I’ve got a race coming up and the water will be relatively warm but still under the wetsuit temp cutoff so I’d like to go sleeveless. What do you recommend? I worry about water getting into the suit through the arm holes- has anyone else found that to be a problem? What else do I need to look out for with a sleeveless wetsuit?
Water will get into the suit, regardless of sleeves or not. But the water will retain your body heat and keep you warm. I just raced in 69 deg water in an Xterra sleeveless suit. I was quite comfortable, and had no issues with temp. Unless you’re going to be racing in really cold water, you’ll probably want a sleevelees suit for the extra mobility, feel for the water, and range of movement.
I have the Quintana Roo Hydro John and really love it. With that being said, wetsuits are like anything else in triathlon, the one that fits you the best is going to be the best suit. Go to a shop where you can try a few on, better yet check out a place where you can demo the suits in the water. Good luck.
If it’s a sleeveless wetsuit than just about any suit will do.
jaretj
If the arm openings are snug enough to prevent water intrusion it is better than no suit at all, but not as good as a full suit. An interesting alternative could be an all 5mm De Soto speed tube.
On paper, a full sleeve suit will be faster every time. But that doesn’t account for the countless factors that will affect your open water swimming. A full sleeve suit will provide more buoyancy and a outer skin, reducing drag. As mentioned before, a proper fitting sleeveless suit will not let excess water in the suit. However, water in the suit is not a bad thing in small amounts. If a sleeveless suit is opening up at the arm holes during your stroke, the fit may not be best for you.
Ultimately, the suit that fits you best is going to be the right one for you. Most sleeveless wetsuits will perform at relatively the same level. Buoyancy and fit will be the major factors as flexibility won’t play as big of a role without shoulders and sleeves to contend with.
I would suggest trying a few suits on and seeing what works best for you.
jake
I’ve got a race coming up and the water will be relatively warm but still under the wetsuit temp cutoff so I’d like to go sleeveless. What do you recommend? I worry about water getting into the suit through the arm holes- has anyone else found that to be a problem? What else do I need to look out for with a sleeveless wetsuit?
When I do wetsuit information sessions and seminars the #1 question is - sleeveless or full-sleeve??
By taking the arms off a wetsuit, it does free the arms up completely. I would be lying if I said that this is not a benefit. However, you solve one problem and you invite several others. Getting a good seal at the armpit is going to be hit and miss. It will work for some and not work well at all for others. It’s going to depend on fit, your musculature and build and your stroke mechanics. For many - this is going to mean more water in the suit, which means slower swimming. It also opens up a new area for chafing issues. Also with chafing I see more issues with neck-chafing on sleeveless suits than well fit full suits. Why? In a full suit the neck of the suit is anchored down to the rest of the suit and the suit tends to move with you. In a sleeveless suit that neck is often free to do it’s own thing and no longer moves with you* - *it may now be moving against you = more chaffing!
On the temperature issue - this is also a concern for some when using a full sleeve suit in “warmer” waters and for some a reason to consider a sleeveless. The concern is of course, over-heating. What I have heard about this is that in the testing that has been done on this, is that there is a perception, *a feeling *( note those two words carefully), that you are warmer/hotter in a full sleeve suit. Main reason is that the thin film of water next to your skin is warming up, so it feels warmer, but I have been told that in the testing, core temperatures( the really important measurement) stay constant. In the sleeveless suit you will feel cooler, due to the higher water leakage factor in the sleeveless suit and greater flushing of water in the suit overall.
It also opens up a new area for chafing issues. Also with chafing I see more issues with neck-chafing on sleeveless suits than well fit full suits. Why? In a full suit the neck of the suit is anchored down to the rest of the suit and the suit tends to move with you. In a sleeveless suit that neck is often free to do it’s own thing and no longer moves with you* - *it may now be moving against you = more chaffing!
This was my experience as well until someone told me about this wonderful invention known as Body Glide. Apply this deodorant-looking product to chafe-prone areas, such as neck and underarms, and viola the red spots will no longer appear. Test the suit out in training and you may uncover another spot or two of Body Glide areas.
I swim faster in my 10 year old sleeveless wetsuit than I do in my new full wetty. Brand not important. Just enjoy the freedom in the shoulders
I have a sleeveless wetsuit and used it for the first time down in Clermont last month. It worked great for me. I also got my De Soto Liftfoil suit in the mail today. I might use it at St. Anthony’s.
Never ever use a sleevless wetsuit if you intend on buying a wetsuit (from which I gather you do) get a full sleeve wetty! It is much faster and if it fits well and is a good quality suit then you will not have issues with restriction.
I did a 2k swim leg in 24 degree (celcius) water in a wetty, when got hot just pulled the neck a little and let some water in. If it is really too hot just ditch the wetty.
The neoprene giveth & the neoprene taketh away…
How fast can you peel your wetsuit off in T1?
Far too many times I see people with high-price full length wetsuits struggle in transition to get out of them.
For me, I go sleeveless on the short swims to speed through transition.