hos13

I'm doing my first tri/xtera in July, It is a 400m open water swim. I was going to swim bike and run in my swim jammer. However should I consider a wetsuit for the swim.

Thanks in advance.

EKCooper

I would say that might depend on water conditions and your ability. Open water lake or ocean? If you concerned about choppiness or temp, maybe. If you're a weaker swimmer, probably. But, 400m isn't that far, so if it's an easy swim, the wetsuit will take time to get off.

bonnev659

agree with above it depends on the water and conditions

for my open water swims, i have done just a jammer but the water was 1 small lake and 1 pond in the summer time with warmer water temps

hos13

It is going to be in a lake mid-summer is texas, so water temps should be fine. I'm not a strong swimmer, I hope to be stronger by the time of the event. I will just my jammer or maybe some tri-shorts. Probably make things alot simpler for my first time.

Thanks for the input

tahoeeddie

i find that wetsuits are a very bulky piece of equipment. so if you are confident without it, then it'll save you having to take extra stuff. mid-summer in texas, i would never use a wetsuit. i raced in texas for many years. it's way too hot. even swimming at barton springs in austin where the water is 68 degrees year round. i wouldn't go with a wetsuit in mid-summer.

thehammerdog

It all depends on the weather, your suit and distance of the swim....if your a weak swimmer, the race is cool, distance long and you have a full suit....YES..........

NyoGoat

I did the exterra sprint at lake las vegas. The water temp was 57, I was the only one without a wetsuit. I was also the only one with toe clips on my pedals. I've just been getting into triathaloning, i'm just in it for a good time. My friends tell me I need a wetsuit to shave time on the swim. Meh, not worth the cost yet (although at 57 degrees I wondered!). I did one last year with the water temp at 70 degrees, probably 90% of the competitors had a wetsuit. I don't think it was necessary though

RedHerring

If its cold ware it. Most people are faster with one on but since its a short swim it will cost you to take it off.

Ludkeh

I say, go to a cycle store that specializes in Triathlon gear. They usually have for rent wetsuits, disc wheels ect.
Try one out for some of your training swims. That way you can truly evaluate if it's something that YOU think you could use. Does it make swimming easier for you, are you faster? Don't go by opinions or experience from the internet. We're each different and swimming can be very stressful for some people.

Here in New York State, the lakes are much cooler so a wet suit works great for me. I find that it helps keep my legs and butt up close to the surface of the water.I'm MUCH MORE RELAXED and significantly faster when I swim with the wetsuit! I can concentrate on technique more. I'm less tired when I get out of the water, so for me, the time it takes in transition to get out of the wetsuit is well worth the time.

PS:
For very short swims like the 400m that your contemplating I might just wear Jammers, but for a normal Sprint distance or greater, wetsuit for sure!

btpdragon

I have done triathlons and open water swims ranging from 300m to 3+ miles both in a wetsuit and in a speedo/jammer. It has become clear to me that I am faster in a wetsuit. A decent swim/tri wetsuit will float your body in proper swim position allowing more of your energy to be used for swimming. The exterior of the suits have less drag, allowing you to move farther with each stroke. If you do a few trial runs, you should be able to strip off the suit without any noticeable increase in your transition time.

That being said, in a 400m swim you will likely only pick up a few seconds advantage from the wetsuit. That small amount will likely be lost taking the suit off. You may also have an issue getting the suit unzipped or get some nasty neck chaffing. Not worth it unless you are competing for first overall.

I prefer to swim without the wetsuit, but in a race where your competitors are gaining an advantage simply from their equipment, you have to consider when it is best to join the masses.

Leinster

Did my first tri on Saturday, in a lake. Water temp 75 degrees. I had planned from the start not to use a wetsuit, and talking to some others afterwards, they wished they hadn't because they were being boiled in their suits halfway through the (1/2 mile) swim.

My wife told me all the leaders (who I never got to see) were in wetsuits coming through the transition and peeled them off really quick.

hos13

The swim got canceled, they converted the event to a duathlon, which was still fun and muddy since it was all off road and in the rain.

However, I had planned to swim with my jammer and a zoot tri jersey. When I had done my practice swims with my tri-jersey on, I could feel the drag. It fits pretty tight, maybe the drag is normal.

I'm going to try and make it to the Galveston Sprint in Sept, which is an ocean swim, I'll probably go with jammer but not sure if I'll swim with my jersey on.

SgtPepper64

Good to hear hos13. Hope you enjoyed the event despite the bad weather.

Lakes\Ponds at this point of the year (especially with our heat wave in the northeast) are very warm. My first lake-swim tri was 78* with pockets of much warmer water above 80*. The lake for this weekend's race that I'm doing was measured earlier this week at 86*.

Some people did the first race in wetsuits (only 500m) but it really depends on conditions and this weekend's race that I'm doing definitely takes them out of the picture. Good luck with your next event!