Swimming Faster with a Triathlon Wetsuit
Is it true that a triathlon wetsuit can make you swim faster? Most people who participate in triathlons say yes. There are a number of factors to consider, one of the most important being floatation. With a triathlon wetsuit, drag is reduced so ultimately, you do swim faster. Additionally, a wetsuit can actually help position the body and head better making performance better. When shopping for a wetsuit, you want to choose slick material to help water skim right over the body, thus reducing drag.
You will find many different brands of a triathlon wetsuit but some of the best include Zoot, Aquarman, Xterra, Orca, DeSoto, Ironman, ProMotion, and Quntana Roo or QR. These companies have spent years researching materials, designs, and features to ensure anyone choosing their wetsuit sees a significant improvement in performance and speed.
The thing to remember is that while each triathlon wetsuit manufacturer makes a product with unique design features, the primary concept remains the same. Therefore, you could certainly choose the highest priced wetsuit if you like but chances are you would get the same or near same benefits buying a lower priced wetsuit. The goal is to make sure whatever triathlon wetsuit you buy has tight seals and fits like a glove.
Typically, if you are going to compete in a Sprint or Olympic format triathlon, which have the shortest distances for all three phases of the event, then you might not need to spend significant money on a wetsuit. However, if you plan to compete in the top two formats, being the Half-Ironman and Ironman, spending an additional $300 for a top of the line triathlon wetsuit might be to your advantage.
Remember, every triathlon wetsuit is going to fit differently and come with unique features. It is true that some designs are sleeker than others are which can improve speed but the challenge is that there are no test drives. In other words, you find a wetsuit you like, read reviews, and trust what the manufacturer says. However, until you are actually in the water competing, you will never know the exact speed gained.
