Generally I think people usually say paddles, the bigger the better.

nah. I use the big ass red paddles. They don't mimic the resistance a wetsuit can cause (even a nice wetsuit). Maybe like a then neoprene half shirt but that, like, comes above the nipples....

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

I know you don't want to hear this and you can totally dismiss it but:

If your wetsuit restricts shoulder movement then it's the wrong wetsuit, wrong size or you don't have it on correctly.

I used to be against full wetsuits cuz every one I tried restricted my shoulders, I'm indifferent since I got my HUUB Archimedes. I can't feel any restriction with that suit.

that's just not true or possible: if you put something over your shoulders, even if wearing an oversized too-big wetsuit, there's going to be a difference that if you had nothing on. I'm not saying it's a ton of stress on the shoulders, but the muscles under the slightly additional stress just aren't use to it and aren't strong enough. simple as that.

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

I'm with jaretj... When I swim in my wetsuit I really don't notice it on once I get going.

...waits for Emilio to chime in.......

It's probably going to be easier to do one of two things:

1.) learn how to properly put on a wetsuit - most people don't pull them up high enough. If you have any excess material when you bend over, ie the suit has a bulge or roll you need to pull all that material above the armpits into the shoulders. The shoulder area should be the only place you've got excess material

2.) get a properly fitting wetsuit

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Brian Stover USAT LII
Accelerate3 Coaching
Insta

“You people”

So, give me the benefit of the doubt. 25 years in the sport. Have sold over a thousand of wetsuits and taught people how to put them on. Solid swim background. Have done hundreds of tris and won my fair share.

There’s absolutely zero chance that you can drape neoprene over your shoulders and for there to be absolutely zero additionally resistance. Zero percent chance. Zero. One more time for extra dense: zero.

So, anyone on the critically thinking, problem solving end of the spectrum want to chime in? Is it a serious problem? No. Could being just a tad more prepared for racing in a wetsuit make a difference? I think so and plenty of pros who train once in a while in a suit and say it’s for shoulder adaption. Is it something fun to discus in a Sunday? For me.

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

Swim more.

1. You haven't specified what you are training your shoulders for with a wetsuit; 750m wetsuit swim or 6 mile wetsuit swim.
2. Lots of great comments already listed in this thread, proper fitting suit is key.
3. You may notice your open water wetsuit stroke may feel different which is tiring your shoulders, so maybe a swim coach to help you.

FWIW, I agree with you.

I'd do resistance band training, specifically on the "recovery" phase of the stroke. That's where I notice wetsuit restriction (even a very expensive, very well fitting one) personally. I don't really know how to describe with words what I'm picturing, but basically instead of using the band to train the catch and pull firing use the band for the reverse, the recovery portion. If that makes sense.

Good call. I was kind of thinking of bands and think doing recovery band work could do the trick - I’m already doing bands several times a week, so easy enough.

To the prior poster who said to swim more. Read more.

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

Thinking about it more, scapular exercises could cut it:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=H8Up1cs4nXI

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5AW5mVaYanM

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=taKnpUTJj2E

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zrj3Y4P_eQ

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uT_jxBXbS4M

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

Seems you're the only one with the problem? I can only suggest train in your wetsuit more...

The title of the post read, “without wearing wetsuit”

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wovebike.com | Wove on instagram

I agree with you as well that even with a good, well-fitting wetsuit, if you've never swam in it before, you can and likely will encounter some compression issues with the arm recovery motion, esp if you are a low-volume swimmer (like most AG triathletes) that thus don't have as much arm training in that motion. It won't cause you to fail your swim, but it will fatigue you earlier and affect your confidence in the water.

My best race swims are ones where I do at least a minimal amount of legit wetsuit training in the pool before race day - sometimes that's 2 workouts of 3000yds to get acclimated to that extra layer of neoprene.

On a sort of related note, I actually get this same issue for NON-wetsuit swimming in the pool when I go from mostly Vasa swimming to 3000+yd pool swims abruptly while swimming low pool volume per week (<5000) - my pulling main muscles are strong but my arm recovery muscles actually start to fatigue, in a nonessential way, but I can def feel it. I was going to try stretch cords to help it out, but to be honest, it's just 1 or 2 in-pool workouts where I notice this recovery weakness issue, and then it's a total nonissue. I suspect it's the same with the wetsuit recovery motion as above - 1 or 2 'real' sessions and you're probably good to go.

Me too. Getting a better - and better-fitting - wetsuit helped, but never solved the issue entirely for the first few swims in it. I pull it up proper, it's as loose as can be around the shoulders - but the recovery part of the stroke just feels different. There's no way around the fact that extra material will never move as freely as no-material.

Since there's no cold water to train in in the summer, I guess I just have to accept it.

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ZONE3 - We Last Longer

I understand where you are coming from but my full wetsut's arms are constructed so that the neoprene fits your arms while they are nearly over you head and not at your sides like all other full wetsuits I've owned.

Because of that and flexibility of the neoprene I don't have the restriction like I did with other full suits.

I think the best thing it to wear it in the pool - not all the time but perhaps once a week. Nothing beats training the gear you will use. If people care that you are wearing a wetsuit - that's their problem.
John

I think the best thing it to wear it in the pool - not all the time but perhaps once a week.
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I can't imagine wearing my wetsuit in the pool. The water temps are typically kept at way above wetsuit legal limits. I get overheated without it. Wearing the wetty in the pool is a glutton for heat exhaustion punishment of which I've no interest in creating. For me, it's either find an outdoor source with which to practice or go in without that training.

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Take a short break from ST and read my blog:
http://tri-banter.blogspot.com/

But it would help the OP train his shoulders!

For some people, finding an open source of water simply isn't an option.

Vasa ergometer...

I think I saw one for sale in classified section recently...

Stretch cordz

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blog

I don’t swim wetsuit races very often and it has been years swimming in one and I have an old wetsuit that is pretty restricting. It also doesn’t help that I am tall and skinny with swimmers shoulders. I find the restriction to be when rotating and reaching forward right before the pull. Doubtful that most triathletes fully extend out front..... If I ever wear a wetsuit after a short distance I have to shorten my stroke as using muscle to fight that resistance and reach forward isn’t typically what a swimmer has to deal with. I would think a newer, better designed wetsuit would help, but typically having a long glide in front I assume it wouldn’t eliminate it. One thought is bands to work these muscles or possibly putting on the wetsuit out of the water and just going through those motions?