A speedsuit should hypothetically shave time off your swim due to the hydrophobic properties of the material, but does this really offset the time you waste taking it off? I would think it would really only be worthwhile for a IM swim, otherwise at lower distances I don’t think you would be saving more than the 30s it takes to take it off.
Also, is there is speed suits out there that can be used as a trisuit, so you don’t have to worry about wasting the time taking it off? Something with the same hydrophobic material, but also contains a chamois?
It’s not technically a speedsuit, per se, but the material is very similar to my Xterra speedsuit and simply does not absorb water. More like repels. I’ve raced this exact suit in distances up 70.3 and in multiple instances where it was a wetsuit illegal swim. The exact situation you describe.
To answer your first question, a suit that enables you to swim 30 seconds faster in a 1500 meter swim is well worth the time it would take to strip it off. The longer the race, the more advantage you’re going to get out of a speed suit.
Using a speed suit in an IM swim seems very practical because the suit shouldn’t take more than 15 seconds to strip off and the time advantage the suit gives you would be a few minutes. I don’t race IM distance, so I’m not sure if speed suits are legal to use in those races, but the suits are definitely worth using.
Also, is there is speed suits out there that can be used as a trisuit, so you don’t have to worry about wasting the time taking it off? Something with the same hydrophobic material, but also contains a chamois?
I will take a stab: for a sprint or oly, the best uniform is a speedo fs jammer or equivalent. No padding or changing necessary and the suit is way faster than any tri specific gear.
A speedsuit will shave time off, you are correct. They are also very easy to take off. The only way I can see it taking 30 seconds to take this off is if you try to take it off without opening the zipper. As you exit the water you can very easily pull the lanyard on suits that have them, even easier on suits with locking zippers, you flip the zipper tab up and pull on the shoulders and the zipper comes down. You get to your T1 spot and pull it off your legs. Almost no time “lost”. Even if it does take you 30 seconds to take it off, you will likely have gained at least that with the suit, so you are not losing any time theoretically, you have more time in T1 to waste. Also a more efficient swim saves more energy for the bike and run.
We offer a Tri suit that is the exact same material as our WTC legal speedsuit. It has a chamois, and a zipper pocket on the back. This is recommended for Olympic distance races.
My question to you is, why would you go with a WTC legal speedsuit that offers no buoyancy and isn’t quite as fast as the older rubberized suits? At least up until this point, you can still wear the rubberized suit for any race with the exception of IM and IM70.3. That is the only time you have to have a textile suit. This is currently the rule, it may change at the end of the year, but for anything left this year, you can wear a rubberized speedsuit and get even more time on the swim.
No matter what, a speedsuit, proper fitting (as tight as you can handle), will gain you time on the swim without losing time in T1. Time gained in the swim puts you ahead of where you would be without it.
As stated, call Andre at Kiwami! The amphibian will serve both of your needs…a really fast swimskin that can be worn the entire race. If you do a search on this site, Jordan always wore that suit for Ironman races, and sings it’s praises in archived threads. He can also customize with any logos or wording you want for a small fee, and the clothing wears like iron! Simply the best.
I completely agree with Gary, above. I have two Kiwami suits and there is no other tri kit I would rather race in. I have the two-piece Prima for Ironman distance races and and the one-piece amphibian prima for races up to half-ironman. The material is extremely breathable and lightweight. Contact Andre for some more info and if you’re interested, feel free to use my code below for 10% off.
The LG suit is really really nice but it’s definitely not a “speedsuit” for swimming per say or at least it sure doesn’t look like it is. I’ve had a whole bunch of these come through our shop to be printed for Kona over the past week. Beautiful suit but it doesn’t look all that fast in the water to me or at least not in the traditional sense. Who knows, maybe I’m completely off the mark.
Kiwami
Desoto Liftfoil (or whatever it’s called)
2XU project x suit
Champ Sys ITU suit (add your own chamois like I did…)
All I know is that I get out of the water and it is practically dry. Whatever they do to hydrophoblically treat it works. And the chamois is wonderful, also dries remarkably fast.
It’s me…the guy from a swimming and wetsuit company…
I just wanted to add my pennies worth on swimskins. The difference between a swimskin and tri suit should also be more than just the fabric…otherwise with the new rulings for WTC events you may as well wear a tri suit, the ruling instigated by FINA (Governing body of swimming) and adopted in a much more lighter and innovation friendly manner by WTC only eliminate the fabrics element. What made the FINA now banned rubber suits so fast? was it the skin and low drag? well i am sure there was some benefit to this, but there are four other key areas you need to consider and this may also help you understand that some swim skins are merely tri suits with a chamois removed.
The reason swim skins for the pool and triathlon make a difference is about frontal drag /body mass, muscle oscillation reduction, core compression and the change in the centre of buoyancy …all of which should be considered in the performance of the suit.
Fabric is one element, but the other areas as mentioned can significantly aid your swim and 30 seconds plus can easily be achieved. This is down to fit, patterns used, materials and their orientation in order to achieve differing things for different areas of the body. Compression location for core stiffness and ability to squeeze the body in such a manner that the centre of buoyancy can be changed to again achieve a more effective, more streamline position. The overall tubular compression of the garment …basically how much of a skinner tube does the suit make you while still allowing you to maintain your stroke.
Your swimskin should not feel like a tri suit without a chamois, your swimskin should feel like its working in the water, but really not suitable for racing on the bike and run due to it’s different properties.
I’ve never taken more than 3s to remove a speed suit. I also wear my race number belt under the speed suit so when I get to the bike, it’s just remove suit, wear aero helmet (with visor), unrack bike and go. Simple.