Wetsuit swimming

Find the swimsuit you need on this page, whether it's for open water swimming or triathlon. We have swimming wetsuits and triathlon wetsuits to suit all levels, whether you're a beginner or an experienced swimmer.

A swimming wetsuit is indispensable for those who love to swim in open water, but in Denmark where water temperatures often require extra thermal protection. That's why you'll also find a wide range of wetsuits suitable for both triathlon and open water swimming, whether it's for training, competition or the recreational swimmer.

What does a good swimming wetsuit be able to do?

When it comes to choosing a wetsuit, it all depends on what you need it for. It's far from irrelevant, and swimming wetsuits all have their own strengths. It also depends on your own level and experience in either open water swimming or triathlon.

A triathlon wetsuit should optimise your speed in the water so you can hit the best times. Open water swimmers need the wetsuit to keep them warm more. While people who are not the best swimmers can really benefit from a wetsuit that provides good buoyancy.

So there are many different requirements for a wetsuit, but for that very reason there is a wetsuit for every need. No matter how specific the requirements may be. However, there are some fundamental requirements that determine whether it's a good wetsuit, so let's list them:

• The best wetsuits are made from elastic neoprene - This material will easily mould and stretch to the shape of the body and therefore easily adapt to each individual. As long as the size is right.
• Getting the wetsuit on and off should be easy - You shouldn't have to struggle or need help to put a wetsuit on - let alone take it off again. Therefore, there should be enough stretch in it to allow you to put it on yourself and the zip should have a cord that you can pull yourself - both when you need to zip up and down.
• The joints should preferably be glued - It is clearly preferable that the joints in the wetsuit are glued together rather than sewn. This prevents water flowing through the suit, which would otherwise lower body temperature. However, in most cases you will still find that there is stitching around the joints. This is just to provide extra reinforcement so that the wetsuit doesn't tear at the joints
• Keep you warm and protected - In Denmark, the water temperature rarely rises above 22 celsius, which means that in many respects a wetsuit is of great benefit if you are in open water for long periods of time. In addition, you also protect yourself against jellyfish, which can quickly ruin open water swimming.

Wetsuits for swimming therefore have many different functions. It all depends on your level, what you're going to use it for and what you need. In general, you can think about whether you want to break record times, keep warm or have extra buoyancy to make swimming easier.

Which wetsuit thickness should you choose?

A swimsuit - also known as a swimming wetsuit - is an essential piece for open water swimming or triathlon. Therefore, you should also consider what thickness of swimsuit you can get the most benefit from. They should preferably be made of neoprene - which almost all of them are - to give you the best conditions.

Therefore, the most important thing to consider is what thickness you want your swimsuit to be.

All wetsuits for triathlon or open water swimming have varying thicknesses depending on what you want to use them for. You'll also find that most wetsuits don't have the same thickness all the way round. On the other hand, you may find that the thickness of the arms and legs is different from the body, as seen with wetsuits from Orca, for example.

This all has a very specific function, but to make it easy, there are a few general guidelines:

• A thickness of 3mm: This thickness - or less - of wetsuit is the most common for triathlon or competitive open water swimming as it offers the greatest range of motion. At the same time, it's thick enough to allow you to stay in the water for longer periods of time, even if it requires you to move.
• A thickness of 5mm: The purpose of this thickness is to strike a balance between mobility and warmth. That's why open water wetsuits of this thickness are mostly used for early spring or late autumn. They are better at insulating to keep you warm, while still being relatively mobile and providing extra buoyancy.
• A thickness of 7mm: This thickness is mostly used for people who are very cold or diving. It retains heat very well and provides good buoyancy. However, it's not very mobile, which makes it unsuitable for open water swimming, let alone triathlons.

In addition to these parameters, there is also a difference between smooth and rough surfaces. The smooth ones make you more streamlined in the water and thus create less water resistance, while the rough ones are mostly intended to keep you warm, for example, if you're SUPing. Therefore, you also need to decide whether you want to break records in open water swimming or enjoy other water sports activities.

