Wetsuit thickness and wetsuit water temperature guide

02 Nov.,2022

 

benefits of a wetsuit

Triathlon/open water swimming wetsuit temperature guide & chart

While swimming you are under water with the main part of your body. Only arms and legs are regularly moved out of the water. However, you always move just below or slightly above the water surface. Thus water temperature is decisive. The outside temperature, wind and sunlight have a relatively small influence. In the end it depends on speed, so it is recommended to buy a wetsuit that is as thin as possible and therefore just sufficient for the given water temperature.

Note: You can also use a common surf wetsuit for swimming/triathlon, however it is not ideal. It depends on your level and ambition what kind of wetsuit you should buy in the end. Triathlon wetsuits are relatively thin and have a very good buoyancy at the same time.

 

Water temperature
in °C/°F Wetsuit Thickness Destination > 20 °C
> 68 °F No wetsuit required or 1 mm shorty or fullsuit
(!competition
regulations!) Hawaii Ironman, New York or Noosa Triathlon 17 – 20 °C
62,6 – 68 °F 1 mm fullsuit London Triathlon in summer, Challenge Roth / Germany 13 – 17 °C
55,4 – 64,4 °F 2 mm fullsuit San Francisco Triathlon Escape from Alcatraz or Wildflower, Wales Triathlon 8 – 13 °C
48,2 – 57,2 °F 3 – 4 mm fullsuit Norseman Triathlon in Norway
< 8 °C
< 46,4 °F
4 – 5 mm fullsuit


Neptune steps in Glasgow 

Note to all charts: Individual cold sensitivity, weather (wind force, sun/clouds, outside temperature etc.), water sport, manufacturer quality can vary considerably and so can do the individual needs regarding the wetsuit thickness.

Triathlon wetsuit regulations for competition

Firstly we would like to make clear that the following is no legal advice and to get all information, please check the websites of your Triathlon association!

General regulations:

– The maximum thickness allowed in triathlon competitions is 5 mm.

– A wetsuit may cover any part of the body except the face, hands and feet

– Gloves are not allowed

– Propulsion devices are not allowed

– If a cap is not provided by the race management, you can wear your own one.

ITU

 

(International Triathlon Union):

Elite, U23, Junior & Youth athletes

Swimming distance

Forbidden if more than Mandatory < 1500 m 20 °C/68 °F < 15.9 °C/60,62 °F > 1500 m 22 °C/71,6 °F < 15.9 °C/60,62 °F

Age Group athletes

Swimming distance Not allowed if more than Mandatory < 1500 m 22 °C/71,6 °F < 15,9 °C/60,62 °F > 1500 m 24,6 °C/76,28 °F < 15,9 °C/60,62 °F

Age Group athletes

These athletes may wear wetsuits at max. 25,56 °C/78 °F. Between 25,56 °C/78 °F – 28.89 °C/84 °F you are allowed to wear a wetsuit, however you shall not be eligible for awards or prizes.

Elite athletes

Swimming distance Forbidden if more than Mandatory < 3000 m 20 °C/68 °F < 15,9 °C/60,62 °F > 3000 m 22 °C/71,6 °F < 15,9 °C/60,62 °F

 

Inner lining in your wetsuit

Some extra warmth? In several wetsuits, thermo textiles are processed in the form of fibres. The fibres contain minerals and are activated by body heat. They convert this into infrared energy, which achieves a good heating effect. This expands the range of application. If, for example, you have an inner lining for a 5/3 mm wetsuit, you can also wear it in waters where a 6 mm wetsuit is actually recommended.

Even the own performance should be improved thereby. The thermal material is usually worked into the wetsuit in the area of the upper body. Quicksilver and XCEL work with this technology, whereby the thermal properties of the respective models differ again in the ratio flexibility/thermal strength.

CHECKLIST wetsuit thickness

– What is the water temperature of my destination at the chosen time of year?

– What is my cold sensitivity like?

– Is it a high quality wetsuit?

– What is my water sport?

– Is there an inner lining?