Just wondering what methods people use to put wetsuits on. I see a lot of people struggling with this race day cursing their wetsuits for not sliding on with ease.
I personally prefer using the plastic bag method. It goes on in 10 seconds. Using a plastic bag to put on a wetsuit seems to be the most efficient way, least stressful on those panic-y race day mornings before the start.
Another vote for the white shopping bag/plastic bag method. If your skin is even moderately damp, it is your only hope of getting the thing on.
thin running socks over your feet work great too …
A elite i know uses pam, and i know another lady that uses the bags, i have not sen this done yet and cant grasp the idea of how it works? Can anyone explain?
not sure what you’re asking.
but using pam will destroy your wetsuit (unless your sponsor gives you a new one every year).
A elite i know uses pam, and i know another lady that uses the bags, i have not sen this done yet and cant grasp the idea of how it works? Can anyone explain?
Same here. I’ve been hearing about the bag for years, but how does that work? Are we just talking about using the bag over the foot/lower leg?
X2.
Chemical reaction with PAM will destroy neoprene.
There was a thread about this around last summer. Someone posted a youtube vid of a nice looking model showing the easy way to put on a wetsuit - start with it inside out! Looks funny, even my GF asked me what I was doing at first, but it goes on very easy.
My lunch break isn’t that long, otherwise I would search for the vid and post it.
Also, to help get the fit right around my shoulders I usually put on a nice dusting of baby powder. Has worked so far.
The shopping bag is very simple:
- Take 2 plastic shopping bags and put them over your feet/ ankle/ lower leg (however high it goes)
- Put wetsuit on and your feet will slide through the legs and out the bottom with no problem
Even Chris McCormack can do it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsHw_TkFEdE
Thanks! That’s simpler than I imagined. I was picturing some process where the bags somehow helped around the thighs, arms, shoulders…couldn’t figure out how you’d get the bags out!
I find that part pretty easy even without the bags though. I peel the suit off inside out when I remove it, then I put it on starting inside out and roll it on like a full-body-condom. 
Thanks! That’s simpler than I imagined.
OK, so now you have the suit on, then what? Most just leave it at that, but then wonder why their wetsuit still is not comfortable or giving them the full range of movment that they want.
Assuming you are in the right brand of wetsuit and you are in the right size of wetsuit for you, the suit still needs to be adjusted properly once it is on - this is much bigger than you think. In fact, some have tested this and found this to be a bigger and more important issue of how the wetsuit performs and how “fast” it is than what brand and style of suit it is!!
Three things:
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Hiked up as high at the waist as you can get it - it’s like giving yourself a wedgie. Ideally you do this before getting the arms on.
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Rubber high enough up on the arms and shoulders that you can grab a small fist full of rubber between the point of your shoulder and your neck. Don’t worry if the end of the sleeve comes up the arms.
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Rubber up as high as you can get in on your chest - right up to the collar-bone and neck. Particularly important for larger broad chested men and women.
Hope this helps.
Just lube the body with body glide it will slip right on…
That does help, thanks.
I already do some of that to some extent…trying to make sure my shoulders aren’t constricted.
Thanks for adding that info.
I already do some of that to some extent…trying to make sure my shoulders aren’t constricted.
It’s amazing to me the numbers of triathletes who don’t understand this. They just shove the legs and the arms in and go, then complain that they hate their wetsuit!
I second the plastic bag method. Soooo easy and you’re not wasting body glide. It goes on just like regular clothes if you use plastic bags.
This was the method i was talking about - the roll on method.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBhnJq3vWMY
She has a little better camera presence than Macca.
the bags are a cheap easy way to put on a wetsuit, without any chemicals…but i feel anyway you put on a wetsuit…its still a workout
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