Hi all.
I need some friendly advice from fellow Chicagoans on what sort of wetsuit to buy.
First of all, I have never owned a wetsuit, so I don’t know if I prefer sleeveless or long-sleeved.
All my open water swimming will be done in Lake Michigan, in preparation for the (Accenture, or yet-to-be-named) Triathlon.
What do you all recommend with regards to what type of suit I should be hunting for? Both based on preference and water comfort…
Seems to be consensus that it’s something you have to try on, though online is clearly cheaper. Any point in top-of-line, or will any old tri-specific suit do the trick?
Appreciate the help.
I was always told that long sleeve is better for warmth, added “slickness”, & more float. I bought mine last yr. at Fleet Feet (Chicago) but a previous yr.'s model so it was pretty cheap. Probably in your situation, if you can try it on & then order it on-line, go for it.
If you have swam in Lake Michigan, then you can imagine what a benefit the wetsuit will be. Lake Michigan tends to be colder. Even on the hotest days, I don’t ever remember feeling too hot in the suit. Also, the windy city has those wild high tide days. Excellent training for the unexpected race-day situation. The wetsuit helped me from drowning… seriously.
This is out of no where: I’m now living in DC & boy am I going to miss the lake! Out here I have to drive upteen miles… Appreciate the lake!
Long-sleeved for sure. Lake Michigan will be warm enough for sleeveless once in a while or even most of the time after mid July, but it will almost never be too warm for long-sleeved. On those days when it is warm enough, just swim in your swimsuit and leave the wetsuit behind. Plus,long-sleeved wet suits are faster and you can start swimming in Lake Michigan in late May or early June. The choice should be a no brainer.
I found a sleeveless to be adequate from early June onward, and needed the suit until mid-late July. Even though the air is warm, there are some cold currents. I miss the lake… back in 2010!
needed the suit until mid-late July
I did Racine last year in late July and the water was cold, cold, cold! People who experienced both Racine and CdA that year said Lake Michigan was colder in late July and than CdA was in late June.
Now normally Lake Michigan is not that cold, but it can be.
Buy a suit from a manufacturer that that fits your body build. Different manufacturers tailor their suits differently.
I would definitely go full length. Even in 10 week season of Lake Michigan swimming, there are always cold spots. I would buy an entry level suit at a local shop because fit is everything as there appear to be no other key points of differentiation. The high end suits look much sexier though. Visit Runningaway(North Ave), Element Multisport (Clyborn) or Underwater Safari(Lincoln) and try them on. Starting in mid June, swim with Chicago Blue Dolphins on Ohio Street to get used to group starts in open water. Good luck.
Mission Bay used to let you try swimming in the wetsuit before you bought it. I understand they are out of business but you may want to ask whatever store you are thinking of buying the wetsuit from if you could do that. I took a couple over to Ohio Street for a swim the last time I bought one. I would get the sleeved rather than the sleeveless for the reasons mentioned above and would buy at least the medium of the line.
Add to the list Mox (formerly Mission Bay) on Randolph/Halstead for suit purchases. But definitely head to a shop in town and try them on. You want it to feel constricting, but still offer you full range of motion. Some of the entry-level full suits (which you can pick up for around $200?) have thicker material in the shoulders and may prevent you from rotating your arms fully. Mid level suits ($300-400) are commonly constructed with the same materials as the top of the line models, but with fewer gimmicks. I went with this and have no complaints, and I was a state-level swimmer in high school - back when all we raced in were speedo briefs - and used to a full range of motion. I didn’t lose any with the mid-level suit but felt a bit too much resistance in the arms of entry level ones. I you’re planing on going with an entry suit, I’ recommend sleeveless. You’ll sacrifice a maximum of 10-15 seconds as compared to a full.
Last year was my first season in Chicago (I’d been spoiled with the tropical waters of Malaysia up until March '08) and I actually felt fine without a wetsuit beginning the first of July. If you want to get in open water practice earlier, you will probably want at least a sleeveless. Your arms won’t feel too much of the cold as compared to your torso and upper legs.