What is the difference between a surf wetsuit and a triathlon wetsuit

On the other hand, Triathlon suits have a thicker and more significant neoprene material difference across the suit to support different swimming positions with flexibility in the shoulders and arms. They are essentially more comprehensive at the thighs and torso and a bit thinner at the arms. This is to help you maintain a flat and horizontal position when swimming. Actually, it is almost impossible to list all of them. In complete contrast, there are very few triathlon wetsuits. This is why most fast swimming triathlons are full suits.

Perhaps the only style you can choose from is whether you are looking for a no-arms or a long arms suit. Nonetheless, the full suit is usually faster and warmer in water.

The no arms option is less restrictive, slightly slower, and calmer. A tri suit is a multipurpose garment you can use throughout the whole race. They come in two main styles; a two-piece and a one-piece option. In each case, the suit is made of breathable and thin material. The top is normally sleeveless. The lower part resembles cycling short, with a lightweight pad and jammer length legs. After the swimming face, the thin pads dry out very quickly and do not feel like a wet and big diaper when riding.

This makes it more ideal and comfortable when swimming. They help swimmers advance in the water with each swimming stroke just like a fish. Surfing wetsuits are typically made out of Neoprene and constructed to withstand a broad range of situations, including countless hours on the water, protection from the elements and horrendous wipe outs.

Construction features may include; zippers on the front front zip , zippers on the back back zip , extra padding in the knees, chest panels that help you stick to your surfboard and even car key storage compartments! Triathlon wetsuits are typically constructed out of Neoprene and made specifically to make you swim faster!

Construction features may include; zippers in the back back zip , extra long zipper tethers for easy removal, thinned out neck collars and a seamless, smooth outer shell. Surfing wetsuits use a uniform neoprene thickness in different areas of the wetsuit which results in only a small difference between the neoprene thickness in the torso and the neoprene thickness in the arms and legs in order to maintain warmth. Triathlon wetsuits have a more significant neoprene thickness difference across the wetsuit to support a horizontal swimming position and flexibility in the arms and shoulders.

Basically, triathlon wetsuits are thicker in the torso and thighs to lift the body and maintain a flat, horizontal position while being much thinner in the arms. The short answer is Sure! If you use a surfing wetsuit for the swim portion of a triathlon, it will probably feel restrictive, slow through the water and may cause overheating.

To be perfectly honest, I would rather swim without a wetsuit in a pair of shorts than wear a surfing wetsuit during the swim portion of a Triathlon, but that is just my opinion. If I absolutely had to wear a surfing wetsuit because the water was cold and I had no other options, I would chose a farmer john style, which is a wetsuit without arms. Quick story: I was in this exact scenario several years ago at a triathlon in California. At the time, I was reluctant to purchase a new Triathlon wetsuit because I had two at home.

The answer is Yes! You can use a triathlon wetsuit for surfing. Remember the story from above? Triathlon wetsuits are specifically designed to help triathletes swim fast, swim comfortably, and remove quickly in transition. Surfing and diving wetsuits are designed to provide adequate buoyancy and warmth, but not help with swim speed or quick removal. Surfing or diving wetsuits are not allowed to be worn on triathlon race day. Since triathlon is all about getting from start to finish fast over the combined swim, bike and run and the transitions , each element of triathlon gear is specifically designed to help you accomplish just that.

Especially the triathlon wetsuit. Triathlon wetsuits are specifically designed to help you swim fast, swim comfortably, and get off so that you can get in and out of transition in the shortest amount of time possible.

The reason triathletes can wear wetsuits in the first place is to provide a more comfortable swim in chilly and often cold water. Triathlon wetsuits are specifically designed to help triathletes swim fast and comfortably in colder water over a longer distance.

Design features like flexibility allow triathletes to stroke comfortably, buoyancy to promote an effective swimming position, and neoprene hydrodynamics to help you slide quickly thru the water. Lets not forget getting out of the water and going into transition to the bike leg.

As comfortable as you were on the swim, you want to get it off NOW! And a triathlon wetsuit allows you to do just that! One reason — triathlon races wont allow you to. Well, yes — mostly. But while, in many cases, you can dig out your trusty surf wetsuit without a DQ, the triathlon version has evolved to be perfectly suited to the challenge….

By this standard, most surfing wetsuits should make it to T1 without a raised eyebrow, but some will get you a DQ: leading surf brands sell mm suits for cold water. While surfers need a wetsuit with built-in flexibility to swim just like us triathletes , they also spend a lot of time bobbing about, waiting for that stellar wave. So, surfing wetsuits are usually thicker than triathlon wetsuits on average — when you take into consideration torso, back, shoulders, arms and legs.