I am racing St. Croix and I’m trying to decide what suit to buy. I’d like something that I can swim in, and race in (so it must be able to breathe). I’m looking for a decent swim split as well, so I can’t have pockets or anything.
I understand most of the suits (atleast when I checked with the Orca rep) are made for one or the other. ie. The high performance suits to swim in, don’t breathe well so are not good for the longer distances. The one’s for the longer distances are not that great in the water because of pockets and more breathable fabrics so they are supposed to be warn with skins over top in the water to be removed in T1.
Anyway, looking for some suggestions or tips because I need to get this ordered in the next day or two.
The new swim skins solve some or most of this issue of what to wear in a no wetsuit swim race. In the past this sort of race, if it’s a longer race like a 1/2 or full IM, did present some challenges in that you had to find something tight fitting, like a swim suit that had no pockets. However, you most likley wanted something on the bike that did have pockets. You could swim with no top( for males) and just tri shorts for bottoms, but then you would have had to pull on something in T1 quickly, while still wet from the swim - always a hassle and time consuming.
Enter the swim skin. Now you can wear that long distance top that you like and then wear your swim skin over this and just peel off the swim skin in T1 and away you go. Make sure that the swim skin fits well and tight - like wetsuits these should be slightly, uncomfortably tight when dry. They loosen up in the water. In watching many triathletes wearing swim skins at IMH, many were wearing them too loose and they likley received minimal if any gains from using them.
With apologies for the promotional plug - Nineteen does have a great new swim skin - the Frequency SS that is in stores and available now.
Take a look at the DeSoto Liftfoil. I raced all summer in SC and FL wearing one and had no issues. I only used it in sprints but will not hesitate to wear it in my upcoming Oly and HIM.
Last year at St. Croix I wore a lift foil over my tri shorts and sleeveless top and it worked out great. It was a bit difficult to get out of quickly but was able to strip the top down by the time I got to the bike racks. Will wear the same set up this year as well. Make sure to body glide up real well around the neck, underarms, and inner arms (for lack of a better term).
If we are talking about the same Liftfoil, it is designed to be used as a stand-alone tri suit. No need to wear anything under it and peel it off. But, if that works for you then no reason to change.
I have a regular tri-suit with pockets. I swam in a pool and noticed no difference in times vs. speedo. I figured it would be slower bit it wasn’t. So if you already have race suits - just swim in them and see. I like having pockets and I’m not buying a special suit to put over another suit. I haven’t tested tri shorts and a seperate tri top (which is what I usually wear in my wetsuit races) but would consider wearing that too. Just my opinion.