How to choose a triathlon wetsuit

An essential element in the success of your triathlon, a wetsuit must be selected with care. But it's not easy to decide which model to choose, given the ever-growing choice of wetsuits on offer.
Thanks to increasingly technical design and innovative materials, triathlon wetsuits are available at all prices, with a range of features to suit your goals and, above all, your swimming technique.

Here's how to find the right wetsuit for you.

Key features

• Specifics of a triathlon wetsuit ;
• Materials: classic neoprene, limestone neoprene;
• Thickness and multi-panel design;
• Cutting and thermal protection;
• Cutting.

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TRIATHLON SUITS

SPECIFICS OF A TRIATHLON WETSUIT

To begin with, let's specify thatthe design and characteristics of a triathlon wetsuit have nothing in common with those of a surf or diving wetsuitthe constraints are absolutely not the same. Of course, like these models, a triathlon wetsuit protects you from the cold. But it also fulfills many other roles. It can significantly improve your buoyancyespecially in the legs. It also offers less resistance to water than skin, making it easier to glide.
Finally, and this is the difference with open water wetsuits, triathlon models are also designed to facilitate transitionsby being easier to remove.

Please note: use of a neoprene wetsuit is mandatory when water temperature is below 16°C, and authorized when water temperature is between 16° and 24.5°C.

MATERIALS

All triathlon wetsuits are made of neoprene. But behind this generic term lies a multitude of materials, making all the difference in terms of comfort, performance and, logically, price.

Some entry-level wetsuits are still designed in classic neoprene, derived from petroleum, but more and more brands are turning to neoprene. limestone neopreneThe leading specialist is Japanese manufacturer Yamamoto. In addition to being environmentally friendly and reputed to cause fewer skin allergies, limestone neoprene is more water-resistant, lighter, warmer and more stretchable. As a result, it offers greater buoyancy and skin-like elasticity for exceptional comfort.

Different qualities of limestone neoprene are available, depending on your technical level and objectives: more or less dense, warm, elastic, smooth... These qualities can also be combined according to the zones of the wetsuit, as the stresses are not the same all over the body.

To protect the neoprene and enhance gliding performance, the wetsuit can receive an additional treatment. And for greater comfort and faster transitions, wetsuits also include an inner lining, usually made of Lycra-type fabric.

THICKNESS AND MULTI-PANEL DESIGN

A triathlon wetsuit can feature a thickness of up to 5 mm (the maximum thickness permitted by regulations). But this thickness is generally not uniform throughout the suit, which is made up of a multitude of panels and inserts. The greatest thickness is generally found on the torso, where thermal protection is most important. Conversely, on the shoulders and under the arms - where the need for flexibility is greatest - panels can be extremely thin, sometimes less than 1 mm on the top-of-the-range models.
In concrete terms, the thicker the wetsuit, the more buoyancy it provides, and the thinner it is, the more flexibility and freedom of movement it offers. It's all a question of balance and compromise.

Entry-level models have fewer panels, which are sewn together. While this lowers the price, it also means less waterproofing and a much less comfortable feel than with thermo-glued or thermo-welded panels. In addition to greater solidity, these techniques ensure a smoother connection between the different panels, and also allow the number of panels to be multiplied for a perfectly tailored fit.

CUT AND THERMAL PROTECTION

To suit every taste and every situation, manufacturers offer not only standard models, but also more specific ones: reinforced thermal insulation for long-distance competitions in cold water (up to 12°C), or sleevelessor even shorty with or without sleeves for events taking place in warm water (always within the 24.5°C limit) for less chilly swimmers. It should be noted that above 20°C, you can get hot, even very hot, in a wetsuit, and quickly become dehydrated, since it's obviously not possible to drink during this event. A sleeveless suit will help regulate body temperature.

This type of model is also suitable for swimmers or those looking for the greatest possible freedom of movement and time-saving during the transition.
In order to save precious seconds when removing the suit, the top-of-the-range models feature specially designed inserts at the wrists and ankles.

TRIATHLON WETSUIT DIMENSIONS

A suit that fits should feel like a second skin. It needs to hug the contours of your body perfectly and be sticky, while maintaining freedom of movement in the arms and shoulders.
It shouldn't compress your ribcage and therefore prevent you from breathing properly, even though once wet, it will relax slightly. But it mustn't be too big either, otherwise water will seep in, chill you and hinder your movements.
For each brand, you'll find a detailed size guide with specific advice.

WHICH WETSUIT IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Depending on your swimming technique and objectives, you'll need to prioritize comfort, buoyancy, elasticity and warmth. Many brands segment their offer according to these criteria.
Another criterion for choice is the type of event you are or will be taking part in: XS, S, M, L (or Hal IronMan), or even IronMan: the time spent in the water will not be the same, and consequently neither will the equipment.

• Beginner swimmer

  Swimming isn't your strong point and you dread this event? In this case, you need to prioritize buoyancy, with a substantial thickness (5 mm) for both torso and legs. In this way, your position is corrected, you gain in confidence and expend less energy moving forward. If you're planning to line up for longer distances (L and up), don't neglect freedom of movement in the arms (ideal thickness 1.5 mm) - even if it means losing a little buoyancy - so as not to draw too heavily on your reserves.

• Intermediate swimmer

  Swimming isn't your strong point and you dread this event? In that case, you need to prioritize buoyancy, with a substantial thickness (5 mm) in both torso and legs. In this way, your position is corrected, you gain in confidence and expend less energy moving forward. If you're planning to line up over long distances (L and up), don't neglect freedom of movement in the arms (ideal thickness 1.5 mm) - even if it means losing a little buoyancy - so as not to draw too heavily on your reserves.

• Advanced swimmer

  You've been swimming for many years and your technique is very good, with an already horizontal, elevated and aerodynamic position? In this case, you'll need the softest, most flexible wetsuit, from the legs to the shoulders and arms (1/2 mm), with a high degree of finesse so as not to limit your technique or alter your position. The thickness can be greater in the chest area (1.5 to 3 mm) to guarantee a good supply of heat.