I've seen talk in a thread from a couple of weeks ago about the advantage of wearing a wetsuit and how some people like to put people down because they wear one. It was mentioned that their can be a great advantage by someone that wears a wetsuit.
Given all factors kept equal, in OW, on something like a one mile course what could you expect to gain by wearing a wetsuit versus wearing something like cutoff jeans. Also, what could you expect to gain by wearing a swim cap versus not wearing a swim cap.
Inquiring minds want to know.
Wetsuits add bouyency putting you a bit higher in the water and a bit faster. The extra lift adds confiidence like having a small life jacket on you. It only takes 16 lbs to hold the average person up and a wetsuit adds a couple of pounds of lift. (If anyone does not agree see how much weight the suit will keep from sinking). Plus they keep you warm and thats why many open water swimmers perfer wetsuits and traditional record events like the English Channel and Catalina Channel swims don't allow their use. Events that want as many people as possible to join in the fun will allow the wetsuits.
As far as a swim cap goes they hold heat in your head where most heat leves your body. With a insulated swim cap alone many people can swim in mid 50's water like the San Fransisco Bay swim crowd does with no wet suits. additionaly they allow you to be seen
for safety reasons. Caps should be in bright colors for open water swims. As far as speed goes in open water theres going to be no advantage. the waves, current ect overwhelm any cap vs no cap speed contest.
Open Water Swim Caps Info:
www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html
Wetsuits add bouyency putting you a bit higher in the water and a bit faster. The extra lift adds confiidence like having a small life jacket on you. It only takes 16 lbs to hold the average person up and a wetsuit adds a couple of pounds of lift. (If anyone does not agree see how much weight the suit will keep from sinking). Plus they keep you warm and thats why many open water swimmers perfer wetsuits and traditional record events like the English Channel and Catalina Channel swims don't allow their use. Events that want as many people as possible to join in the fun will allow the wetsuits.
As far as a swim cap goes they hold heat in your head where most heat leves your body. With a insulated swim cap alone many people can swim in mid 50's water like the San Fransisco Bay swim crowd does with no wet suits. additionaly they allow you to be seen
for safety reasons. Caps should be in bright colors for open water swims. As far as speed goes in open water theres going to be no advantage. the waves, current ect overwhelm any cap vs no cap speed contest.
Open Water Swim Caps Info:
www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html
