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A search for the best triathlon wetsuits will yield you results of full wetsuits in the $150 range on the cheap end to over $800 on the expensive end!
How do you choose the best triathlon wetsuit for poor swimmers? How about the best triathlon wetsuit for strong swimmers?
What’s the difference between a cheaper entry-level triathlon wetsuit and a more expensive high-end triathlon wetsuit?
Well, in short, if you had to summarize, you could probably say SPEED and ENERGY and COMFORT! The more expensive the wetsuit, the more you can expect the wetsuit to help to get you to the end of the swim faster and more efficiently, which also gets you to save more energy in the process… and that saved energy is for you to use on the bike and run!
That said, all triathlon wetsuits, which includes entry-level wetsuits, can add some level of benefit to your swim. Naturally, the more you are willing to pay, the more design enhancement you’ll get out of a wetsuit. So, what is this “more” that you will get? What makes a high-end wetsuit better than a cheaper wetsuit?
In choosing the best triathlon wetsuit that fits into your price range, you could say that it’s a balancing act, or compromise, between the following factors in terms of the design of the wetsuit:
- Buoyancy
- Flexibility + Comfort
- Warmth
- Speed + Energy
So, let’s discuss what to look for in choosing a wetsuit!
- What are qualities of the best triathlon wetsuits?
- Buoyancy: How much buoyancy do you get wearing a triathlon wetsuit?
- Flexibility: How much flexibility do you need in a triathlon wetsuit?
- Fit: How should a triathlon wetsuit fit you?
- Entry-level triathlon wetsuits under $200
If you’re a beginner triathlete, also see the triathlon gear list!
What are qualities of the best triathlon wetsuits?
First, let’s take a look at the make-up of the best of the best.
With a high-end triathlon wetsuit, you can likely expect better qualities of the following compared to entry-level triathlon wetsuits:
– The torso area, hip area, and upper leg area is extra buoyant to provide a better swimming position
– Thinner material on the lower leg areas for quicker wetsuit removal during swim-bike transition
– Thinner material used in the arms and upper back provides better flexibility for shoulder mobility
– Material in the upper legs is thin in the right areas for better hip rotation while swimming and quicker wetsuit removal in transition
– It allows less water to seep into the wetsuit so excess water won’t add weight
– It keeps you warmer
So what makes these qualities good qualities to have in a triathlon wetsuit? Well, back to the SPEED and ENERGY and COMFORT!
Be prepared in case you unexpectedly discover a hole in your wetsuit on race day! >> Wetsuit repair + How to fix a wetsuit tear
Best wetsuit qualities | Buoyancy | Flexibility | Fit | Entry-level
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
How much buoyancy do you get wearing a triathlon wetsuit?
All triathlon wetsuits will provide a level of buoyancy regardless of what type of wetsuit you buy, whether a cheaper wetsuit that’s entry-level or a more expensive wetsuit that’s higher end.
The difference is in how much additional buoyancy you get with each wetsuit.
That includes the location of buoyancy and the thickness of buoyancy.
Generally, the more you pay, the more buoyancy you’ll get.
Having a more buoyant wetsuit means you have assistance in staying higher and closer to the surface of the water.
It can help to put you in a better swimming position than you would be with no wetsuit.
And swimming in a better position can help you to become a more efficient swimmer.
The result is being able to cover the distance faster, as well as finish the swim with more energy for the bike and run.
Having buoyancy in the hips and legs can be especially helpful for more beginner swimmers who have trouble keeping their legs from sinking.
The legs may still sink, but to a lesser degree.
This improved swimming form, less drag produced by sinking legs, can result in swimming faster.
A wetsuit shouldn’t be seen as a flotation device (since it’s not!) but it can help with a “floating” effect compared to having no wetsuit at all.
That said, no wetsuit can replace other aspects of form and technique, along with solid training!
If you do have sinking legs, the first thing you should look to do is work on this in the pool! (Don’t look to a wetsuit as a solution!)
The different levels of buoyancy of a triathlon wetsuit are generally achieved through the thickness of the material, the specific type of material used, and the locations of the buoyancy-specific traits.
It should also be worth noting that the governing bodies of triathlons that set the rules for participating in races do have limits as to how thick a wetsuit can be.
Although you can expect that the top brands that design triathlon-specific wetsuits make their wetsuits with this in mind, it is something to be aware of.
Also to note, if you come into triathlons with a strong swimming background, your wetsuit needs may be different from the average triathlete who enters the sport of triathlon without a swimming background or is a poor swimmer.
This is because depending on where the buoyancy panels are located on the wetsuit, you may adversely feel this added buoyancy a bit awkward since you already can swim well with an ideal swimming position in the water.
There are some triathlon wetsuits that are more suited for strong swimmers with this in mind.
Best wetsuit qualities | Buoyancy | Flexibility | Fit | Entry-level
How much flexibility should you have in a triathlon wetsuit?
You’ll want flexibility in your wetsuit for a few reasons:
– Comfort while you’re wearing the wetsuit
– Mobility in your shoulders and hips as you swim
– A quick swim-bike transition: while running and in taking off the wetsuit
While thicker material in the right areas will provide added buoyancy and warmth, it can also impact your flexibility in a negative way while you are swimming and while you are running in transition.
Inadequate flexibility in the shoulder region could mean you work harder to rotate your shoulders.
