Choosing a Wetsuit
Don’t let the cold water stop you! As autumn arrives, so does a big chill—especially for young swimmers. Pools are not always heated and they don’t always have a Jacuzzi for swim students to keep warm. Unheated outdoor pool temps in the SF Bay area can drop below the typical pool temp range of 78-86 degrees F (26-30 C). Rather than shiver after 10 minutes of swimming, swimmers can buy a wetsuit.
Wetsuit inventor, Dr. Hugh Bradner, imagined in 1952 how trapping a thin layer of water between a layer of insulating fabric and the skin could keep a human body sufficiently warm in cooler water longer.
So what do we consider when choosing a wetsuit?
First, we consider the season and water environment. Is it autumn? Winter? How cold do we expect the water and air temperature to be? Are we swimming in a heated pool or open water such as an ocean or lake? How cold will the water and the air be?
For this blog, we are mostly considering swimming in a pool where the water temperature could drop to 70 degrees F—if the pool is not heated, while the air temperature is 50-70 degrees F.
Second, we consider thickness. How thick must our wetsuit be to keep us warm enough from the cold for a half hour to one hour swim?
Wetsuits range from about 0.5mm to 8mm in thickness. Generally, the colder the water you plan to dive in, the thicker the wetsuit should be. While thicker wetsuits tend to limit your motions, they’re much better at giving you warmth and protection.
Third, we consider size. Wetsuits for children as well as adults should be snug, not too loose, not too tight. To insulate the body, only enough water needs to flow into the suit and be sealed.
Fouth, we consider style/type. Long sleeve/short sleeve? Long sleeve and long legged wetsuits can offer swimmers better protection from the sun as well as more warmth.
By type, we mean the cut and sleeve style. These different kinds of wetsuits range from tops or bottoms to full hooded suits. A full wetsuit covers your entire body -- these suits can be found in many different thicknesses made for different water temperatures. Full suits cover the entire body including arms and legs up to wrists and ankles.
Fifth, we consider cost. Wetsuits can cost between $50 to $500.
https://blog.wetsuitwearhouse.com/how-much-does-a-wetsuit-cost/
Patagonia’s online site with its highter priced wetsuits selection is at: https://www.patagonia.com/shop/gear/wetsuits?
Amazon’s has lower cost wetsuits for children at this website: https://a.co/d/55zH9Yy
I have been fortunate to find lower cost used wetsuits (under $50) at goodwill, fb marketplace, and other second hand shops near open water swimming venues such as Lake Tahoe and Half Moon Bay.
Below is a list of links with more resources for choosing a wetsuit. If you have any questions, please ask me. May our time in cooler water be extended to become a skillful friend of the water.
https://www.usms.org/fitness-and-training/articles-and-videos/articles/whats-a-safe-pool-temperature
https://www.evo.com/guides/wetsuit-thickness-and-temperature-chart
https://www.surfertoday.com/surfing/the-different-types-of-wetsuits