Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer

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2007-07-07 6:09 PM

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Subject: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer
Ok, given 64 degree water, same swimmer who is acclimated to cold water, which is fastest and slowest?

1. Tri Suit
2. Inexpensive shorty surfing / diving Suit (short sleevs, legs)
3. No wetsuit
4. full Surfing / Diving suit

Is my order correct? If so, how much faster would the shorty be than no wetsuit? Any at all?

2007-07-07 6:56 PM
in reply to: #875838

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Subject: RE: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer
You forgot Desoto Speedtube in the list.

Are you including transition time or just swim time?

2007-07-07 7:02 PM
in reply to: #875838

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Subject: RE: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer
It's kinda hard to say, as diving and surfing wetsuits aren't really designed to swim (i.e. race) in - they're engineered for warmth and buoyancy, not necessarily hydrodynamics, and range of motion. They will probably be a good deal thicker than a tri-specific wetsuit, which will definitely hinder your swim stroke, especially over longer distances. I would recommend against using a non-tri wetsuit for anything longer than a sprint, and I'd think twice about it then. But that's just me.


Soo...I would probably put the list as (fastest to slowest)
1. Tri suit
2. No wetsuit (presumably a bathing suit, and you'll change?)
3. shorty wetsuit
4. full westuit
2007-07-07 7:41 PM
in reply to: #875838

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Subject: RE: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer

For most swimmers: 

1) Fastest swim = full sleeves tri wetsuit

2) speed suit/ tri suit/ swim suit

3) the rest

2007-07-07 9:11 PM
in reply to: #875838

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Subject: RE: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer

I echo Kenyon Tri Tri specific wetsuit fastest reg wetsuits slowest they are not made for swimming movement and the surface in most cases actually increases drag. Andin 64 degree water I would be doing the suit hands down.

2007-07-10 6:15 PM
in reply to: #875858

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Subject: RE: Wetsut Speed Comparisons - simple question, need answer
davhamm - 2007-07-07 6:56 PM

You forgot Desoto Speedtube in the list.

Are you including transition time or just swim time?



What's a Desoto Speedtube?

It's actually just a 2km swim.

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