Triathlon Wetsuits – The Difference Between Them and Simple Swimwear

Posted on 04 March 2009 by admin

To say that a triathlon swimsuit is a fancy version of a regular swimsuit is like saying a triathlon swimmer is just a fancy version of a kid with water wings in a backyard pool. The serious athlete buys the triathlon wetsuit because it makes a real difference in swimming speed. How?

triathlon-wetsuit- Materials. Neoprene, and similar materials, exert a much lower “drag” in the water. The swimmer glides much better, almost as though the water were a native environment.

- Thickness. Triathlon wetsuits, at least at the high end, are not a uniform thickness. The torso part of the suit should be thicker to help the swimmer float higher in the water, and the arms and shoulders should be thinner, and therefore more flexible, to help the swimmer move faster.

- Construction. Unlike a regular swimsuit, a triathlon suit doesn’t allow any water inside. A loose neck opening, or floppy wrist opening, would act as water scoops were it not for tight seals. A competitive athlete doesn’t want the weight or the drag.

How these things are executed vary from brand to brand, but those are the basic features that separate the sharks from the fish.

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