Hello all.
What kind of suit is good for open water?
I searched and found few topics about but it didn't clear much.
Is it like sailing suit or trisuit? Or wetsuit like divers have?
I doubt that regular race suit with long legs help to keep body warm.
I googled some suits also but I didn't find suits just for open water swim. Except blueseventy homepages but suit was too expensive.
For general open water swimming any pool suit would be fine.
Are you looking for a suit for special conditions?
And do not buy a SCUBA wet suit for open water swimming. They are not designed for swimming range of motion.
Given your apparent inexperience in OW swimming, you should not even be considering swimming in 15C water by yourself. So I would suggest that you start by asking the people you swim with or plan to swim with what they wear.
Also, wetsuits for swimming are not cheap, and before you buy one you will want to try swimming in a few models if you can so that you can figure out which one will fit you best. A sporting goods store catering to triathletes is your best bet.
San Francisco Bay is often around 15C and plenty of people swim there in ordinary suits, but they are acclimated from regular swims. On the other hand, I have swum in English Bay in Vancouver when it was about the same temperature and nearly everyone else wore a wetsuit.
Whether they keep you warm (enough for you) depends on water you are swimming in and your acclimation. I swim OW fine in my pool workout suit.
Otherwise, search by Google for suits worn by triathletes.
Well I don't think that regular pool suit will keep body warm. Water temperature isn't nearly same as pool.
So is there wet suits designed for open water?
Former Member
Well I don't think that regular pool suit will keep body warm. Water temperature isn't nearly same as pool.
So is there wet suits designed for open water?
Former Member
Depends on the body of water and time of year. Where I usually do my OW swimming its in the mid to upper 80's. A regular brief does best because you're less likely to get pieces of shell and sand stuck in the material and cutting/chaffing you.
Former Member
water is about 15 C and air usually 15-20 C. Summer tends to get its end in Finland :)
Former Member
Given your apparent inexperience in OW swimming, you should not even be considering swimming in 15C water by yourself. So I would suggest that you start by asking the people you swim with or plan to swim with what they wear.
Point taken.
I've allready asked local triathlon club if they practise OW at summer.
So far no answer :D
Also, wetsuits for swimming are not cheap, and before you buy one you will want to try swimming in a few models if you can so that you can figure out which one will fit you best. A sporting goods store catering to triathletes is your best bet.
One store had suits but they were too big for me. Altough I liked what I tested on, even if it was big one. But store keepers was jerks and I didn't want to order suit through them.
