i use no lubrication on my neck of any sort, and, have not yet neck hickies for years. this is one of the benefits of a 2pc wetsuit (specifically, de soto's T1). if you do get a neck abrasion, where you get it is important to note. if it's just in one spot on the back, the "hook" part of the "hook and loop" (velcro) is probably folding over and abrading your neck. just be careful and correct when you put on your wetsuit. if it's around the sides and/or front of you neck, then, it's just the wetsuit. the best solution is to get another wetsuit (sorry).

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

LOTS of BodyGlide on the back of my neck, and Pam on the wetsuit collar. Ever hear someone complaining after a race that they used too much BodyGlide?

I agree with Dan that the T1 rubs less than other suits (at least those I've used), but I still need some lube there (esp. in salt water).

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ECMGN Therapy Silicon Valley:
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Try using a Rash Guard shirt that you wear under the suit. I normally use on by Oneil or Body Glove and they are mainly designed for surfers who suffer the same problems. It is similar in construction to a turtle neck but made out of special material for swimming.

Here is a link to give you some ideas, but I would lean toward the shirts with the higher collars because it needs to stick out of the top of the wetsuit for teh best effect.

http://www.rashguardshirtco.com/

Bodyglide. I have had rub on the side before. Always minimal with my T1.

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-- Aaron Davidson

Sport Shield roll-on. Ever since switching, no neck burn and the stuff is a mother to get off your skin. . .

J.

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"The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them." - Watley

i used to get gnarly neck burn after any swim over 45 minutes. now i lube the back of my neck and the collar of the suit with body glide and dont have issues.

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Toro Performance

x2. I've found BodyGlide utterly inadequate for things like long runs ... or short swims in wetsuits.

SportShield roll-on, on the other hand ... a little goes a long way and you can still feel it on your skin, working, after several hours of friction.

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Yanti Ardie of Y Tri Multisport & Majick Juice for lasting critter defense & skin soothing
~ World Open Water Swimming Association Coach & Official
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~ 3 by the Sea: my Journey from death to ...

I havn't been so lucky - my De Soto T1 left me with a really nasty neckburn after a 2km swim. I'm not sure it neccessarly the wetsuit's fault - I have a thick neck and I find all wetsuits are tight in the neck area and chafe. I've been using a silicone based cream called 'Blister Bomb' - it seems to eliminate 75% of the chafing. I really like the idea of duct tape on the back of the neck - I'll try that next.

Duct tape. It was recommended to me by my doctor. He saw my healing scab, asked about it, I said I was going to put a bandage there next race, and then he said to just use a piece of duct tape.

It works like a charm and you can color match it to your kit.

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Twitter @achtervolger

I prefer TriSlide over Bodyglide. It's easier to apply and works better for me.

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�The greater danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.� -Michelangelo

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Is it a form issue? Are you getting tired and lifting your head? Before anything, I would look into your mechanics/form and try tilting your head down a bit.

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"your horse is too high" - tigerchik

I used ky jelly and worked perfectly. I also use Bodyglide.

Is this a sleeveless wetsuit?

How is the fit of your wetsuit? Have you consulted with someone who really knows about wetsuit fit?

What is your swim stroke like? Do you have good body roll or do you turn your neck to breath?

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

I feel your pain. Body glide seems to work for a while, but in an IM distance race, it seems like it's almost inevitable that your neck will get chewed up. I find that in salt water swims like IM Florida, it is even worse. Best solution is the gob the stuff on and hope to delay the discomfort as long as possible.

get a better fitting wetsuit. I use ducktape for training and Glide for races. You could also modify some kind of shirt or something to cover the area.

It may sound funny but you'd think someone would have just the neck portion of a rash guard shirt for triathletes...I think in the colder climates they have something just to keep their necks warm--I believe they call it a "dicky" or something. Emilio--there's your next million $ idea, a rash guard "dicky" for triathletes.

has anyone tried this?
http://www.andrewswatersports.com/
NeckTech

made for surfers, but could be useful for triathletes too

Astroglide works wonders...

I got a neck burn in a2 mile open water swim with no wet suit on. I've never had one in the pool. what do you think the problem was there?

X3. Problem solved with Sport Shield roll-on for IM-length racing. That said, and repeating Dan's comment on a 2-piece suit being the best fit to prevent problems in the first place.

