Swimming Wetsuits vs. Surf & SCUBA Wetsuits
 
A swimming wetsuit's primary function is to increase your buoyancy and enhance your swimming speed. Different types and thicknesses of neoprene are used at strategic locations throughout the wetsuit, leading to increased buoyancy, flexibility, and range of motion. The swimming wetsuits ancillary function is to retain body heat. Surfing and SCUBA wetsuits' primary function is to retain body heat and provide some buoyancy.

Full Wetsuit vs. Sleeveless Wetsuit

A full wetsuit will be warmer and faster - faster due to the increased buoyancy. In general, a well-fitting full suit will be an additional 2 seconds/ 100 meters faster than the same model in the sleeveless version. Some swimmers have experienced swim times dropping between 5-15 seconds per 100m, that is a savings of 2.5 to 4 minutes in a 1.5K swim (Olympic Distance Triathlon)! Some swimmers avoid the full wetsuit as they feel they cannot "feel" the water on their forearms, leading to a less efficient stroke. Another reason is that swimmers experience fatigue in their shoulders and torso. Both of those concerns can be remedied with the correct size wetsuit.
 
Technical Details

All wetsuits are made with "neoprene rubber" a naturally buoyant material. Different types of neoprene have different rates of buoyancy. For triathlon wetsuits, the neoprene used is the one with the most air cells. This behaves like a honey comb - the wetsuit is lighter, stronger, more flexible, and more buoyant. Buoyancy = body higher in the water = less surface area. The neoprene in normal surfing and diving wetsuits are laminated on each side with nylon fabric to protect the neoprene against abrasion. With triathlon wetsuits, the external surface of the neoprene is left as raw rubber. The internal surface of the rubber is laminated with a nylon fabric to enable rapid exit from the wetsuit. Most triathlon wetsuits are manufactured with hydrophobic rubber. This rubber has silicone surface treatment which provides a slippery surface, reducing surface resistance on the wetsuit in the water. Reduced friction = reduction of drag = improvement of glide. Triathlon wetsuits also have fitted collars and overall closer fit in order to avoid a rapid influx of water into the wetsuit or "parachute effect" at the swimmer's water entry.
 
Fit

Wetsuit size is determined by height and weight; however you should exercise common sense in choosing your wetsuit size. If you wear size "large" T-shirt but the height/weight chart calls for a "small" wetsuit, you are more likely a medium/large. If you have a lean, marathon runner's body, the size chart will line up for you. If you are more "solid" or muscular, add 10 lbs to your weight to allow more room for fit.

Importance of Size
 
Your swimmer's wetsuit should fit like a second skin. Water should not seep into the arm holes (on a sleeveless wetsuit) or at the neck. This extra water would weigh you down like an anchor while you were swimming. The closer fit also allows increased range of motion and comfort. The more realistic you are about your body type, height, and weight the better our sales staff can help you find the perfect fit.
 
Wetsuit Alterations

Swimming wetsuits can be altered either by a wetsuit tailor or by the consumer. Some suits are manufactured to be trimmed by the consumer to make the legs or arms shorter. Check with Nytro before you make that first slice.
 
Putting on a Swimming Wetsuit

When trying on a swimming wetsuit, or putting it on for a swim, always follow these steps in order to extend the lift of your wetsuit. Since a swimming wetsuit fits like a second skin, it is important that you are as cool and dry as possible when you first attempt putting it on. Use your fingers and finger tips to pull on the suit - NEVER use your fingernails as you can easily tear the neoprene. Use Steady and firm force, no pinching, yanking, or excessive stretching.

1. Prepare the wetsuit with smooth skin outside, zipper in back. Do not rush. The easiest way to get a wetsuit on is when you are cool and relaxed.
2. Pull the suit over feet and ankles to 1-2" above your ankle bones. Work the wetsuit gradually up over thighs and hips.
3. Get suit as high as possible into your crotch before you try to pull the top half off the wetsuit on. Torso sleeves and collar will feel restrictive if the crotch is too low.
4. Fold sleeve cuff back 3" and pull the sleeve up to 3" above wrist bone. Put on the top half of the wetsuit one arm at a time. Adjust sleeves so that the wetsuit is high into your armpits, eliminating air pockets. Flip down cuff at wrist.
5. Pull suit body up front and back. Adjust the sleeves and torso and eliminate large folds on stomach, lower back, elbows, and crotch.
6. Position the internal zipper flap flat against your back. Roll your shoulders back and zip the suit up.

Wetsuit Care

Your swimming wetsuit is an expensive and technical piece of training gear, proper care will allow you to enjoy it for many seasons.
DO's

1. Use Bodyglide around your neck, wrists, and ankles to prevent chaffing. When you are sighting buoys in open water swimming, the back of your neck is highly susceptible to chaffing.
2. After each use, rinse your wetsuit with cool, fresh water and make sure all salt and dirt has been washed out of the zipper. To clean your suit, use only a specially formulated wetsuit shampoo. (link to shampoo)
3. Hang your wetsuit on a thick plastic (not wire) hanger.
4. Storage: store your wetsuit in a cool, dry location inside out, laying flat, folded once at the waist.
5. Travel: Lay suit flat, zipper side down. Fold legs up over chest. Cross arms in an X over chest. Fold up in half at the knees.

DON'T's

1. Never use petroleum jelly, cooking spray, tanning oil, or any other grease or solvents on your suit. These products can cause irreversible damage.
2. Don't use your swimming wetsuit for any other water sport than swimming.
3. Don't hang your wetsuit for more than a week, this will stretch and crack the thin neoprene in the shoulder area. 4. Never toss wetsuit in the washer or dryer. Do not dry clean or iron your wetsuit.
5. Do not leave your wetsuit crumpled wet in a bag or car trunk. This could mold and/or mildew your wetsuit.
6. Never try to "squeeze" into a wetsuit that fit you 25 lbs ago. Wetsuits do not shrink, and sometimes are tighter after the off season.

Wetsuit Maintenance

For large tears contact a surf or dive shop near you. We recommend www.swell-stuff.com.

1. For a tear in your wetsuit through the rubber but not the fabric backing follow these steps:

a. With a clean and dry suit, open up the small tear and brush out any dirt, dust and sand. Use alcohol wipes to remove any greasy residue (fingerprints, sunblock).
b. Using a toothpick or coffee stir stick, apply a thin layer of neoprene glue (link to wetsuit repair kit) to both sides of the tear. Let this first coat dry, and then apply a second coat.
c. Once the glue dries and is still tacky, press both sides of the tear together, and pinch the edges.
d. Lay the wetsuit flat in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct heat sources for 2-3 hours or overnight and allow the glue to cure. Link to wetsuit repair kit

2. For small (1" or less) tear through rubber and fabric, you will need a wetsuit repair kit plus an iron, 4 sheets of white paper, and patch or strip of "Melcro heat tape" (available from dive shops). To repair the fabric side:

a. Cut a patch or strip of Melcro tape the size of the tear plus ¼" extra on all sides. If you only have strips of tape, you can overlap the strips
b. Place paper around patched area to protect the suit from the heat of the iron.
c. Follow directions on the heat tape packaging. If there are no directions, set your iron to the "wool" setting, no steam.
d. With the pointed tip of the iron under moderate pressure, move the iron over the tape. Don't leave the iron in one place longer than 1-2 seconds, or else you risk scorching the fabric.