First-time wetsuit, leaking around the neck

So, just to update you all, yesterday I returned my wetsuit. I tried it three times in the water, and each time it seemed to conform a little better to my body and leak a little less, but in the end, I still felt I would not be comfortable wearing it in colder water (the temperature in Lake Washington right now is 67° F.) The water that got in did not really seem to warm up, even though on my third go I swam a little over a mile. Another issue I was having was some pain in my left (non-dominant) shoulder, which I'm pretty sure was due to the extra constriction of the wetsuit (I never have pain in my shoulders when swimming ordinarily). Since this would be a problem with any wetsuit I wore, I'm also thinking of trying on some sleeveless suits. Or, I could work on strengthening my left shoulder! Thank-you, everyone, for all your excellent advice. I feel like I have a much better idea of what to expect now. I plan on visiting my local retailer, who sells a variety of different makers' suits, and trying out at least a few before making my final decision.

So, just to update you all, yesterday I returned my wetsuit. I tried it three times in the water, and each time it seemed to conform a little better to my body and leak a little less, but in the end, I still felt I would not be comfortable wearing it in colder water (the temperature in Lake Washington right now is 67° F.) The water that got in did not really seem to warm up, even though on my third go I swam a little over a mile. Another issue I was having was some pain in my left (non-dominant) shoulder, which I'm pretty sure was due to the extra constriction of the wetsuit (I never have pain in my shoulders when swimming ordinarily). Since this would be a problem with any wetsuit I wore, I'm also thinking of trying on some sleeveless suits. Or, I could work on strengthening my left shoulder! Thank-you, everyone, for all your excellent advice. I feel like I have a much better idea of what to expect now. I plan on visiting my local retailer, who sells a variety of different makers' suits, and trying out at least a few before making my final decision. Unless you get something made to fit or try lots on before you buy, no wetsuit will fit perfectly. Mine is also very tight across the shoulders, but I guess I'm a lot bigger there than most open water swimmers, so I just accept it until I'm ready to invest in another suit (not for some time). I've had a couple of swims now in it and think that I'm going to have to really focus on rotating to get a comfortably recovery and that the tight shoulders on the wetsuit have exposed how flat I am normally on crawl.

I know what you mean! I would extend my lake swimming season as long as possible if I could only stand the feel of a wetsuit. I can't though, can't stand anything touching my neck. I'm just going to do 50 to 50 as usual. 50 to 50 degrees? If I could find another crazy person to swim with, I could make my open water season last all year in Arizona. My source of swim buddies dries up after IMAZ, the 3rd week in November, even though the water temperatures are still above sixty at that time. I don't know anyone who gets back in before the middle of March. No wetsuit for me. I've never been in water below 60F, but I would do it.

I'm tempted, Amanda. Somehow, I've managed all these years without a wetsuit. It was only this year, where we had a cold, wet spring and a nearly nonexistent summer and the lakes took forever to warm up, that I considered buying a wetsuit at all. The pivot point came when I did a two-hour swim in Lake Washington on July 10, with the water temp at 64°, and I got quite seriously chilled. Had I not been in the water so long, I don't think it would have bothered me. I often swim in high alpine lakes, sometimes with the ice still floating on them, so I'm used to cold, but usually in smaller doses. I think perhaps a sleeveless wetsuit might better suit my purpose, which is mainly to extend the open-water season for a few weeks either end. On the other hand, there's also a couple of ocean open-water swims that I'm very interested in, and the ocean around these parts is pretty cold year-round.

why don't you just dump the bloody thing and swim without it. It'll feel wonderul.

I'm tempted, Amanda. Somehow, I've managed all these years without a wetsuit. It was only this year, where we had a cold, wet spring and a nearly nonexistent summer and the lakes took forever to warm up, that I considered buying a wetsuit at all. The pivot point came when I did a two-hour swim in Lake Washington on July 10, with the water temp at 64°, and I got quite seriously chilled. Had I not been in the water so long, I don't think it would have bothered me. I often swim in high alpine lakes, sometimes with the ice still floating on them, so I'm used to cold, but usually in smaller doses. I think perhaps a sleeveless wetsuit might better suit my purpose, which is mainly to extend the open-water season for a few weeks either end. On the other hand, there's also a couple of ocean open-water swims that I'm very interested in, and the ocean around these parts is pretty cold year-round. I know what you mean! I would extend my lake swimming season as long as possible if I could only stand the feel of a wetsuit. I can't though, can't stand anything touching my neck. I'm just going to do 50 to 50 as usual.

50 to 50 degrees? If I could find another crazy person to swim with, I could make my open water season last all year in Arizona. My source of swim buddies dries up after IMAZ, the 3rd week in November, even though the water temperatures are still above sixty at that time. I don't know anyone who gets back in before the middle of March. No wetsuit for me. I've never been in water below 60F, but I would do it. 50 to 50 but we're talking about maybe 30 minute swims. That's how much I hate the pool and those surrounding it these days!