To wetsuit or not to wetsuit

19/8/2016

There's no point in only being able to swim well (and fast) when you are wearing a wetsuit. Wetsuit manufacturers add buoyancy panels in the hips to a lot of their suits to compensate for poor body balance and position in the water. But wouldn't it be better if you could find this balance without having to wear a wetsuit or use a pull-buoy in the pool?

TI coaches recommend you choose a neutral buoyancy wetsuit.
Any wetsuit that gives you more buoyancy in the hips will damage your natural balance in the water.

The ultimate swimmer's wetsuit in my opinion is the Zone 3 Align. It perfectly compliments the balance you learn with Total Immersion technique. It is also my personal choice of wetsuit.

7 Comments

Christian

20/8/2016 10:13:09

I've got Sailfish Edge LS which has no buoyancy panels (I actually sink if I don't tread water). Warm recommendation if one is after just some insulation.

Graham

25/5/2017 08:52:02

hey Christian, seriously thinking of getting a Sailfish edge longsleeve (find it impossible to TI swim in the wetsuit i bought before TI - too bouyant in hips and legs).
2 q's for you though -
- do you swim TI technique?
- how do you find the sizing (normally MT as 6'3 and only 75kg).
Medium could be too big for me..
thanks

and Paul, did you go for the Align in the end, how do you find it?
(I've exactly the same issues to overcome swimming TI in my wetsuit)

Christian

25/5/2017 09:13:32

Yes, I swim TI technique (did my coach certification course in 2015). The Edge is not bouyant at all, I sink in it! Well, maybe a bit but nothing I notice. It is exactly what I wanted, some protection against the cold but other than that I find it does nothing compared to bare skin.

I'm more on the short and stubby side, just under 5'10 and 87kg. I've got size M, and am comfortable with that. I'd suggest you contact their customer service with your measurements for advice.

Paul McNair

14/9/2016 09:46:27

I am looking at replacing my wetsuit for next season and been doing a bit of research and the Align has really caught my attention. Especially with your recommendation. I’ve been swimming for 3 years now, 2 of which have been following the TI method of swimming. While I don’t think I’m the finished article by a long way, I do think I swim quite flat in the water and have a good balance.

I've been spending more and more time in the open water this year and swim in the basic Aqua Sphere wetsuit that I bought before I started my TI journey. Some of the problems I find when swimming in this suit:

# almost impossible to kick. My legs feel like they are floating above my head.
# when I do kick, I find it hard to co-ordinate my 2 beat kick opposite arm to opposite leg (not an issue in the pool)
# rotation – I feel like I’m fighting the suit so that it doesn’t flip me on my back

In your opinion, are these common problems that TI swimmers have when swimming in a buoyant wetsuit?

I'm a bit nervous about spending all that money on the Align suit when I might not be as good a swimmer as I think I am and perhaps need the added buoyancy. Most reviews I’ve read mention that it’s a suit for people who come from a swimming background which I do not.

Would you recommend this suit to me?

Christian

15/9/2016 13:05:46

I have no experience of Align but thinking with pure logic, if you've managed to come to decent swimming in pool with the help of TI, and without a wetsuit, why not do the same journey in OW? I mean, you might struggle a bit in the beginning but if you've done it in pool what's to stop you in OW?

Paul

16/9/2016 06:04:44

That's my ultimate aim. This is my first year regularly swimming outside. After every session I take my wetsuit off and go for a five or so minute swim in my trunks. I'm thinking that, like developing a good stroke, acclimitising to colder water is a journey as opposed to a destination then it will take time. Plus I swim in Scotland, it's freezing ;)

Thank you for your advice, cemented in me that I'm going in the right direction

James link

25/5/2017 13:04:43

I agree with Christian that the Salfish Edge is an even better solution for well balanced swimmers than the Zone 3 Align having seen it. I am 83kg and found it dug into my pecs and shoulders on trying on the size M and have sent for an exchange for a size L so iinterested that you managed to squeeze into it Christian. Hopfully the size L will not be enormous. I don't think have especially brod shoulders and did all the tricks like making sure it was well pulled up.

To wetsuit or not to wetsuit

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James