This can lead to quicker fatigue in your shoulder muscles and more energy spent.
For this reason, it is good to have thinner material in the arm and shoulder regions for better movement.
Inadequate flexibility in the hip region could mean you don’t rotate your hips as efficiently when you’re swimming, reducing proper swimming technique.
Less flexibility in certain areas of the legs can also mean a little bit extra effort in taking off the wetsuit when you’re in the swim-bike transition and trying to be quick about it.
The best triathlon wetsuits will have a balance of thinner material for flexibility and thicker material for buoyancy in key areas.
This provides a better balance of buoyancy for improved swim position, as well as flexibility for hip rotation and taking off the wetsuit quickly.
Having a quality combination of a higher level of buoyancy combined with a higher level of flexibility can separate entry-level wetsuits from the next level up.
Best wetsuit qualities | Buoyancy | Flexibility | Fit | Entry-level
How should your triathlon wetsuit fit you?
Just as a good bike fit is important to be most efficient on a bike, if you choose to wear a wetsuit in a triathlon, a good wetsuit fit is important so you can go into the swim being confident and have an efficient swim in the open water!
A good fitting wetsuit will help you swim better and faster.
A poor fitting wetsuit may have the opposite effect. You could have the best designed wetsuit in the world and it could give you a negative impact in your race if it doesn’t fit you well.
If you are buying a wetsuit online, be sure to take extra care to pay attention to the wetsuit fitting guides.
Also don’t assume that just because you are a certain size with one manufacturer, you will be the same in another.
There may be a slight variance that can make all the difference in your wetsuit comfort and performance.
Another thing to keep in mind is that one person’s comfort may be another person’s discomfort.
Wetsuit fit can be a personal thing as different people have different levels of comfort.
That said, when trying your wetsuit on for the first time, it will be normal if you have some difficulty in putting it on. It is normal for it to feel tight, to an extent.
Overall, you want the wetsuit to be form fitting without it being loose because you don’t want too much water to seep in.
Too much excess water inside your wetsuit can become a burden and can end up slowing you down. But you want the neck area to be comfortable and not too tight.
You want to make sure your shoulders have mobility with full range of motion.
Also remember that you may find that a dry wetsuit will feel different from a wet wetsuit.
And don’t forget: nothing new on race day!
If you can, get out for an open water swim before race day so you can feel out your wetsuit for what it’s like before, during, and after a swim.
Also be sure practice taking off your wetsuit for a fast swim-bike transition on race day!
Best wetsuit qualities | Buoyancy | Flexibility | Fit | Entry-level
Entry-level triathlon wetsuits under $200
Here are a few triathlon wetsuits for you to take a look at for your 2017 triathlon season that are in the affordable range, but still designed to give you a range of benefits.
You could say these would make quality entry-level triathlon wetsuits for your budget.
They could also make good wetsuits for poor swimmers.
But remember, if you do consider yourself to be a poor swimmer, the best way for you to compensate your poor swimming skills is to improve your swimming technique through drills.
Also remember that you’ll tend to get better features with the upgraded version of any given wetsuit.
So there may be some areas you’ll need to sacrifice to get a cheaper wetsuit. So keep that in mind as you read about negative reviews.
Remember, check and double check the manufacturer’s sizing chart to make sure you’re getting a wetsuit that’s the right fit for you.
Where possible, read the wetsuit reviews by individuals who have used the wetsuit. Many times, reviewers will comment on how the wetsuit size guide worked out for them.
Orca Openwater Wetsuit
Ever notice how pretty much all triathlon wetsuits are black? Not this one!
Check the women’s reviews here, with a complaint about the lack of ease for a quick transition during a race, but another triathlete happy with the amount of buoyancy of the wetsuit.
This men’s wetsuit is one of the most reviewed triathlon wetsuits on the site. Okay so that might not say much since in general there aren’t many wetsuit reviews there. 😉
The biggest issue with this wetsuit seems to be chafing in the neck area. If you’re worried about neck chafing, this might not be for you! But otherwise, with the high visibility of this wetsuit (it’s orange!) people looking out for you from the beach will be able to spot you easily!
See the negative review about the chafing here.
TYR Hurricane Cat 1 Wetsuit
For men, this is another wetsuit with tons of wetsuit reviews. Again, relatively speaking. 😉 It has even more reviews than the Orca wetsuit.
And there are really pretty much all glowing reviews for this wetsuit. Have a look at the top reviews here.
Here is really the only negative review from men. This triathlete says he likes the design, but his wetsuit keeps getting scratched despite the precautions he’s taking. (What precautions can you take in putting on your wetsuit? See the video here!)
One negative review from the women’s side also seem to back that up too.
But with all the all positive reviews, that’s one of the things to weigh along with the cost.
Blueseventy Sprint Wetsuit
This wetsuit was so good for this triathlete that it created a convert from a sleeveless wetsuit to a full wetsuit! See the review here.
Not as many reviews on the site, but the ones there are, are good ones. Blueseventy is one of the leading triathlon wetsuit brands. Well, let’s be honest, so are Orca and TYR. 😉 But blueseventy wetsuits just look sleek! 😉
Best wetsuit qualities | Buoyancy | Flexibility | Fit | Entry-level
HAPPY TRIATHLON SWIMMING!
HOME > TRIATHLON 101 > TRIATHLON GEAR LIST
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling