Tulkas wrote:
Ok, so I decided to do my own test to see how my performance compares between full suit and sleeveless. I chose a set I've done a couple times this season already so I already know how to pace it and what splits I should expect. The set is 5x400s best average on an interval that leaves me with about :30 rest between each, trying to slightly negative-split each 400. To normalize the comparison from day to day, I decided to do 1-4 with the wetsuit, and number 5 without. The last time I did this set, number 5 was my fastest one by a second, so I believe this is a good normalizer.
Today was the first test (long-sleeved wetsuit), test 2 will either be Friday evening or Sunday depending on how I feel. Also, to keep this from being about my swim splits, I am using number 2 as a baseline (because it was an even number) and all the other splits are relative to the baseline.
Test #1 - sleeved wetsuit
1-4 with the wetsuit
1: -0:03
2: 0:00
3: -0:02
4: 0:00
5: (no wetsuit) +0:25
So, obviously the wetsuit was much faster than the Speedo, but that was never in doubt. As a reference, number 5 was the exact same split as number 5 last time I did this set (and that time number 5 was the fastest one), so it seems like a solid data point. In case you're curious the wetsuit was a Quintana Roo that I bought used in 2014 from a Tri store that had previously rented it out several times, so it certainly isn't any fancy high end suit these days.
Some observations:
I warmed up in the Speedo, then put on the wetsuit and started the set right away. Number 1 felt stupidly fast after the Speedo warmup (I almost hit the wall at the turns), but about 150 into it I noticed the neck of the suit was pressing my throat and making me very uncomfortable, I could definitely see that causing issues during a race as it felt like it was restricting my breathing. Also around that time I noticed the left side of the suit was feeling tight like it was pulling my arm down while I was in the recovery phase. I adjusted the neck during the rest interval by pulling up the cuff, and never noticed it again. I tried to fix the sleeve by pulling it higher on my arm, but it never improved much. While I was resting at the wall I felt like I could raise my arm without any restriction and it was very comfortable, so I think the suit is a good fit for me. The arm restriction (not shoulder, more like the lats) was only noticeable while swimming. Also definitely worth noting was that I began to feel very fatigued by number 3 and 4 (much more so than I should have). On number 4 I really focused on taking the first 200 out comfortably, but the effort still increased dramatically as I went. I am certain this was from the suit, and though it didn't slow me down much in the pool, in a triathlon swim this level of effort would definitely make me back off. I am confident this is why I have crummy swims in this wetsuit, in fact I distinctly recall that feeling of fatigue and consciously deciding to slow down knowing I was going into the red. In this set today I didn't think I would finish number 5 the way 3 & 4 went, but 5 ended up feeling the way a hard swim should (hard but manageable and under control) so the feeling of undue fatigue went away when I took off the suit. Amusingly, the first 100 after removing the suit felt REALLY weird, it's hard to describe but it felt weird and slow.
I look forward to repeating this test with the sleeveless suit soon, and I really don't know what to expect. As I swam today I actually thought about my body position in the water and could see how the sleeveless suit might slow me down by letting water in under the armpit. I'll be sure to provide an update when I'm done.
Bottom line up front: They tested about the same and I will always wear my sleeveless suit unless the water is stupidly cold, but I think the right sleeved suit could be slightly faster.
Details This test was done at the same pool, in the same lane, close to the same time of day, same warmup, but wearing my sleeveless wetsuit instead of full-sleeved for the first 4 of 5x400s. The splits (using the same baseline number as last time, so splits are relative to the baseline):
1: -0:06
2: +0:01
3: 0:00
4: -0:02
5: (no wetsuit) +0:21
So what's the takeaway? Instinctively I would say that
my sleeveless wetsuit is just as fast as
my full-sleeved wetsuit
for me. But this isn't a perfect test, I don't read much into the first one being a bit faster than the first one last time, and the second one being so much slower than the first was probably attributable to lack of focus (I was thinking of the $#*+storm that was going to arise if this test showed the sleeveless to be faster lol). Numbers 3 & 4 were on my limit just like last time, and the splits were identical to last time but flipped. The difference this time was that I definitely didn't experience the fatigue in my arms/lats that I did on 3 & 4 with the full suit. Number 5 was emptying the tank just like last time, and I had just a tad more in the tank this time. This could have been due to the lack of arm fatigue caused by the wetsuit, or I could just be having a slightly better day.
Things I noticed: 1. my sleeveless suit (Xterra Vortex 3, circa 2009) has thicker neoprene on the front than my sleeved wetsuit (Quintana Roo Hydrofull, year unknown but I think they stopped making them in 2013 so probably around that age). That's why I stressed that this test only means that
my sleeveless suit is as fast as
my sleeved suit. I'm sure the thicker neoprene matters. 2. The full sleeve suit felt faster in the water, I was shocked when I saw my first split today and saw I went so much faster than last time. The sleeved suit made me feel like a rocket, while the sleeveless just made me feel fast. But, maybe there is something to be said for having that feel for the water... 3. I realized I prefer the sleeveless suit, mostly due to the feel of the water, but also because that feeling of the suit dragging my arms down that I experience later in the swim every time is aweful. Maybe I could get used to it if I trained in the suit, but I don't have regular access to open water for such training. 4. I think I learned from this that
the right full-sleeved suit likely would be a little faster than my sleeveless suit, but I highly doubt the difference would be even close to worth the cost. I could see gaining up to 10 seconds in an Olympic-distance swim, but probably not more than that. Even if it was a full minute, a family man in my income bracket shouldn't even consider an upgrade for the cost of some of these wetsuits; at 10 seconds it's laughable. That said, if they were all free and I could choose any wetsuit I wanted, I would definitely test the DeSoto 2-piece suits, it looks like they could alleviate the problem of excess fatigue in the lats and are probably the most clever product in this market.
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