Triathlon - When would you say a wetsuit is necessary?

I just did my first tri and am looking at doing another. The one I'm looking at is the Three Rivers Tri in Michigan on August 19. The race director mentioned every year they've held it, folks have worn wetsuits, this year the water has been warm, but there is still a good chance it will be slightly below 78, so there is a good chance wetsuits will be allowed. Is a wetsuit absolutely necessary, or highly recommended at that temperature? The first tri I did was the Stoneman Sprint in Springfield, IL, and the water was warm. Indeed, wetsuits weren't allowed. For this tri, I'm thinking of doing the olympic distance instead. Will I suffer any adverse affects in that temperature water for that long? Greater fatigue?

I personally wouldn't wear one at that temp but you'll probably get varying answers. I did an olympic last year without a wetsuit and the water was 68...that's a little too cold. Earlier this year, I swam in 72 degree water and it was a little chilly at first but was good once I warmed up.

I suppose the downside of going without one when others are using them is that they have a bit of an advantage but you might make it up in T1.

If I were you, I would wait for H20Chick to post and do whatever she says :)

I would think that if the water is going to be 78 you don't want to wear a wetsuit. You will most likely overheat very quickly. Obviously you float a little better with a wetsuit on (I guess that isn't obvious haha) but I think that the negative consequences outway the positive ones. You have to remember that you sweat when you swim. You don't feel it because you are in the water, but you can become dehydrated very quickly. That would be heightened if you were in a wetsuit and overheating. You are doing an olympic distance, the last thing you want is to be losing to much fluids on the swim. Just my opinion. GOod luck

I agree...I think anything over 75 will be too warm for the wetsuit..for me. On the other hand, some people will sacrifice being hot for the time benefits of swimming with the wetsuit. I guess it doesn't matter to me because I'm slow with or without!!!

Did a tri in June in Iowa, 72 degree temp, about 10% didn't have a wetsuit, including me. I was fine as soon as we started and placed mid pack on the swim.

I did a sprint last year in a lake that was at 1 mile altitude. water temp was 72. most wore a wetsuit, I didn't . boyency was the reason for wearing it not temp as I found out. wore a wetsuit at an even higher lake as a test. it's a huge advantage when the air is thin.

Simply because I haven't gotten a wetsuit yet I swam the Luray, VA triathlon with out one and it was 64 degrees. Granted it was cold and took my breathe away for the first 200. I was still happy with a low (relatively speaking) T1 time. That being said I will be wearing one with anything under 75 degrees...

If I were you, I would wait for H20Chick to post and do whatever she says :)

How flattering!

I'm probably in the minority here, but a) I grew up in SoCal, where the ocean is COLD and b) I don't require the buoyancy aspects of a wetsuit as much as others do, so I tend to poo-pooh them a bit.

That said... Good LORD 78 is WAY too hot for a wetsuit. That's practically the PERFECT swimming temperature. Consider this - most competitive pools are kept under 82, so you're only looking at 4 degrees cooler. I don't own a wetsuit, but if I did, I'm sure I wouldn't put it on unless the water was under 65. If you're looking for some "help" from a wetsuit (buoyancy and therefore, speed) go ahead and wear one, but I'd avoid it if the water is anywhere over 75. Again, just one gal's opinion... (Who knows, maybe if I tried one, I'd wonder how I'd lived without one for so long?)

whenever it's legal, wear it.
and practice getting out of it quickly when it's wet.

78's way too hot. the time advantage is sweet, though.

i've skipped it for some hotter sprints (sometimes it's not a true sprint and the time is just not worth it for the short swim), but otherwise i wear it to glide through the water like the killer *whale* it says i am.