Water Temps = Wetsuit?

Ok, let me rephrase the question - is anyone doing ow swimming w/o a wetsuit locally? Any feedback appreciated

It depends on how cold you can tolderate. 
Some people think a sleeveless wetsuit is good for low 60s water.  I need a full fuit for that - well I only own a full suit so no much of a choice. 
I started swimming in local lakes/ponds in early May when water temp was mid 50s, and it feels cold with a full suit. 

Yesterday a small local lake was high 60s and it felt good on me in a full suit, and by the end I was a little too warm. 

My first tri was without a wetsuit.  Not sure of water temp.  700 yard in a Lake Webster in late July.  Very comfortable. 

Wetsuit or not, I suggest you to do a few more OWS practice, and on race day get into the water early to get use to the water temp. 

Walden (in Concord), Massapoag (in Sharon), Upper Mystic (in Medford/Arlington), and Webster (Lake Charmoggggggggggg) have all been fine for me without a wetsuit, and even though I'm no cold water wimp, all of the above seemed to have been fine for folks who are borderline so.

So if you're not a totaly cold water wimp and you're a confident enough swimmer that the wetsuit buoyancy won't be necessary as a security blanket, it should totally be fine if your event is in a lake (not ocean) and it's not a tremendously deep body of water that would make it significantly colder. 

Where's the swim?  Perhaps someone's already taken a dip there to give you a first hand recount of how it was.

I completed my first tri in June and this was a major concern for me.  It was in the ocean.  I talked to a lot of people and got mixed reviews.  I ended up swimming in the ocean around 60 degrees that day without.  Before the race I got in the water and it was a little cold but during the race I did not even notice.  I also have been swimming in Walden without a suit since the beginning of June.  Last week for 45 minutes.  As long as the water temp is 60 or above I would say you will not even notice unless you plan to be in the water for a long period of time.

Thanks for the feedback. The lake is Lake Pearl in Wrentham. The tri is sponsored by the Hockomock YMCA. I was in Lake Manchaug last weekend. I was ok with a shorty wet suit, but felt uncomfortable swimming in it. Just not used to it when I've been swimming in a pool all winter and spring!

Low 60s will feel COLD and often too cold to the average person, I think.  Even 65 will feel cold at first, but be not too difficult to adjust to in the first couple minutes of swimming.  Walden has been 65 and up since June.  Usually, folks are recommended to have a wetsuit for temps under 65.  I don't think I'd recommend anyone who is doing a first tri or not an experienced open water swimmer to go without a wet suit in low 60's temps, but that's my take on it.

Not sure what you mean ^^^.  Uncomfortable in the shorty?  Or uncomfortable in OW?

I haven't been in either of those... anyone have feedback on Lake Pearl?

This discussion has been quite interesting for me. Good info........

I have a tri (witch city tri) on august 2nd in Salem Sound. i checked the average temp and it is 57.3 degrees F.

I think I will be going to Quad Multi for a wet suit rental.

JD

If by "shorty wetsuit" you mean those for boarding/surfing then it's understandable - they are not comfortable for swimming!  Not that you can't do it, just uncomfortable. 

You may want to contact Fast Splits in Newton - a few years ago I rented a swimming/triathlon wetsuit from them for a race.  $40 for the week so that you can practice with it a few days before the race. 
They are good at letting you try on different brands (may have different cuts) and different styles (sleeveless/full suit) until you find something that fits.  May worth a try. 

Edited to add:  yeah, Quad Multi in Arlington also have wetsuit rental. 

Edited by D.K. 2009-07-09 3:29 PM

That's funny - I was just checking around for temps for the Wild Fish swim on Aug 8th in Collins Cove which I did last year in just a regular bathing suit (cold start, but I was hot by the end of my 1-mile) and found that the website for the Swim and Fin the weekend before your tri, which is also in Salem Harbor starting at Forest River Park says the average temp is 67 degrees at that time.  That's still a bit on the cold side and wetsuit worthy, but you could probably manage without one if you really had to.

Edited by running4beer 2009-07-09 4:19 PM

I've done Danskin a few of times but still consider myself a newbie Not afraid of the water - waterski, etc. and can swim fairly well (just not real fast - ugh). The shorty I was referring to is for more waterskiing. Comfortable swimming in OW, just wasn't comfortable in the wetsuit. Not sure if I want to rent something for this Sunday - don't have enough time to try it out.

Edited by skijem 2009-07-09 10:02 PM