I’ve seen several people give advice that you should scoop up some water into your wetsuit then zip it up. It seems like most recommend it to people that are having challenges or fears of wetsuit fit/compression. I’m a newb to wetsuits, so I’m trying to figure out if having this extra water inside the suit is a good thing to do or not.
Can you give me the pro’s and con’s?
The main thing to remember is that it is a “wetsuit” as opposed to a “drysuit” The wet part means water gets inside of the suit. The sooner it gets inside the suit the sooner you will be comfortable. It is not made to keep water out.
I’d absolutely recommend doing this maneuver, just before exiting the water and heading for T1. Makes it way easier to peel the damn thing off.
Never heard of doing it before the swim, though. Can’t hurt, but the water’s going to end up in there one way or another anyway.
Why scoop when you can pee?
I’ve heard that you should soak your wetsuit overnight a day or so before your first race. It’s ultra dry and will more likely get a tear, so I’ve been told. Before any race, I rinse my wetsuit a day or two prior to a race since hearing that. I don’t know if it helps, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt.
Putting water in your wetsuit as you put it on could take the edge off as you get your feet wet. I see a lot of people take a dip in the water before a race. If it helps them, then great. If the water is very cold, then it could help you adjust to the conditions. At my first race, I couldn’t put my face in the water without gasping for air due to the cold water shock. Thank goodness it was a sprint. It doesn’t bother me anymore so I stay dry.
Just trim your fingernails and pull up on that wetsuit a few inches at a time.
Shall you get bit by a shark! - It’s the equivalent of “Break a leg” for actors!
I’ve heard that you should soak your wetsuit overnight a day or so before your first race. It’s ultra dry and will more likely get a tear, so I’ve been told. Before any race, I rinse my wetsuit a day or two prior to a race since hearing that. I don’t know if it helps, but I suppose it doesn’t hurt.
Putting water in your wetsuit as you put it on could take the edge off as you get your feet wet. I see a lot of people take a dip in the water before a race. If it helps them, then great. If the water is very cold, then it could help you adjust to the conditions. At my first race, I couldn’t put my face in the water without gasping for air due to the cold water shock. Thank goodness it was a sprint. It doesn’t bother me anymore so I stay dry.
Just trim your fingernails and pull up on that wetsuit a few inches at a time.
Shall you get bit by a shark! - It’s the equivalent of “Break a leg” for actors!
How would petroleum-based closed-cell foam soften in water? FWIW, I’ve heard soaking suggested, but I’ve only found evidence that light, heat and chemical exposure break down neoprene, so I’ve no idea how soaking might help.
As somebody who has gone through about 30-40 wetsuits and probably spent nearly a year of my total lifetime in them…
Scooping is should only be done for suits that don’t fit correctly, are poorly made, or are of the closed cell variety to help get them on without tearing (I use lube - a dab of conditioner diluted in some water). If you have a quality suit that fits correctly, has a liner or a non-sticky inner liner, then I would not recommend pre-filling with water as the longer you keep water from getting into the suit, the trimmer and more buoyant you will be.
-Paul