowding. All the marathon swimmers used lanolin it was the protection that sheeps wool has.

I appreciate all your help. Sounds like vasoline doesn't help from a warmth standpoint, so I'll try swimming with it. A couple of notes, the vasoline and Pam doesnt dissolve the wetsuit, it just takes the manufactures screened name off it. that why they don't recommend it. :) I tried swimming in English Bay recently and my feet and hands went completely numb and hurt alot after about 25 meters. Very Frustrating.:confused: