Why are "most" wetsuits black? (Page 2)

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Why are "most" wetsuits black? Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
 
 
of 2
 
 
2008-07-12 8:33 PM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Extreme Veteran
565
5002525
Jenison , MI
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
It's to bad they don't come in other colors. As of now I just look like a fat guy in a hefty bag.

2008-07-12 8:52 PM
in reply to: #1525230

User image

Alpharetta, GA
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

"Island of the sharks"... that's exactly what I thought... thanks!  Great pics!

 

Andi

2008-07-12 10:29 PM
in reply to: #1523647

Elite
2608
2000500100
Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

"Also, why the heck do they make it the one color where we can heat up like crazy?"

Come do a tri in Colorado and this won't seem so bad. Early mornings can be chilly, even in August, and the water temps don't make it past 72 degrees, and that's in August. Do a June tri and you're looking at 65-degree water. Do an off-road tri up in the mountains and it's 62 degrees.

2008-07-12 10:39 PM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Buttercup
14334
500050002000200010010010025
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

Maybe it's a manufacturing cost issue? How much would it cost to change the color to PINK and how many PINK wetsuits would they sell?

Personally, I'd like to see someone start a wetsuit personalization/painting business. I'd love to have white orchids cascading down my back when I have to wear one of those things.

2008-07-12 10:47 PM
in reply to: #1525388

User image

Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
Renee - 2008-07-12 8:39 PM

Maybe it's a manufacturing cost issue? How much would it cost to change the color to PINK and how many PINK wetsuits would they sell?

Personally, I'd like to see someone start a wetsuit personalization/painting business. I'd love to have white orchids cascading down my back when I have to wear one of those things.

I know they custom make surf/dive wetsuits, but they are not the shiny neoprene they make tri suits out of, but the "textured" rougher neoprene (sort of like tri suits are glossy and dive/surf suits are matte).  Perhaps it's hard to make the glossy colored.......  

Island of the sharks"... that's exactly what I thought... thanks!  Great pics!

Yeah, Island of the Sharks - all three pics are from there, the second one is the night whitetip feeding dive they show



Edited by ChrisM 2008-07-12 10:48 PM
2008-07-13 11:38 AM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Veteran
377
100100100252525
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
I used to swim accross the Courtney Camble opening here in Tampa bay until I came out of the water and the fishin dudes had this 3000 foot beast (ok, maybe 6 foot bull shark) on the beach. that thing was strong lookin, and it was heaving, and Oh MY! no thanks.

I have not swum (swam) uh! oh well - in the area since.

for some reason I can't settle in and breath very well. ahhahaha

FF

2008-07-13 1:34 PM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Veteran
166
1002525
Douglas County
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
Regardless of whether color is a factor in attacks, one could certainly make bank by selling colored triathlon wetsuits and feeding on the misconceptions that are out there.   
2008-07-13 11:15 PM
in reply to: #1523647

Elite
2608
2000500100
Denver, Colorado
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
2008-07-16 12:53 PM
in reply to: #1525267

User image

Expert
735
50010010025
Chatham, Ontario
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
I should really stop complaining about the little Lake Erie water snakes!
2008-07-16 2:17 PM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Expert
808
500100100100
Columbia, MD
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
Wetsuits are black because black is a slimming color.  Duh, everyone knows that.
2008-07-16 3:54 PM
in reply to: #1525299

User image

New user
8

Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
They are just like Henry Ford said about the automobiles he was producing. The come in "Any colour - so long as it's black. "

2008-07-16 4:31 PM
in reply to: #1534537

User image

Pro
6767
500010005001001002525
the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

MelissaE - 2008-07-16 3:17 PM Wetsuits are black because black is a slimming color.  Duh, everyone knows that.

And that's why my bikes are black, too!

2008-07-16 5:01 PM
in reply to: #1523700

User image

Expert
834
50010010010025
Medina, MN
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
JeepFleeb - 2008-07-11 3:06 PM

run4yrlif - 2008-07-11 2:54 PM
That being said, wetsuits (esp. surfing wetsuits) used to be all kinds of crazy neon colors. Thankfully, the '80s ended.

You sure about that?

I took this pic 5 weeks ago in Oklahoma.

I'm pretty sure he can be seen from space.



I always try to wear some loud color clothes at my races so that my kids can see me coming and get to cheer. This wetsuit would be perfect.....
2008-09-01 6:29 PM
in reply to: #1525299

New user
1

Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

fsr402 - 2008-07-12 8:33 PM It's to bad they don't come in other colors. As of now I just look like a fat guy in a hefty bag.

 

One of the very 1st wetsuits that I designed in 2004 was actually all silver because we wanted to be different, but when i put on the suit I looked like a TinMan it was pretty funny.

In many ways Black is one of the most popular colors that sales the best and matches most of your other gear.  Its the same reason the number one selling color of cycling shorts is black.

Now having said all that I personally like colors i even have a pair of white cycling shorts and when I used to compete in swimming I had a pair of yellow Speedos with a smiling face on the back...

It comes down to the option of colors and one practical company who is very traditional.  As some of you know most of the neoprene in triathlon market is supplied by Yamamoto and the owner Tommy Yamamoto is very conservative, in his approach of making colors etc... Then it comes to minimum quantities in order to make custom color you have to order 3,000 sheets of neoprene just of that one color.  So if you use this as an accent it would last for many years...and is just difficult to justify this type of expense.

But this morning I had a call with Tommy and thy are making some samples of lighter colors of SCS coding which we will be testing next week.  So do not be surprised if you see some colors in the very near future.

 

2008-09-01 10:16 PM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Expert
938
50010010010010025
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

They are black because the same reason classic tuxes are black: silly colors like white just don't stand up to the test of time....ok, so it was 1987 and I thought white tails with a mullet were styling...yikes. 

 

2008-09-02 8:32 AM
in reply to: #1642054

User image

Master
3546
2000100050025
Millersville, MD
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?
Marcintri69 - 2008-09-01 7:29 PM

fsr402 - 2008-07-12 8:33 PM It's to bad they don't come in other colors. As of now I just look like a fat guy in a hefty bag.

One of the very 1st wetsuits that I designed in 2004 was actually all silver because we wanted to be different, but when i put on the suit I looked like a TinMan it was pretty funny.

In many ways Black is one of the most popular colors that sales the best and matches most of your other gear.  Its the same reason the number one selling color of cycling shorts is black.

Now having said all that I personally like colors i even have a pair of white cycling shorts and when I used to compete in swimming I had a pair of yellow Speedos with a smiling face on the back...

It comes down to the option of colors and one practical company who is very traditional.  As some of you know most of the neoprene in triathlon market is supplied by Yamamoto and the owner Tommy Yamamoto is very conservative, in his approach of making colors etc... Then it comes to minimum quantities in order to make custom color you have to order 3,000 sheets of neoprene just of that one color.  So if you use this as an accent it would last for many years...and is just difficult to justify this type of expense.

But this morning I had a call with Tommy and thy are making some samples of lighter colors of SCS coding which we will be testing next week.  So do not be surprised if you see some colors in the very near future.

 

Thanks for coming here and sharing some insights from the inside!

2008-09-02 8:38 AM
in reply to: #1534537

User image

Sneaky Slow
8694
500020001000500100252525
Herndon, VA,
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

MelissaE - 2008-07-16 3:17 PM Wetsuits are black because black is a slimming color. Duh, everyone knows that.

That probably has a lot more to do with it than people think, I bet.  I wonder how many people would buy a white wetsuit?  We look bad enough as it is in those coming-out-of-the-water race pictures. 

2008-09-02 9:10 AM
in reply to: #1523647

User image

Master
1222
1000100100
Lafayette, IN
Subject: RE: Why are "most" wetsuits black?

To throw another totally different theory into the mix:  colored rubber tends to degrade much faster than black rubber does.  Black rubber has a higher amount of carbon black in it and along with the polymer stabilizers added to the "mix", black plastics and rubber will last much longer before oxidation sets in and destroys it.

This could be at least one reason why wetsuits are black.  This is also why I buy black tires instead of colored ones.

Just my .02 cents after having worked for a chemical corp. for awhile.  I am not a chemist though!

New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Why are "most" wetsuits black? Rss Feed  
 
 
of 2