Anyone like to share their thoughs on swimming with wet suits on in swimming pools? Does this ruin the suit at all? How many of you acutally do it. Just got a BlueSeventy Helix and I am dying to try it out…open water around here is still way to cold…
I have been in the pool quite a few times with mine. Don’t know if it was necessary or not, but I just rinsed mine off with fresh water and haven’t had any problems.
Actually just spoke to Blue Seventy. The official word from them is as follows:
They do not recommend wearing the suit in pools all the time. However, every once in awhile won’t hurt the suit. Just rinse with clean water and you will be fine.
Chlorine can destroy a wetsit quite quickly, epecially if you don’t rinse them off thoroughly. Even then, life expectancy is shortenned.
I used to teach scuba diving in a heavy chlorinated YMCA pool wearing a shortie. Chlorine would eventually take them down after a couple of seasons.
As an aside, de soto say that chlorine doesn’t damage T1s but may damage other companies’ suits.
I think what they told you is about right.
This is correct. The T1 is more Chlorine resistant than any other wetsuit. We use Yamamoto Rubber (#38 and #39) which is considered the best for swimming wetsuits, but after we buy this rubber, we do something special to it to make it more chlorine and salt water resistant. Sorry, I can’t tell you what we do to it, because it is a secret and it remains an advantage we have over our competition, even those that buy rubber from Yamamoto.
So if you own T1, swim in a pool as much as you like! If you own another brand, I hope you will consider buying a T1 next time around.
As an aside, de soto say that chlorine doesn’t damage T1s but may damage other companies’ suits.
I think what they told you is about right.
We use Yamamoto Rubber (#38 and #39) which is considered the best for swimming wetsuits, but after we buy this rubber, we do something special to it to make it more chlorine and salt water resistant.
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Hey Emilio, are you saying that salt water kills wetsuits too? I guess that makes sense but I’ve never heard it stated.
Btw, Bonelli last week was my first race in my T1, I liked it!
We will all have to meet at Bonelli next time. I was there too! Great race. Glad the T1 worked well for you.
Salt Water shortens the life of everything, not just wetsuits. The only drawback of liviing at the coast is that things rust faster.
Yeah, tell me about it, if I don’t lube my chain for a week it rusts. Everything rusts, even inside the apartment.
Life’s a Beach as they say.
Rince it out immediately - at the showers by the pool - then when you get home. IMO you’ll be fine. It’s not like you’ll be swimming in your wetsuit more than 1x/wk in a pool.
FYI - I am in agreement with my colleagues in the business: Occaisonal use, in a pool is fine. Just be sure to rinse the suit out fully after use. However, this should be done regardless of where you swim, fresh, salt or chlorine water - ALWAYS rinse the suit out with as fresh water as you can get as soon as possible after the use.