Wetsuits…
We've posted before about wetsuits but with the weather getting colder it's definitely something you might want to consider if you've been swimming 'skins' and want to continue swimming for longer into the colder weather. A wetsuit will allow you to stay in the water for longer.
Also bear in mind that wetsuits for swimming add to buoyancy in the water. This means that they will generally cause your legs to float higher in the water than they would when you’re swimming without one. This is fine if swimming front crawl but if you’re swimming breast stroke (where the leg position is lower) then this will make it a bit trickier and could feel a bit strange.
Finding a wetsuit that suits can be tricky. We would recommend trying as many as you need to until you find one that you’re comfortable in. A wetsuit should fit snugly - if you can step into it easily and zip it up really easily then it's probably too loose.
You shouldn't have extra material or gaping anywhere. On the other hand, if you get one that's too tight and restricts your movement, you can end up with shoulder pain - particularly if you're swimming longer distances.
We would recommend trying on a good few to work out which one suits you best. You can order, try on and return any number through companies such as Wiggle. Although you'll need to pay and then get a refund when you return the unwanted ones. It's also worth bearing in mind that a wetsuit should take you a good ten minutes or so to put on correctly.
You should always be careful when putting it on so as not to tear the neoprene. Some (more expensive wetsuits) come complete with gloves to wear when putting them on. At the very least, be careful not to catch them on long nails etc as the neoprene can tear easily.
The wetsuit should be pulled on over the feet and up to the knees initially. Some people recommend putting polythene bags on the feet to help it go one more easily and to minimise the chance of tearing. It should then be pulled up, little by little, one leg at a time. When both legs are up, you should then pull it up to the waist - ensuring it fits properly at the crotch.
Following this, you should pull up one arm at a time, little by little. There should be a width of around three fingers between the wetsuit and the wrist. If you are wearing a watch, be really careful not to catch the wetsuit on this or remove it while putting the wetsuit on. Also make sure that you’ve pulled the arms up enough that you have space for movement around your shoulders.
Finally, when zipping up the wetsuit, take care to ensure that you fasten the velcro properly to minimise the chance of it chaffing. You may also need help to zip it up and fasten it (one of us always requires help with this!) but this is completely normal.
Be aware that the material and fit will vary between different make and types of wetsuits. We would also recommend checking reviews and doing your research as this will usually give you a good idea of what to expect.
The Wild Swimming Women x
Matching wetsuits in Loch Lomond!