LOOE SEA SWIMMERS
Wetsuits
A common question that is usually asked is with regard to wetsuits and recommendations.
During and post COVID, in some swim communities, there appears to be a stigma attached to wearing a wetsuit that it’s ‘not cold water swimming’ if you wear one and alluding to it as a sign of weakness. Wetsuits are an invaluable piece of kit that have a multitude of benefits and swim groups recommend to wear one when swimming where possible. They can provide warmth for the core organs of the body, protect you somewhat from polluted water, floating leaves mainly in the autumn (if you have swam through a patch of holly leaves you will know the feeling), branches, twigs and other floating debris and have proven to be a good barrier from jellyfish stings.
Before you can decide which is best for you, you need to understand how it will be used. Are you a swimmer or a dipper? Swimmers are usually in the water over a set distance at a reasonable constant speed for a good chunk of time creating friction and heat in the body and suit from repetitive movement - dippers usually don’t ‘head submerge’ and don’t stay in for long (usually less than 10 mins). This is an important question to understand on what kit you may need.
Wetsuits are a personal choice depending on time of year/how long you stay in/your own endurance in cold water etc. There are people who dip all year round in skins but also people who need to wear winter suits in the summer due to health conditions
In simple terms, suits can be very thick (5mm is common) to almost paper thin (and everything in-between) and thicker the material, the more restrictive they are on movement (particularly arms). If swimming is your main sport/hobby, you may have several depending on time of year/water temperature. Some suits are specifically designed for swimming, some for surfing/windsurfing so pay particular attention to the specification etc.
The best advice is go somewhere and try one on if possible to get an idea of size. There are also lots on places like the internet auction sites/marketplace where you could pick up a bargain - but condition is very extremely important. You may want to consider wet gloves, boots and hood too, especially in the cold months (December - April)
The common brands that stand the test of time are:-
Gul
HUUB
ZONE 3
dHb
Orca
O’Neill
And many more.
Avoid supermarket brands if you can. They are usually a poor fit and let lots of water in.
Maintenance and repair
Common Brands:
Always wash a wetsuit after use preferably with warm water paying attention to zips to remove any sand - and hang it inside out. Hang to dry but not in direct sunlight (the UV can be quite damaging if left exposed for long periods). If your washer has a rinse cycle, that’s the best solution from experience - and gets a lot of the water out ;-).This information has been provided in good faith from personal experience swimming in the sea for over 20 years all year round, trying lots of products, speaking to friends, reviews in magazines from athletes and observing what still performs/for sale second hand years later (that’s a good sign). Other people may have different experiences to add to this topical discussion.
There are always times that you get tears and nicks especially on the thinner material suits. Be mindful how you put on and take off - look at manufacturers instructions, even some YouTube clips so not to put your finger or toe through the thinner ones!
Small nicks/holes can be filled easily with Black Witch McNett Black Witch Neoprene Adhesive by Other https://amzn.eu/d/0nUNUBO
Keep your zips waxed - Lumb Bros 2 Beeswax Blocks for Drysuit/Wetsuit Zips https://amzn.eu/d/2W4NBAE
More substantial repairs - can’t recommend this place enough. Always great service, quick turnaround, local and good price - https://techneopro.co.uk/ Techneopro Wetsuit Repair Centre - based in Lostwithiel.