wetsuits

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SkinnyJoe

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I know how they work and that they come in different thickness.

Having said that, I am curious how much of a difference (expressed in degrees) do they make? This I suspect may be subjective, but if there is some way of quantifying the effects of wearing one, I would love to see some numbers.

Thanks. :)

P.S. vaseline worn under a wetsuit, good or bad idea?
 
Might be helpful to post where you're planning on diving, and what time of year.

Thicker is warmer, but restricts movement more.

Vaseline? Get on a dive boat covered in vaseline and let us know how that works for ya.

Cleanin wetsuits is gonna be fun, for you and the other divers.

You, just cause.

Them, cause they laffed til they $^&* in theirs.
 
Fubarski said:
Might be helpful to post where you're planning on diving, and what time of year.

Thicker is warmer, but restricts movement more.

Vaseline? Get on a dive boat covered in vaseline and let us know how that works for ya.

Cleanin wetsuits is gonna be fun, for you and the other divers.

You, just cause.

Them, cause they laffed til they $^&* in theirs.
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No diving, swimming. San Francisco Bay, next summer. Maybe 60 degrees? I was considering Lake Superior, at Duluth, MN, but the idea scares me a little.

A shrink wrap around the torso could possibly keep the vaseline away from the suit's inner surface. I don't have much body fat. :)
 
rt014 said:
Baby powder would be a better idea if you're talking about how to wiggle your way into it.
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Nope, extra insulation consideration, and water does not readily dissolve vaseline. Would it damage the neoprene?

here they mention vaseline as a remedy for chafing:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2007/aug/04/healthandwellbeing.features4

Here's my answer:

Vaseline is an easy solution to chafing, and any serious open-water swimmer never packs a swim bag without it. A small amount rubbed around the susceptible areas is all you need to avoid chafing, though Vaseline is not recommended if you use a wetsuit (the petroleum jelly can damage the rubber and cause it to deteriorate over time).

There is a great wetsuit-friendly lubricant on the market that triathletes and surfers swear by, called BodyGlide. Found in most sporting goods stores and surf shops, BodyGlide works as well as Vaseline, without the greasy residue. It also comes in a convenient roll-on stick (like anti-perspirant), with none of the mess that results from the manual application that Vaseline requires.

http://www.howtobefit.com/open-water-swimming.htm
 
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how about considering layers. just like normal clothes, dressing in layers helps you adapt for changing conditions.

so let's just say you got a wetsuit and it was a 3/2 or something. that's quite chilly for 60 degree weather. but you get a 3mm hooded vest, and now you have 3 over your head and 6mm total over your chest. that could help keep your core warm, but still allow some mobility in arms/legs. and when water warms up, lose the vest and the hood and you're not burning up.




also they make these second skins for you to wear underneath wetsuits. it's like this really thing, stretchy material that looks like a onesie and fits skintight to your body. it prevents the wetsuit from sticking to you when you put on or take off. and it helps provide a teeny bit more insulation. mine was costy, like 60 bucks or so, but definitely worth it when i didn't have to struggle pulling my wetsuit off.
 
..not worth starting another thread over, but can't help but wonder if there is a camelback/camelsack-equivalent device for swimmers, especially one that is able to handle warm liquids?

That would be nice to have as far as body temp regulation.
 
New quality wetsuits fit better and are easier to get into these days. If you're looking to get a new one find one that fits well. The new materials are more stretchy (if that's a word) and make even the thicker ones fairly easy to get into. Unless you have a poorly fitted wetsuit and you're not going to be running in it, I don't think you'll need any powder or grease. I both dive and surf on the central coast of California (about 1-1/2 south of San Francisco, and I'm no expert) and use a 7mm suit with hood for diving and a 3mm suit for surfing. For surfing I wear a rash guard under my suit (thin polypropylene - polypropylene) shirt that pretty much eliminates chafing. You can also get thin neoprene shirts to wear under the wetsuit which helps with warmth even more. I do have friends that do research diving here and they use 10mm suits but they're down for a number of tanks for a longer period of time. My advice would be to get a high quality wetsuit that fits well and that you are comfortable with right out the door. A rash guard can't hurt either. There is the dry-suit option but they require a bit of education/training to ensure you can handle the buoyancy factors.
 
Pardon my ignorance, but to find a perfectly fitting wetsuit does one have to be measured by a professional, in a brick and mortar store somewhere?
 
I guess if it were to fit perfectly you'd have to have it custom made. Most shops have no problem with you trying wetsuits on until you find one that fits. Often, different suit makers uses slightly different patterns so if one brand does not fit well, another might. You can get a custom made suit if you're willing to spend a bit more. It sounds like you're new to diving. I would suggest you find a shop that you like and trust and take an introductory class. I lot of your questions will be answered. A knowledgeable shop owner will be able to answer most all of your questions even without taking a class.
 
As a triathlete, I would definately recommend a wetsuit that is made for triathlon if you will be swimming in it. As opposed to the diving/surfing types, these are made with smooth neoprene on the outside to help you slide through the water eaiser. It also has a thicker neoprene on the torso for bouyancy, but a thinner one in the arm/shoulder areas for ease of movement. I regularly swim in low-60s water and am comfortable (after you get moving, it's always cold at first). In that temp, you may want to consider booties, gloves, and a neoprene cap as well. Depending on your cold tolerance and body fat, you may or may not need them.

Look for brands like Xterra (the one I use), Blue Seventy, 2XU, or look for one that specifically says "Triathlon" wetsuit.

As for the vaseline, a much better option is something called Body Glide. Ask for it at your local sporting goods store or running store. It looks like a stick of deodorant and applies the same way. Just put it on anywhere there is contact while swimming to avoid chaffiing. Also, a little around the ankles will help get the suit to slide on eaiser.

As for fit, it is not necessary to try one on in a brick and mortar store. Speaking for Xterra, where I bought mine, they have sizing charts online and if you get it and it doesn't fit, they have no proble exchanging it for another size.

Good luck and have fun!
 
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