Tri Suit Vs Wetsuit - Which Is Fastest? | GTN Does Science

Heather and Mark investigate which is fastest for the swimming leg of triathlon - wetsuit or no wetsuit?
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Wetsuits can help add buoyancy and potentially improve your swimming technique. Many believe that you are faster with a wetsuit so we try to find out! However, changing out of a wetsuit is not always easy and can add a delay. For our experiment, Heather and Mark swim 400m in both of the suits and add the time it takes taking off their wetsuit. We extrapolated these results to give a more accurate representation of a longer swim. The presenters then get their science glasses on to analyse the data!
Do you prefer swimming in a wetsuit? 👇
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[@gtn]

Do you prefer a tri suit or a wetsuit? 👇

[@rafaelmondini]

I prefer a wetsuit, but it calls for a very well trained T1. I also like it because I don't feel the need to shave my arms and legs for the race.

[@debaetsstevie]

Wetsuit (bad swimmer)

[@skykaptain007]

Trisuit because I mostly do sprint and Olympic distance the time to remove is larger than the gains plus the price

[@rosales1616]

Wetsuit. Bad swimmer and tend to cramp while swimming. Can you please make a video on cramping during triathlon? I personally use Pickle Juice(yuck!) though wanted to hear your thoughts.

[@mkn_retrogamer]

So far I've only done one race per year and it's in August and so far water temperature hasn't been a problem. However I would like to prolong the outdoor training season so I'm considering getting one. BTW, please do a video on open water swimming safety. I.e. what safety products are there. Any tips on how to think and so on. Especially if you're solo training like me.

[@nootnoot1463]

When you think you’re a decent swimmer but Mark just casually knocks out a 400m in 1 second quicker than your PB. Fair play Marky boi

[@ChavezRB6]

3 years later, and I'm glad I wasn't the only one thinking that.

[@Rambleon444]

My 2 cents- You should do this open water and for at least 750m (sprint race). I imagine flip turns are slower in a wetsuit, plus you should have the wetsuit almost off by the time you hit T1. There is a good reason pros. choose wetsuits when allowed.

[@SubMariner_]

The guy at 9:33 swimming in the background definitely needs a wet swimsuit with increased leg buoyancy 😉

[@debaetsstevie]

Sub Mariner eye for 'detail'

[@markfoz7248]

These two are such natural presenters. Would love to have seen them during the Olympics coverage.

[@barryfield9300]

A wetsuit will take 15-60 seconds off a 400 depending on your swimming ability. The slower the swimmer the more it helps! If you have issues getting it off after the swim, practice a bit!

[@gtn]

It can certainly take a bit of practice Barry

[@kubagornowicz]

And you also start to taking it off while running to the T1, usualy top half of it is already done before T1.

[@ryanhackett906]

I would think that a wetsuit would make your flip turn slower. On another note: If I do 8x200's with 30 second rests. The average pace that I came out with is about how fast I could swim a 1500 open water with a wetsuit in a race.

[@timospitzhorn1738]

You should compare the tri suit vs. a skin suit like the sailfish rebell or something similar for the races in warm waters.

[@markthrelfall3577]

Timo Spitzhorn as mentioned at the end, we’re really keen to explore the swimskin idea too. Keep an eye out for that soon

[@phxrsx]

Did Roka step up as a sponsor? Pretty cool!

[@nl3paul3nl]

An important factor that wasn't taken into consideration here is that you got to run through transition to your bike after the swim. During this run you can already take half your wetsuit off down to your waist and the rest next to your bike, making for an even bigger difference because it saves a few seconds.

[@PringlessAts64]

and also the swim distance is only 400. the gain şn 15500 04 1900 or 3800 would huge.and they are really good swimmers. a bad swimmer like myself w,ll benefit much more from wetsuit

[@ChrisKouwenhoven]

Wetsuit! Perhaps not only for the obvious: better swimtime, staying warm and swim more efficient (less energy consumption) there is more to it: you can wear your number already under the wetsuit, so no hassle at the bike with the possibility that it was kicked away by another athlete or blown away by wind. Another advantage is that you are allowed to wear compression tubes under the wetsuit. For me that is a big advantage in the running part. So i think the test in the video should be a little more. Make a longer run to T1, so you can already pull of the upper part (is what you normally do when you get out of the water when running to T1) and complete T1 with your startnumber and helmet. Even better is to do the test in open water.