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DFL > DNF > DNS

SportsSlick awesome for your neck, feet, and everywhere else in between that needs preventative slickness.

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Suffer Well.

Hehe, Astroglide -- use it in T0 and T3!

salt changes the dynamic. however, others may have a better answer than i.

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Dan Empfield
aka Slowman

if u wanna be holistic, try organic coconut oil! you can eat a finger full while you lather up your neck and crotch! (I put it on my chamois.) I also use coconut oil for after shave on my legs and face. just be warned, you don't want this stuff on your hands in a race. duct tape on the neck works until you rip it off and your left with something worse then chaffing...

KY also works well...just don't use the exotic stuff. Original only. When I used to run cross country in college, this stuff was available at the supermarket anywhere (no need for a running specialty store to get it), goes on easier then bodyglide, was cheaper, and it also has multiple uses (T0 and T3). They are both water-based as well.

Have you noticed any issues with the silicone based sport shield? I know that they last way longer than water-based, but typically stain clothing.

I use Crisco. Works like a charm and at the end of a hot race I smell like bacon.

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I have deceptive speed.........I'm slower than I look!

Dan, interesting I found this. I have the desoto 2 piece and it has eaten my neck. Wearing the water rover now since the water is so cold. Looking at the collar line,
there is a lot of stitching. And my issue is totally in the back of the neck.

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

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So far the ones I see looking at amazon do not seem to have any "turtle neck" styles I can see.

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

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So Duct tape really worked for you? Anyone else? A tape based solution, IMO, would be the easiest for lots of reasons.

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

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Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

Yep. Have not done a tri in years now. But, it did work for me. My wet suit was black, I used black duct tape. Off I went.

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Twitter @achtervolger

Now that I know what it causing, I will try some of the ideas. I ordered a necktech since this seemed the best, assuming it works.
The tape stuff I will try tomorrow since I want to do another long swim in the suit

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

Hi...I have a swimming background and can tell you with today's wetsuits this should not be a problem. It's quite possibly your body position while swimming. If you keep your head down therefore lifting your hips your position will be streamlined and u should not have that problem.

I use a product call Skin Sake. It is a heavy lubricating cream I originally purchased to prevent foot blisters from distance running. I put a big gob of this stuff on the back of the neck, and it always works--at least for 2.4 miles or less.

DeSoto suits give me horrifying neck abrasions, as a function of the neck shape and the fact that, unlike some others including Roka, they don't protect the collar area with smooth skin material that goes from outside to inside the suit. That design makes all the difference for me.

I'm seconding the suggestion of TriSlide over BodyGlide - you can really spray on thick coverage, it's helpful.

(I always get wetsuit neck burn, bad swim form, but the worst I ever had was the time I put on my wetsuit backwards - i.e. zip at front, idiotically - and didn't have time to take it off and put it back on again before swim start! It was grotesque - second only to the "third-degree chafing" I got from an unfortunate sports drink injury that involved a leaky valve on hydration pack dripping onto calves for a hundred-mile ride...)

I have had luck with a piece of RockTape H2O and then body glide over that

A often over-looked part of the whole neck-chafing issue is swim technique. Many swimmers TWIST their heads when breathing. When in fact, if you have good body roll, the little bow-wave created by your head, when you are at max body roll, at just the right part of the stroke, gives you a great spot to breath with almost no twisting of the neck!

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Steve Fleck @stevefleck | Blog

Well hell, with this piece of info and another from the swim cap thread I may have found my problem.

I never swim with a cap in training and apparently that is possibly causing me to turn my head more to breath. Though is that hair retains water and is puts more on your face/cheek than if you're wearing a cap.

Then when I go to swim open water even with a cap I'm still turning my head too far and tearing up my neck. It is always on the side that I breath to. Hmmm. Sounds possible.

Yep, lots of stuff that can go wrong with poor technique, but, just seems like the suits should be made with some type of padding to avoid this in us poor swimmers

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep

Interesting thoughts. I also might only have this issue when I have used a skull cap in cold water. Will see if I can try some different stuff today but my neck is
so chopped up, not sure if I can handle the pain swimming. Going to be a real good test of mind over body.

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Dave Campbell | Facebook | @DaveECampbell | h2ofun@h2ofun.net

Boom Nutrition code 19F4Y3 $5 off 24 pack box | Bionic Runner | PowerCranks | Velotron | Spruzzamist

Lions don't lose sleep worrying about the sheep