​A beginners guide to wetsuit fitting

A beginners guide to wetsuit fitting

Ready to tackle a triathlon but don’t know where to start? One of the best places to start is by ensuring you have the right equipment to put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.

There are lots of reasons in which a wetsuit is the best choice, You can put in all the hard yards you want in the pool to get your stamina up to a suitable level - but travelling as quickly - and safely - as you can across a stretch of open water is a rather different kettle of fish.

What’s a good fit?

When wearing a wetsuit, it should feel tight but not too tight that you feel discomfort. A good fitting wetsuit should not have slacks where water can get into. E.G. Ankles, wrists and neck. Cold water trickling down through your suit will lead to an uncomfortable time (Feeling cold, weighed down) as well as have a huge effect on your overall performance. If the suit is the perfect size then any water will become trapped and eventually heat up - Keeping you optimal temperature to perform. You want to feel good, lightweight and agile with no limitations in your suit.

Comfort, performance - or both?

Bear in mind that there might be more than one size - especially from different wetsuit manufacturers - which feels the best?. A lot of manufacturers will base their sizing off of height, weight and chest size. So be guided to look into the wetsuit and the brand that you’re looking to get and use their sizing guides to figure out which size would be the best for you. Another major factor to consider is that many manufacturers, such as Zone3 and Orca, produce wetsuits designed for either comfort or speed in the water. If you feel you need more comfort, then we’d suggest going for one size above that which the makers recommend.

How to put a wetsuit on

Step 1: Place feet into wetsuit, use socks to make it easier

Step 2: Pull up legs towards the core area.

Step 3: Using your fingers work wetsuit up your lower body, so no gathering appears visible.

Step 4: Once the suit is pulled past the crotch area, pull it over the hips. Make sure it is not sagging in the crotch area.

Step 5: Pull suit up over chest and put arms in. Work each section separately along arm length. Top tip - Use a carrier bag on your arms to help you slip into the suit easier!

Step 6: Ensure sleeves are pulled up as high as they can go on the arms.

Step 7: Have someone else zip up your wetsuit to prevent strain on the teeth

Top advice for wetsuit wearing

• Don’t be put off that the suit feels oddly high around your neck while swimming - this is a standard feature so that the material can stop water from getting inside it.
• If you feel the suit is a little uneven in general, it will mould to your body’s shape the more you wear it, and you’ll notice the benefits of this especially when it’s wet. That’s why it’s called a wetsuit, after all!
• One of the most common problems with the fit of a wetsuit is if you get an area on your lower back which doesn’t fit tightly. This could let water in, so to fix it, pull the suit up tight into your crotch and then pull up the neckline as far as it will comfortably go.
• Extend your arms out straight either side and parallel to the ground. In this position, the suit’s material should fit closely into your armpits. Don’t worry if you notice some bumps or ridges on the top of the shoulder - this is perfectly normal. To adjust it, pull the arm of the suit carefully up towards the shoulder using your other hand.
• Use a carrier bag on your arms to help you slip into the wetsuit easier.

Important links:

Wetsuits - https://mytriathlon.co.uk/swim/wetsuits/

Thermal wetsuits - https://mytriathlon.co.uk/thermal-swimming-wetsuits/