Why you should buy a wetsuit for swimming

A wetsuit is for all those who love open water, whether it's swimming or other water sports activities. In Denmark, in most months it is mandatory if you want to be on the water for more than 5 minutes. Even if you're on a paddleboard, it's essential in most months. Because you may not be in the water, but you are still exposed to the temperatures above the water surface, which are often lower than the temperatures on water.

Furthermore, you will find that your SUP season or open water swimming in Denmark will be limited to 1-2 months a year. With the right wetsuit, you can extend that season by 8-9 months. Much more water sports and who doesn't love that?

For triathlon, a wetsuit is an absolute must! Especially if you want to set the best times. It's proven that a triathlon wetsuit will cut 2 minutes off your time per 1000 metres. Pretty significant if you want to perform at your best or just be able to keep up with the others.

Extend the life of your wetsuit with proper maintenance

Most swimming wetsuits are used for open water swimming, which also applies to triathlon wetsuits. Therefore, most swimming is done in open water, and that means saltwater. Like so much other swimming equipment, saltwater is quite harsh on many of the materials, and this is also true for swimming wetsuits.

That's why it's important to rinse it thoroughly with fresh water after use to wash away most of the salt. If you don't, you'll find that the wetsuit becomes stiffer and more difficult to put on. This increases the risk of putting holes in it the next time you put it on.

But it's one thing to rinse it well, it's another to dry it properly. This is especially important if you don't want it to be "disgusting" to wear if there are patches of mould or fungus. That's why you should always dry it inside out, and once it's dry, it's best to hang it in a closet, for example, with the outside facing out.

This way you can be sure that it is dry all the way through, and it is especially important that the inside is completely dry. This is often where mould and fungus will collect and since you have that side against your skin, it can cause reactions such as redness or, in the worst cases, allergies.

Accessories for wetsuits

Once you have a wetsuit for your watersports, you'll quickly realise that you're missing a few other things. Especially if you do open water swimming or triathlon. Here you can quickly blend in with the water and become difficult for others to see. This can quickly create dangerous situations if you are swimming among kayaks and paddleboards. It is therefore important that you make yourself visible, which is possible in several different ways.

With a sea bag/swim buoy in bright colours, everyone will be able to see you from afar. In addition, they also have the function of allowing you to bring along what you need when you swim, such as a water bottle. If you want to be even more sure you'll be seen, you can wear a swim cap, which again should be in bright colours. This will also allow people to see exactly where you are, as a swim bag will float slightly behind you.

When safety is taken care of, you'll find that an open water swim will be a lot more comfortable with a pair of swimming goggles. You'll be able to orientate yourself and avoid red and irritated eyes. It's a good idea to go for goggles that are wider than the ones used in swimming pools, as the wider ones have a harder time coming off if you get hit by a wave, for example. Of course, you'll also need to consider the colour of the lens depending on how much light/sunlight you'll be exposed to while swimming

If you enjoy open water swimming or triathlon in the cooler months of the year, a set of neoprene hood, gloves and socks is a good idea. This way you're fully wrapped up and can stay in the water for longer periods of time without getting too cold.

Many people will find that after a while, swimming wetsuits will start to crack or have holes. Despite this, you don't need to buy a new one as it can be quickly fixed with neoprene glue. Then you can patch your wetsuit yourself and extend their durability.

One last thing we recommend is a changing mat to stand on when you pull on your wetsuit. This prevents you from dragging sand from your feet under your suit, which could harass you while swimming.

Buy your swimming wetsuit at Watery.ie

We have a wetsuit for open water swimming or triathlon to suit every requirement and need. The most challenging part is finding the right one for you. That's why our skilled customer service team is also ready with advice and guidance, so that together we can find the swimming wetsuit you need. And of course, this also applies if you have any questions. When you shop with us, you also get a number of benefits:

• Free shipping on orders over 79€
• 3-5 days delivery
• Our customer service is ready all weekdays from 8 AM to 10 PM.

So get ready for both competitive training or for fun swimming in the open sea, right here at Watery.ie. If you need more information about wetsuits, you can read our full guide here.