I’d like to hear what you folks are doing to minimize wet suit neck burns/chafing. I don’t have much of an issue up to 1500 m swims, but I’ve had some nasty neck burns after longer swims - and they take a long time to heal. I mainly get it on the back (as opposed to the side) of my neck, probably a function of lifting my head up to sight the buoys.
I’ve used body glide and wetsuit lube (the Profile kind) but still am having issues. I saw one guy at a HIM last year who had put duct tape on the back of his neck. Has anyone tried this? What else have you tried?
i use no lubrication on my neck of any sort, and, have not yet neck hickies for years. this is one of the benefits of a 2pc wetsuit (specifically, de soto’s T1). if you do get a neck abrasion, where you get it is important to note. if it’s just in one spot on the back, the “hook” part of the “hook and loop” (velcro) is probably folding over and abrading your neck. just be careful and correct when you put on your wetsuit. if it’s around the sides and/or front of you neck, then, it’s just the wetsuit. the best solution is to get another wetsuit (sorry).
Try using a Rash Guard shirt that you wear under the suit. I normally use on by Oneil or Body Glove and they are mainly designed for surfers who suffer the same problems. It is similar in construction to a turtle neck but made out of special material for swimming.
Here is a link to give you some ideas, but I would lean toward the shirts with the higher collars because it needs to stick out of the top of the wetsuit for teh best effect.
i used to get gnarly neck burn after any swim over 45 minutes. now i lube the back of my neck and the collar of the suit with body glide and dont have issues.
i use no lubrication on my neck of any sort, and, have not yet neck hickies for years. this is one of the benefits of a 2pc wetsuit (specifically, de soto’s T1)…
I havn’t been so lucky - my De Soto T1 left me with a really nasty neckburn after a 2km swim. I’m not sure it neccessarly the wetsuit’s fault - I have a thick neck and I find all wetsuits are tight in the neck area and chafe. I’ve been using a silicone based cream called ‘Blister Bomb’ - it seems to eliminate 75% of the chafing. I really like the idea of duct tape on the back of the neck - I’ll try that next.
Duct tape. It was recommended to me by my doctor. He saw my healing scab, asked about it, I said I was going to put a bandage there next race, and then he said to just use a piece of duct tape.
It works like a charm and you can color match it to your kit.
Is it a form issue? Are you getting tired and lifting your head? Before anything, I would look into your mechanics/form and try tilting your head down a bit.
I feel your pain. Body glide seems to work for a while, but in an IM distance race, it seems like it’s almost inevitable that your neck will get chewed up. I find that in salt water swims like IM Florida, it is even worse. Best solution is the gob the stuff on and hope to delay the discomfort as long as possible.
get a better fitting wetsuit. I use ducktape for training and Glide for races. You could also modify some kind of shirt or something to cover the area.
It may sound funny but you’d think someone would have just the neck portion of a rash guard shirt for triathletes…I think in the colder climates they have something just to keep their necks warm–I believe they call it a “dicky” or something. Emilio–there’s your next million $ idea, a rash guard “dicky” for triathletes.