Triathlon - tri suit vs. surfing suit

doing my first tri in a few weeks. i have a three two full body

http://www.oneilleshop.be/products_images/prod_495/C_2000004950002_1_175.jpg

and i was talking to a guy on my last run and he said that tri wetsuits are a whole lot better

can anybody tell me what the difference is, why is it different and what would happen if i used my oneill suit?

Try a test swim in your O'neill. But it may turn you into hamburger. Your arm mobility may also be inhibited.
Tri wetsuits are designed to avoid this.

The benefit of a tri wetsuit is its slick on the outside which makes you faster in the water. Tri suits are thin and tightly packed so they really don't absorb water. Also they are cut and seamed to make it easier to move your arms and legs for swimming. A surfing suit would likely slow you down if anything because of the water absorption, as well it won't allow you enough room for a smooth comfortable stroke. You are better off with no wetsuit than that.

I am assuming since you're from Long Island and you said "a few weeks" you're doing Tobay. I will be there as well, and I'm using a wetsuit cause I have it. If I didn't have one I wouldn't buy it for this event, the water is warm enough that you don't need it. That said however it makes the swim easier and faster and if you suck at swimming like me, you want every advantage you can get. Good Luck!

yeah, i was thinking about renting one at runners edge. maybe might just get a pair of tri shorts. did you go to the training session Saturday?

yeah, i was thinking about renting one at runners edge. maybe might just get a pair of tri shorts. did you go to the training session Saturday?

Tri shorts are definitely highly recommended! Runners Edge sells a Quintana Roo suit that I use for $200 for full sleeve and I think $150 for no sleeve, I personally prefer the full sleeve, I've used it for like 2 years now and its great. I believe the rental is the same suit.

Didn't do the training session but I do recommend them if you've never done it before, they have some great tips and the course is a bit challenging so its good to see everything beforehand.

yeah, i was thinking about just doing it in tri shorts, no suit. but i dunno yet. still deliberating. the trainings are alright, i went out with the "advanced" group and probably like 4 people got dropped on the first climb, but i stayed with them. the run is easy surprisingly when they say uphill you think your going to get killed. good luck on raceday

yeah, i was thinking about just doing it in tri shorts, no suit. but i dunno yet. still deliberating. the trainings are alright, i went out with the "advanced" group and probably like 4 people got dropped on the first climb, but i stayed with them. the run is easy surprisingly when they say uphill you think your going to get killed. good luck on raceday

You could definitely do it in just tri-shorts if you don't want to spend the money on a suit yet, plus your transition will be faster hehe.

Wait till the race, you will pass about 4000 people on Morris hill as a lot of people stop and walk their bikes up. The run is uphill half the way but its not *that* steep so it doesn't suck that much. Good luck to you too!

Check out www.wetsuitrental.com (http://www.wetsuitrental.com) as well. I used them for a race last year and the suit fit perfectly. Hit it up quick so that they have time to get it to you before race day.

Tri-shorts...oh yeah!! Last year no shorts - big OUCH! This year tri shorts - dropped almost 20 minutes off my bike time. I love my tri shorts.

The other thing about tri wetsuits versus scuba is the design of the wrist and ankle areas. Scuba suits typically are tight in those areas and can be harder to remove. Tri wetsuits are designed to come off quickly. Personnally I prefer sleeveless (to each his own) just so that I don't have to worry about the sleeves. Sure it is a bit colder for early spring or late fall races but once your in the water - who cares. I did a race in March - 52° water. By about 100 yards I didn't even notice that my arms were blue and shriveled - just kidding.

But that is the benefit of www.wetsuitrental.com (http://www.wetsuitrental.com) , you can try out a sleeved and sleeveless, long-legged or short to see which you like the best before buying one. I don't think they have two piece.

Best of luck,

Fred

yeah, there is a place where i can rent called runners edge. they are the same price. and i think have the same suits. dose a wetsuit really help when doing a sprint? i know it helps you float and cut through the water, but.. is it necessary?

I think it really depends on a couple of things: Are you a good swimmer? How cold is the water? How long is the swim?

