I did some research online before I bought my first full size long sleeve wetsuit a couple of months ago. I got a good deal and paid only $175 USD ($400 USD) for it. I wore it twice so far, once in a lake and once in open water. There is definitely a big difference using it in a river/lake than open water. Almost all triathlon wet suits are made of neoprene material which are filled with bubbles of gas. Besides providing insulation, these bubbles give neoprene incredible buoyancy. You can swim faster in a wetsuit because the neoprene lifts you into a higher position in the water. In this higher position you displace less water, which reduces the drag and speeds up your swimming. I have seen some wetsuit materials also have an outer surface slicker than human skin which can further reduce the drag, but this is only a minor performance aide, not big of a deal as compared to buoyancy.
USAT (USA Triathlon ~ which is the offical governing body of triathlons in USA) puts no limits on what we can do to the outside of wetsuits, but limit how buoyant (thick) a wetsuit can be.
Most stores in USA will let you purchase the wetsuit and try out to see if it fits first, if it doesn't fit, you can easily return them or change size. It takes a while to get used to it because it feels very tight on the body first. And once you used in water, it kind of sucks to your skin and hard to get it off your legs. I thought I wore size L but ended up buying a size M only. Here is what I got for $175.
These "wetsuit stripper" volunteers will help to pull off the wetsuit at the transition area but only in Ironman events. Otherwise, you are on your own getting the wetsuit off.
I did some research online before I bought my first full size long sleeve wetsuit a couple of months ago. I got a good deal and paid only $175 USD ($400 USD) for it. I wore it twice so far, once in ...
NOTE: Mako LS is non-buoyant, for non-wetsuit legal triathlon swim racing
** To be worn over race clothing and removed after swim.
**Where permitted by race director or national federation.
Dude...I know Mako speedsuit is non-buoyant and totally made from different material than traditional wetsuits. It only serves to improve hydrodynamics. Swimmers usually wear the speedsuit under the wetsuit to swim then strip off the wetsuit and bike and run in the speedsuit. For pool swims or open water swims over 78 degrees (not legal for wetsuit racing under USAT rules), swimmer can wear just the speedsuit the whole time.
Just want to clarify whether the legal 三鐵WETSUIT is non-buoyant or buoyant.
I was confused because some say 三鐵WETSUIT is non-buoyant and some say 三鐵WETSUIT is buoyant.
Just want to clarify whether the legal 三鐵WETSUIT is non-buoyant or buoyant.
I was confused because some say 三鐵WETSUIT is non-buoyant and some say 三鐵WETSUIT is buoyant.
I was confused myself too. I thought I could just buy water ski wetsuit (half the price of a triathlon wetsuit) and realized that it wasn't as buoyant as a tri wetsuit. My experience using it in open water was like swimming with a "floating bed" underneath me. But for speedsuit, I think it is just a waste of money to buy (no buoyant and no warmth) because you can just wear skinsuit (no buoyant and no warmth too) if you want hydrodynamic.
發表於 2010-9-17 17:08:49
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orce 於 2010-9-20 22:06 發表 
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