[@gtn]

Good ideas there for a future test, thanks Chris

[@dbtri95]

Without wetsuit: 1:28 intervals w/ medium intensity (long course) whilst with wetsuit on - around 1:23 for 100m / 7 or 8 x 200m intervals: ~3:03 vs ~2:53 - wetsuit gives me a lot but the work of arms feels much harder & the feeling - it is still strange a bit (+ I'm not using legs a lot ;)

[@gtn]

Interesting, thanks for sharing your results!

[@debaetsstevie]

Looking forward for the swim skin (also good for lokale competition)

[@sharkdom]

Check out the scissor kicking at 9:33 lol

[@brockshortjr1454]

It would be great if you could test the swim dynamics along with aerodynamics of different trisuits to see where the best combo for speed can be found.

[@csm8245]

For a better test, wear a tri suit on the left part of your body and a wetsuit on the right side. Then watch which half of your body is faster.

[@dustinquigley1700]

Just to add fuel to the fire, by the time I'm at water's edge, wetsuit is already at my waist, so spend even less time trying to get it off than in this video. It's a pretty massive benefit, interesting to see that even in a trial this short, with a full stop to take it off, Matt is still faster. If your body position is poor, it'll help you even more thanks to the buoyancy! :p

[@brettbale9535]

Secret buoyant shorts under the tri suit.

[@stug45]

Wetsuit, even with my swimming. About 1 min over 1500m but with the suit I don't kick as much as I'm saving the legs for the rest!

[@MattDion]

stug45 yeah my thought too. It could be the same time all told to end of T1, but the bike and run legs could differ as a result of additional leg fatigue.

[@markthrelfall3577]

A really good point. I didn’t think to mention that, but that is a serious advantage to wearing a wetsuit

[@carolinefry3275]

The distance is very important to put into consideration

[@fatblokeonabicyle9569]

Dear GTN please could you let us know what fitness trackers/watches you were using...perhaps a bit of info about this kind of triathlon tech would be very useful, as I’m looking to get a sports watch that will track my swims (both pool & open) just like you’ve done in this video? Thanks, Alex

[@klqc4915]

Good stuff! Can you test if there is an aerodynamic difference between putting your hands on top of each other on the aerobars (like Jan Frodeno) or holding the aerobars in a normal way?

[@MattDion]

The other factor is that most transitions are not right on waters edge, and during the run (okay, for me a jog) to T1 the wetsuit can already be down to your waist.

[@sailingintosunshine]

but the heavy wetsuit will surely slow your run into T1 down

[@markthrelfall3577]

A very valid point. And something we spoke about in a recent video was the fact the water seeps out on the run to transition, and makes it harder to remove the legs. It’s a good baseline, but we’re keen to explore further

[@katiev6456]

I feel like wetsuits help men more than women in general (I'm sure there's exceptions) the guys I trounce in the pool breeze past me open water. I think men's bigger stronger shoulders help them to not be so bothered by the extra resistance around the shoulders... No evidence for that, it's just how it seems to me.

[@jvrn5]

can you also make a comparison including skinsuits..thanks

[@stevenagel6096]

Thing is you can get most your suit off while running to T1, so can that time really classed as lost?

[@michaelgati5796]

I would have thought you would incorporate heart rates this way you can really see perceived effort between a wetsuit and the trisuit

[@phxrsx]

I think they were going full gas in all the runs.

[@bradenkersey6057]

Great video! I’d be interested to see what the difference would be if you did one run in an entry level wetsuit and the other in a high end wetsuit.

[@gtn]

That would be interesting Braden 👍

[@martin.B777]

Mark's pace is impressive!

[@andru12cb]

I prefer trisuit but I really want to know the model of watch you were using :D...

[@shaunhoulahan4080]

This was very interesting to me. I guess this comparison is something we all should do. I’m thinking it won’t make much difference to me. I find the shoulder tightness of the wetsuit tiring and I can’t get it off in less than 30 seconds.

[@gtn]

Hi Shaun, that's true with the wetsuit. It can take practice getting it off easier.

[@tjgato]

How about the bouyancy shorts is it a good alternative to feel the wetsuit?

[@Yamaha_Bolt]

Are you allowed to recommend brands for beginners?

