How much of a difference does wetsuit material make in terms of comfort, durability, buoyancy, speed?
I see cheap neoprene suits (Xterra, Zone3) vs. higher priced Yamamoto #39/40 rubber. And there is the Green-Goma Rubber suits. Is a cheap suit better for a poor swimmer?
How much of a difference does wetsuit material make in terms of comfort, durability, buoyancy, speed?
I see cheap neoprene suits (Xterra, Zone3) vs. higher priced Yamamoto #39/40 rubber. And there is the Green-Goma Rubber suits. Is a cheap suit better for a poor swimmer?
** Is a cheap suit better for a poor swimmer?= Is a cheap triathlon bicycle better for a poor cyclist?**
Like bicycles, fit is important. If a swimmer’s poor performance is partially due to poor positioning–low hips/legs–then a wetsuit designed to counter this issue is important. There is no information on how warm of water this individual will be swimming in. You may want to see if someone is let you try out a wetsuit prior to a purchase. Let others add more details.
Speaking from experience (n=1), I can tell the difference between an entry level suit and a more expensive one. First off, I’m a poor swimmer, I am about 15s per 100 faster with a pool buoy which gives you an idea of how poor my body position is. Anyway, with an entry level wetsuit, I really notice the difference (compared to swimming without one) and my body position is better. But when I demoed a high end suit (Huub Archemedes 3:5), I noticed a substantial difference between it and the entry level suit. The Huub, with more flotation in the bottom and less on top had my legs close to the top of the water all the time. When I attempted my anemic kick, I broke the surface of the water.
I also noted that the higher end suit wasn’t as warm which for me was a good thing. The higher end fit tighter in the arms and legs - less water flushing. The higher end is more flexible up top so easier for me to breath and less tiring on my arms. Oh and the higher end suit “seems” more slippery in the water but that is pretty subjective. On the downside, being a bit tighter around legs and arms, it is a bit more difficult to take off.
I have not researched the specific materials between the 2 so can't answer your questions about material. All I can say is that the higher end suit offers better flotation, better fit and is faster.
As mentioned above, fit is king when it comes to wetsuits.
You can buy a $1200 wetsuit, but if it doesn’t fit you properly, you are not going to see the performance benefits.
As far as what material is the most comfortable? This will again come to fit, as well as the pattern of the wetsuit, and perhaps the liner (as this is what touches your skin).
A wetsuit that fits you properly, will perform as it is designed to, no matter what price point. Entry level suits use a lower grade neoprene, but this “lower grade neoprene” is still a very high grade neoprene (if that makes sense). Even Yamamoto #38 is a high grade rubber, it simply isn’t as flexible as #39, #40, etc… There are differences in buoyancy and durability from neoprene to neoprene, but these are qualities that have been measured as far as I have seen. As far as speed goes, most neorprenes use an SCS (Super Composite Skin) coating, or something similar, on the outside of the suit, which provide a very low drag surface.
I think the issue I see most, is ill fitting entry level suits. I think that some entry level suits, especially those bought over the web, are harder to fit properly, especially without an experienced sales person helping you on site (I’m not saying that you shouldn’t buy a suit online). This ill fitting suit is the cause of much anxiety for some athletes. The suit likely isn’t performing as it is designed to perform.
My recommendation is inline with those above, try on a few suits. Try on some suits from different manufacturers. The suit that fits you best could be a suit with Yamamoto #38, or GreenComa, or Aerodome, or Sheiko, or all #40. Whatever the make up of that suit is what will perform the best for you at the dollar amount you are looking to spend. There is probably a suit at every price point, that will fit you properly.
Every manufacturer uses a different pattern and different neoprene’s to make their suits. This gives you a large amount of suits to choose from.
I hope this is a little bit helpful. If you have any questions, I’m happy to help.
The only thing that I’ll add is that the fitter should know and instruct you how to put it on. I only recently realized that what i thought was a slightly small suit, was simply not pulled up high enough. Maybe that sounds obvious, but I bought it when i was 19…16 years ago… and simply never learned or had forgotten sicne I got it how it’s supposed to fit. AMAZING the difference. In reality it’s actually sized perfectly. I believe the fitter was the owner himself at the time… or at least a employee. (It’s a Aquaman and I remember him having a fench accent).
Oh, and get the best suit you can afford. If you take proper care of it… as you can see, it doesn’t wear out. I haven’t used it a lot, but hanging inside out in a closet for 99.9% of the time over a 16 year period apparanlty doesn’t bother it. I figure in 10 more years I’ll see if Aquaman wants to trade me for it to put in their museum. Based on my non WS times compared to my WS times, they fall inline, so I’m not convinced a new suit would make much if any difference.
Oh… and I didn’t try on a bunch of suits at the time. It was my very first triathlon I ever did. I show up and the water temp was something like 60F. I was more than a littlte freaked out. I tried on a couple suits and pulled my credit card out.