Besides a wetsuit, what else should I buy or be wearing? Is there a way to prepare for water temps as low as 66 degrees? Any insight would be greatly appreciated as this is only my 2nd HIM, and the 1st w/ a swim…Steelheads was cancelled last year.
I’m pretty sure the triple T swim was colder than that last year. Most people just wore a wetsuit. You’ll live. It aint’ that cold.
It might be a little cold getting in, but you’ll be fine with just a wetsuit.
I am someone who doesn’t mind cold water (I’ll be in Oceanside tomorrow), but even I would say that 66 isn’t much to worry about. You’ll be fine in a wetsuit and the cap they give you. Once you get moving, you won’t notice or think about being cold.
CDA 2008 water temp was 58 degrees, a few days before during practice swim it was 52 degrees. . . I wore a wetsuit and that was it. So stop your crying. 
I’m a weenie when it comes to cold water but 66°F is nothing to worry about.
I’d do that sleeveless.
jaretj
66 is about perfect if you ask me.
Racine last year was mid 50’s that was fooking cold for the 500 meters after that it was fine. Maybe because everything was numb.
Besides a wetsuit, what else should I buy or be wearing? Is there a way to prepare for water temps as low as 66 degrees? Any insight would be greatly appreciated as this is only my 2nd HIM, and the 1st w/ a swim…Steelheads was cancelled last year.
HTFU!
You shouldn’t need anything other than a suit in 66 degree water. I did several tris last year in the mid/high 50s with no extra gear.
HTFU.
Thanks for the info, I’ll HTFU. I even get cold in my pool in a wetsuit at 66…and I’m a fat as*
Dude,
I too get cold in the pool with water temp at 78.
I couldn’t resist the comment… many have proposed me to HTFU at some point in this forum.
Have a great season!
I have a friend who tends to get cold in swims and she doesn’t break out the booties until the water gets under 63. The skullcap comes out at about 60. Like people said, 66 will be cold when you get in, but shouldn’t be that bad. If you are worried, I would wear a silicone swim cap under you race swim cap. That’s what I do when it gets under 60. Keeps the head from freezing up.
My best advice isn’t something to wear, but something to do. EXHALE. Actually, that’s the best advice in any open water swim, but if it’s cold, if you’re nervous, whatever - force yourself to exhale. Focus on that for the first few minutes until you relax, you’ll settle down after that.
Mid-60’s is actually rather comfortable.
That’s not cold. You’ll be fine.
I am a total and complete wuss about cold water. Nevertheless, I find mid 60’s with a wetsuit to be pretty comfy.
If you’re finding that you’re still stressed out at the prospect of being cold for your race, you might consider doing a few open water wetsuit swims in the weeks before your race, if you have a suitable body of water that will be similar or lower temperature to your first race. Better yet, bring your bike and run stuff and rehearse transitions.
A great thing to try is to swim hard for a little while, then time yourself for stripping your wetsuit and getting underway on the bike. (Good way to make sure that your plan still works when everything is wet.) THEN, while you’re still pretty warm from all of that activity, run back into the water without your wetsuit and swim a little, again at a fairly high intensity. You’d be surprised at how comfortable you can be with the temperature after the slow warm up. Good confidence builder, I think.
You’ll be fine in a wetsuit, no need for neoprene cap or other such thing. Once you get moving you’ll be fine, it is the initial shock that is rough. Get in the water the morning of the race before start and do a warm-up swim for 10 minutes. You will feel much more comfortable when the gun goes off.
I’m a cold water weenie too. 66 is cold to me. CdA almost killed me!
You’ll be fine in a wetsuit, no need for neoprene cap or other such thing. Once you get moving you’ll be fine, it is the initial shock that is rough. Get in the water the morning of the race before start and do a warm-up swim for 10 minutes. You will feel much more comfortable when the gun goes off.
I’m a cold water weenie too. 66 is cold to me. CdA almost killed me!
My first wetsuit swim was in 62*, and really was quite comfortable. You definitely knew when you got a large dose of water through the zipper or neck, but really was quite fine.
I did an HIM swim in October in 60 degree water wearing just a sleeveless wetsuit. I am also part Polar Bear. But I think you should be fine - 66 isn’t that cold.
I did a race two weeks ago in 52 degree water w/ only a wetsuit and race cap. It was cold, but once the race starts you’re too focused on the feet in front of you to notice the cold.
I believe 66 degrees is the typical water temperature down in HTFU city.
Besides a wetsuit, what else should I buy or be wearing? Is there a way to prepare for water temps as low as 66 degrees? Any insight would be greatly appreciated as this is only my 2nd HIM, and the 1st w/ a swim…Steelheads was cancelled last year.
so is this Lonestar in Galveston this Sunday? Good luck!