If you are a good swimmer then a wetsuit may not be a big thing. For a less experienced swimmer, the extra bouyancy can be a very good thing.

If the water is in the mid-70's and below then you might want to consider a wetsuit just for the extra warmth.

If the race is a long race (by your standards not others) then you might want to consider a wetsuit. Again, the bouyancy is nice because if you get tired you can just float for a bit and the suit will be a big help with that. Two years ago 100 yards was long to me...now its nothing to swim a mile +.

ALso, if you are trying to place and you know you can gain some time in the water then a suit might be just what you need. But, be alert to the race rules. Depending on the water temperature they might not allow swimmers in wetsuits to place.

All that to say it is totally up to you. You have to compete the way you feel is best for you - within the rules - and not worry about what others think or are doing.

I'm a surfer and a Tri guy and will agree that no suit is better than a surf suit. Surf suits are purposefully non-buoyant because you need to be able to get underwater when surfing (duck diving would be pretty hard in a tri suit). Surf suits are also meant to let water in so that you keep warm in really cold water (your body heats the water, the water acts as additional insulation). Tri suits don't let water in (well shouldn't) and are MUCH more buoyant. They are also more buoyant in the leg area so that you don't have to kick while racing. This is probably the biggest deal. Don't kick in a tri suit, as you will use energy and not get anything out of it. Your legs are too bouyant to really get into the water to have an effect.

Good luck btw!


Oh, and this is my first post, but have lurked for a bit. Hi!

I disagree with Barefoot and others. I just completed an Ironman in a surfing suit and when I came out of the water most bikes were still on the rack in my area. It was a new 3/2 super stretchy Aleeda. I trained in it and did get a couple really small rash spots from seams near the armpits, but once they healed they never returned.

Yes, I'm sure tri suits are more buoyant (i tried one on and the legs seemed super thick) and they are the smooth neoprene which probably helps with speed and doesn't absorb as much water. However, I think a surfing suit is wayyyy better than no suit. I was about 4 minutes faster per mile with my surfing suit compared to swimming in jammers or my tri shorts during my training.

I'm a surfer and a Tri guy and will agree that no suit is better than a surf suit. Surf suits are purposefully non-buoyant because you need to be able to get underwater when surfing (duck diving would be pretty hard in a tri suit). Surf suits are buoyant because neoprene is buoyant. Duck diving in a tri suit is no harder than a surf suit (and I've done a lot of both)


Surf suits are also meant to let water in so that you keep warm in really cold water (your body heats the water, the water acts as additional insulation). Tri suits don't let water in (well shouldn't) and are MUCH more buoyant.All wetsuits allow water in (that's why they're called wet suits) but tri suits are designed to prevent water entering where it will affect swimming - in particular the neck (and arms/shoulders in a sleeveless suit). As stated above all wetsuits are buoyant because neoprene is full of tiny air bubbles. The number may change between rubber types but that's not to say all tri suits are more buoyant. BTW the water is not the insulator in a wetsuit - it's the air in the neoprene which allows the body's heat to warm the water.


They are also more buoyant in the leg area so that you don't have to kick while racing. This is probably the biggest deal. Don't kick in a tri suit, as you will use energy and not get anything out of it. Your legs are too bouyant to really get into the water to have an effect.That's a pretty blanket statement there mate.;) For swimmers who want to kick (they do exist) there are options like thinner rubber legs or truncated legs (which also allow for easier removal in T1)

As far as using a surfing suit in a tri - I did it once and it was like swimming with a parachute - would never even entertain the thought of doing it again. Unless you have a smooth rubber surf suit the surface will create drag and will hold some water. Unless it's a remarkably cut suit it will leak in the neck and slow you down. There's some really nice, dirt cheap tri suits around so I don't know why you'd waste time with a surf rig - but to each their own.

surf suit is like swimming with a 10lb bucket of water strapped to your ankles. Spend a few bux on a good xterra suit (they're on sale for $150 sleeveless or full right now).

I used a wetsuit that I bought at a local farm supply store in a triathlon earlier this year. It was a marked improvement over no suit the year before. In fact I was in the top 10 for the swim leg (granted this was only a sprint...)