[@janblahuta]

Great video...please make one "how to choose/buy wetsuit"..thanks

[@gtn]

Good idea Jan, thanks for the suggestion

[@go8663]

I bought the only one they had it fit me ok but yea theres got to be a place for custom fit or something

[@jacla1410]

Wouldn't the benefit of wetsuit become larger as the distance increases. ie: keeps the form better together as fatigue might kick in after 1000/2000m?

[@abhishekavhad8077]

Yes, longer the distance, more the benefit of the wet suit. Also keep in mind Mark and Heather are very good swimmers, so they gain much lesser time in a wetsuit. An average swimmer would experience much bigger gains.

[@D.Eldon_]

Great test!

[@gtn]

Thanks D.Eldon

[@ianstewart8301]

I have an odd #askgtn I wore a wetsuit (a sleeveless full leg) for my first 70.3 and when I got out, I had cramps on my shins! Not my calves (that came in T1..both calves!) what gives? Any ideas? I’m not much of a kicker, so the buoyancy helped with that. Now I’m nervous about wearing it again for another race.

[@ianstewart8301]

Perhaps that is it. I tried to keep my feet pointed to help w/ streamlining a bit.

[@greghilliard7641]

I bought the cheapest one I could find because the water on my first middle distance was at 14C. Still have it too 😀

[@pobg]

Fab video guys.

[@tlove9125]

what is the difference between a triathlon wetsuit and a surfing wetsuit? Can you feel a difference?

[@cuylorna]

Tony Dunne a surfing wetsuit is much harder to take off

[@markthrelfall3577]

It’s a different type of neoprene. I won’t bore you with the funny terms, but essentially the triathlon/swimming wetsuit is more flexible. A surfing suit is a little more hard wearing and tends to be a lot thicker around the arms for warmth, but obviously reduces flexibility for swimming

[@ozan3076]

Naked

[@debaetsstevie]

Maraz Ali what does Heather think? May for nexkst movie :)

[@TheFitDragon]

Swim skin Verses tri suit next pls :)

[@andylanegra-thoughtsfromth7451]

I'll just be happy when I'm able to do a 400M in under 6 minutes without a wetsuit lol

[@alawitzke]

Heather, what kind of sports bra do you wear under your tri suit if one isn’t built in?

[@fabianverolme]

Tri suit is much easier

[@ryanbest4217]

9:32 dude gotta work on that kick game...

[@brandonscheer3151]

You should add heart rate numbers or at least perceived exertion. Not to mention any additional energy saved in the legs for the bike and run. In my opinion, training for the swim in triathlon is to make yourself most ready for the bike and run.

[@gtn]

We could certainly do that next time but the perceived exertion here was all out on both runs.

[@Blakenwhyte]

INteresting

[@YounesBedda-rm6db]

u beat hr up hhh

[@SwimDudeSwim]

#TeamWetsuit

[@VaeVictisVII]

Don't be so gentle on your suit Heather ;)

[@jonathanwalterrosasyanguez5173]

I prefer a wetsuit for me because i am a bad swimmer and i need buoyancy

[@bronxcheer1484]

The uk needs to move away from feet, pounds and and Fahrenheit

[@LaMartiLoca]

Swim a 800

[@Fivegunner]

400m is too short to get some valuable results. That cannot be applied to longer distances

[@jamesbearpark3794]

You should repeat this in open water because no one swims in a pool in a wetsuit

[@davidovgoose3224]

I'd imagine if they had, you'd have complained that it wasn't a controlled environment

[@MattDion]

DAVIDOV GOOSE no, it is a good point. Lap swimming with flip turns reduces the effect of a benefit to steady state swimming.

[@sailingintosunshine]

yes, and maybe he'd call for a test in a controlled environment, then. Why not have both data points explored

[@MK-je7kz]

Also pool is fresh water, which doesn't float as well as sea water, and that makes the difference bigger

[@gtn]

Good idea James, one for a future video

[@andyheilmann1656]

Female swimmers are naturally a little more boyant than men, so they might not get as much of a benefit from wearing one. They definitely make everyone faster, especially over longer distances

[@gtn]

Interesting point Andy

[@lestrue2153]

Never tell a woman that she has a little more natural boyancy :D

[@katiev6456]

I definitely find this to be true for me and my friends at tri club- girls faster in the pool, guys faster open water

[@aaawwweeee]

Third

[@mathman43]

Real Ironmen don't wear wetsuits(category 1 swimmers, aka skins).