Novice guide: How to swim better with a wetsuit?

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If you have never swum in a wetsuit before, there are certain things you should keep in mind before doing so.

Luckily from Zone3 They help us to guide you with some tips from the renowned brand of swimming accessories for triathlon.

Choose the appropriate setting:

It is important to consider the fit when buying a wetsuit and it is important to select the correct size. A specific neoprene suit for swimming It is designed to improve the position of the swimmer's body in the water and allow efficient movement during swimming. This is achieved by combining flexible neoprene panels that provide buoyancy in a comfortable and tight suit.

The functions of a neoprene suit are:

A) provide  additional buoyancy
B) reduce the resistance to advance in the water
C) offer a degree of comfort in the cold water

There are different brands of wetsuits on the market and they all fit slightly differently. Fit has always been a priority for us and We have had many compliments for the past seven years due to our perfect fit, all this is possible thanks to a unique paneling design and the use of the most advanced materials available.

A study carried out by Zone3 revealed that 80% of customers will buy a wetsuit from our brand after trying an average of two to three wetsuits from other brands, this decision is basically based on the fit and the good feeling that our wetsuits provide. It is important that you do your own "study" and do not let yourself be influenced by price, color or if an elite athlete wears one or another brand: the fit is much more important than any more superfluous characteristic such as price, brand or decor.

don a wetsuit correctly

Size table. Comfortable fit Vs. Performance adjustment:

When going to the size chart to determine what size you need, there will be people who fit more than one size and who will be straddling a pair of them. Here are some things to consider to help you choose which size will be best for you:

The weight of a person is more critical than his height. The athletes who they have never worn a wetsuit tend to prefer comfort adjustment by choosing the Larger size. In return if you already have experience swimming with neoprene and you're looking for a performance adjustment, better choose the  smaller size.

Placing your neoprene:

1) Open the zipper, hold the suit from the inside and turn the upper part of the body to leave the inner part of the suit turned to the outside.

2) Remember that the zipper goes on the back.

3) Begin by pulling the leg loops over your feet and grasp the inside to pull them up as far as possible. Depending on the length of your legs, you will have 1 to 15cm of bare skin above the ankle.

* Tip: keep your socks on or put some bags over your feet so they slide down the leg of the suit more easily.

4) Once the suit is at the hips, you can start to adjust it. Being careful not to damage the neoprene with your fingernails, start from the bottom and reposition the neoprene until the leg seam is at the knee and the suit is snug at the crotch.

5) Take your time, don't put on your wetsuit too quickly, it can be disastrous.

6) Once the suit is correctly positioned on the lower part of the body, you can start to place it on the shoulders and arms.

7) Once the neoprene is fully put on, you can ask someone to help you with the zipper. You can also try doing it yourself by pinching the bottom of the zipper and pulling the tape up.

8) When you pull the zipper up, make sure that the internal protection flap is well placed and does not wrinkle.

How do I know which neoprene is the best for me?

As mentioned earlier, many people two neoprene sizes fit. This is what we call comfort adjustment and performance adjustment. The Zone3 basic and middle range wetsuits have a slightly straighter cut around the torso, so they are designed for comfort first and then second performance:

Zone3 Vision and Advance Wetsuits

 While the Aspire and Vanquish mid-high and high-end suits have a cut designed to be compressive around the legs and torso, maintaining total freedom of movement around the shoulders and arms:

Zone3 Aspire and Vanquish wetsuits

Remember that all swimming wetsuits are designed to be like a second skin and that when you get into the sea, the small water film that serves as thermal insulation, the suit will be repositioned on your body to be more comfortable and tight.

The most important thing in determining if the size is right is make sure the suit is correctly placed. A correctly sized wetsuit could feel too tight/loose/big/small if not fitted correctly, please take a look at the video above, we show you how to put on your wetsuit correctly.

Some more tricks:

1) Remember: you will not do trunk push-ups or squats with your neoprene on. The important is: you should be able to perform the movement of the swimming stroke relatively easy on dry.

2) Check that the suit It fits well in the lower back and does not form an air pocket. In case this has appeared, try to bring the suit more up in the crotch and glutes. If there is too much excess material and wrinkles remain in any particular area, it could mean that the suit is too large and can allow excess water to enter and even create pockets or water circulation.

3) With the arms extended and parallel to the ground, the neo must be adjusted to the armpits. In this position there should also be some small folds at the top of the shoulder. If this does not occur, you may have to stretch the arms of the suit towards the shoulders. To do this, extend one arm over your head and carefully reposition your suit arm toward your shoulder.

4) With the arms extended in front of the chest and crossed by the wrists arise a minimum space in the neck and / or small folds in the chest.

5) If you feel certain discomfort in the neck, try to Pull the neo slightly up on the back of the legs and especially the zipper. Grab the base of the zipper and remove any excess material in the direction of the shoulders. This will relax the fit on the front of the neck. Swimming in a neoprene suit may require some adaptation because the neck is usually higher than any other garment you are used to to ensure that the water intake is kept to a minimum.

6) Remember that the suit will fit better once it's wet and that will also be molded to fit your morphology with use. 

7) Finally, after finishing the training Rinse with clean, fresh water and hang it away from direct sunlight. When you do take it off, try to do it like you're in a race - this is a good way to practice so on “D-day” you don't waste a lot of time transitioning.

More information about Zone3: http://zone3.es

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