Triathletes: I am competing in my first Sprint Triathlon. Do I need to buy/rent a wetsuit?

Question

The swim is 400 Meters and the average water temperature for the lake is 70-72 degrees F.

Answer 1

The answer is no, for a couple of reasons:

1) It's too short a distance to justify its use.  You might consider it if the distance is at least twice that long.

2) The water is just not that cold at 70 degrees. I've completed mile ocean swims in 52 degree water without a wetsuit - I was a little cold but otherwise fine.  You'll be in the water only a few minutes - by the time you'd even start to feel any effects from being cold you'll already be out of the water.  

Good luck - have fun & enjoy!

Answer 2

NO you don't need a wetsuit.  The distance is short enough and the water is not that cold that you would need one.  It is more likely to cost you more time in T1 than you would gain with the wetsuit over 400 meters

Answer 3

Don't know if you are male or female. Just wear the suit you wear during your swimming training. Normal one-piece suit for women, brief or jammer for men.

You should be just fine in 70-72 degrees.

Answer 4

These are the issues I'd take into account for any wetsuit  decision:

-- water temperature  [70-72: chilly but not numbing]

-- expected time in water  [less than 8 minutes?]

-- tolerance for cold  [??]

-- comfort level in open water [??}

The only reason I would recommend a wetsuit for a swim just 400 meters long in water over 70 degrees is if you have zero tolerance for cold (e.g. is your body fat less than 4%?) and/or you think you might panic in open water.

Besides keeping you warm, a wetsuit offers bouyancy. The knowledge that "I will NOT sink" has made the difference for some weak swimmers -- the difference between being pulled out of the water by course monitors and finishing the race.

If you are fairly confident with your swimming, and cold doesn't usually make your body seize, I would go without a wetsuit. That's one less thing to deal with during T1.

Add: Just thought of consideration #5 -- Is it legal? Check the event information to see if wetsuits are allowed. My first sprint tri next month prohibits them.

Answer 5

If I were you I would try a short swim before hand and use your own judgement. 400 is short for a triathlon but quite long for a sprinter. SO it depends on you.

Answer 6

Short answer NO.  That is the same distance I did my first sprint and I also did not have a wetsuit.  You should be fine, my water might have been a little warmer about 78 degrees.