Is there any rule of thumb here? I didn’t turn blue from a lack of oxygen when I put it on so I’m thinking that’s a pretty good start. My only concern is potential fatigue in the shoulders / arms. Does the rubber loosen at all after wearing it a few times?
Yes, I’m a Floridian which is why I’m struggling a bit here…
When others can tell what religion you are.
Ha - Nice. Can I get anything else here? Come on – the freaking Chapstick question got 10 responses. Where’s the love?
The rubber will slide into place after a few minutes of swimming.
First thing is to make sure you have it on correctly with the bottom pulled up to your crotch and the sleeves pulled up so the armpit area is smooth against your skin.
If you have it on correctly and it still restricts your arm movement then you either have the wrong type or size of suit for your body.
You should feel no restriction in the shoulder area.
jaretj
The suit will likely be very difficult to get off as well if it’s too small. Look at the manufacturers specs as well if you haven’t already done so for sizing. Those are usually fairly accurate.
How long has it been dry? I had a similar problem early in the season until the suit had become properly hydrated. (I had lost weight and it was too snug)
Rick
Very interesting comment, but is it factual that neoprene dries out and has to be re-hydrated?
**is it factual that neoprene dries out and has to be re-hydrated? **
Yes.
That’s why in the spring or with a brand new suit you should soak the suit in the tub for a bit and then let it dry. It will be dry to the touch but a micro amount of water will have seaped back into the neoprene and made the suit slightly more flexible.
Thanks, did not know that. Living in Minnesota, it is especially dry indoors.
How long a soak do you suggest?
Without getting into the tightness issue you will know you are in the right suit for you when you have the following all lined up:
You are in the right brand for you - different brands fit differently.
You are in the right size for you. Sounds obvious, but sometimes this is more challenging than you think if the manufacturers size chart does not line up well with what the suit size is and what your body really is.
You have the suit fitted to you properly when you are trying it on and before actually using it.
If you have one, two or three of the above wrong( Don’t laugh, but I routinely see people at triathlon races who strike out on all three of the above), the suit is not going to fit properly and your performance in it is going to be comprimised.
If you are new to wearing a wetsuit, you should go to the best shop in your area that really know wetsuits. Make sure that they have a good selection of brands( 2 is good to start), sizes and models.
All this being said, more than a few people can wear two diffrerent sized suits. At Nineteen we call one the Comfort Fit and the second the Performance Fit. For first time wetsuit wearers, the performance fit is going to feel, a bit tight.
Hope this helps.
How long a soak do you suggest?
20+ minutes in the tub with a few swishes around should do it.
Thank you for the responses. Unfortunately my retail options in Central FL are extremely limited, so I did the online ordering thing. Less than ideal, but I chose my brand based on falling into the middle of their sizing chart. I won’t have time to try it out for a swim before this weekend (I’ve hopped in my pool w/ it the past 2 nights but that’s not telling me much) so it looks like I’ll get a definitive answer on Sunday during the 1K swim @ FL’s Great Escape…
Glad you were able to sort things out. You were wise to test the suit in the pool. In lieu, of true open water, pool testing is the best way to evaluate a wetsuit. The nice thing about a pool, is that you can actualy test the suit vs. the clock - something that is harder to do in open water.
“…I’ll get a definitive answer on Sunday…”
give yourself plenty of time to get in the water and warm up before your start. don’t hesitate to cinch it up where neded. you might even open up the neck opening and let some water in and do the hokey pokey and let it settle into place and then hop out on shore for a minute and let the excess seep out.
play with it as much as you can and warm up in it as much as possible. 5 minutes swimming and moving around in it before you get going could make a world of difference. if the chest is at all tight…that can be an unsettling feeling if you are not used to it. so the more you can get an idea what you are working with the better.
To add another question to the original, I am also in Florida have tried on a few, how much water should seep in if the suits is fitting well?
just enough to know its there.
Mine is too tight around the openings…I farted and this is the result.
Do they sing ‘fat guy in a little coat’ when you walk down to the swim start? If so, then yes, your wetsuit is too tight.
I tell you, I always thought mine was too tight until I learned how to put it on properly. This takes about 30 minutes actually. The goal is to get all of the slack out of the legs into the shoulders. I also get in the water after I put it on, hop out adjust, and repeat again. Once the suit is wet (and the skin) it is much easier to adjust.
Guys from Blue Seventy were a huge help last year at IMAZ. Huge props to those guys for teaching me something I thought I knew 
OMG!!! My keyboard almost had Diet Coke all over it thanks to that post!
Zed: Bring out the Gimp.
Maynard: But the Gimp’s sleeping.
Zed: Well, I guess you’re gonna have to go wake him up now, won’t you?