Beginner’s Guide to Buying a Wetsuit for Open Water Swimming: 5 Tips
Ready to take your interest in open water swimming to the next level?
Looking to start swimming in the open but unsure if you can take the cold temperatures of the San Francisco Bay?
It may be time to buy a wetsuit, but before you invest hundreds of dollars in a new wetsuit, you have several important things to consider. Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered several wetsuit-related topics on the Odyssey Blog. Today, we bring you a beginner’s guide for purchasing a wetsuit for open water swimming through this list of 5 tips.
1. Fit Comes First
From your speed to your level of comfort, the fit of your wetsuit impacts your performance in the water. According to Odyssey’s Coach Christina, “wetsuit fit is a highly personal thing.”
“The one that your best friend raves about may only work for her because she has a long torso and broad shoulders. If you have longer legs and/or wider hips – you may need another size and/or brand.
Your friend may not mind how neoprene across his shoulders feels as he strokes, but you may not want that resistance – you may want to use a sleeveless wetsuit. Do you prefer breast stroke? If so, you will want to look carefully for a wetsuit that will work for that stroke.”
Make sure you are comfortable with the fit of a wetsuit before purchasing. The best way to test this is to try on a wetsuit and test it in the water. While it may feel great in a fitting room, the only way to test a wetsuit’s fit is to get it into the open water.
2. Make Sure You Need A Wetsuit
Before you invest in a high-quality wetsuit for open water swimming, make sure you need one. If your body is tolerant of cold temperatures, you enjoy swimming in the cold, or if the water you will be swimming in stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit or higher during the year, you may not need a wetsuit.
While a wetsuit can increase your overall speed, some swimmers prefer swimming without one. You may also just need a neoprene hood and/or earplugs to prevent water from entering your ear and to keep your body temperature up.
Try renting before buying (Sports Basement rents wetsuits) and consider a neoprene hood and earplugs to see if that keeps your body warm enough during cold swims.
3. Not All Wetsuits are Made for OWS
While it’s possible to swim in a wetsuit made for another sport, like surfing or diving, it’s not recommended. “These suits are usually uncomfortable to swim in,” says Coach Christina. “They are restricting in places that will make it hard to take a full stroke, and can also be hard to take on and off,” she continues.
For open water swimming purposes, choose a wetsuit specifically made for triathlons or OWS, which give a flotation boost that can improve your speed.
4. Try Before You Buy
As mentioned above, it’s hard, if not impossible, to know if a wetsuit will truly work for you if you have yet to try it on and wear it while swimming. “If you have a friend, especially one with a similar body size and type, you can ask to try theirs,” says Coach Christina.
You should consider renting a wetsuit. The Sports Basement, a local chain, provides refunds for rentals if you purchase a wetsuit from them. Wherever you purchase a wetsuit from, ask about their return policy before buying.
5. Choose Your Brand Carefully
There are many brands to choose from when picking an open water swimming wetsuit. Major brands include Blue Seventy, Xterra, and Roka.
Your fit is the most important aspect of choosing the right wetsuit, as mentioned above, followed closely by quality and value. Before purchasing a specific brand’s wetsuit, read reviews and consider how long it may last along with the overall cost.
Odyssey partners with Blue Seventy, which offers quality wetsuits at a reasonable price. Get 20% off Blue Seventy products through our partnership. Use code OOWS23 for 20% off, or if this is your first purchase, you can save 30% with the code NEWOOWS23. View eligible products here!
Bonus tip from community member Michael Silk — “always use Bodyglide!”