Don't drown with your new Neoprene: tips to get your 'scales' right

SEA

January 7, 2022
4 min read

It's time to get back into the water

The 2022 calendar triathlons and swimming trips It is now available. It's time to get wet and I'm sure many of you are planning to change wetsuits or try open water for the first time. In 365Rider We know it and that's why we are going to give you some tips to avoid getting confused and get it right with your new 'scales'.

Swimming level: buoyancy and flexibility

Here we have to be honest. Knowing our swimming level is essential to choose which neoprene best suits our needs. It is clear that someone who is starting in open water will not have the same needs as a experienced swimmer with many kilometers behind them.

Buoyancy

If we are just starting out, it is most likely that our technique is not completely refined and we will need a extra buoyancy, especially in the leg area, to raise the hips and thus correctly position the entire body, achieving the least possible hydrodynamic restriction.

In this sense, neoprenes such as AQUA SPHERE Pursuit V3 or ZONE 3 Vision They will give us this extra push on the water that will give us greater security and will allow us to slide more lightly. These are neoprenes of a moderate value and more resistant that are perfect for getting started in the open waters.

Flexibility

We already have experience in swimming. Technique is our forte, if we are swimmers with extensive background and what we are looking for is the maximum flexibility. We swim like dolphins and we want to have the feeling that we are not carrying anything. Here freedom of movement prevails.

For most experienced swimmers who go to fight in the water we have options like the AQUA SPHERE Phantom V3 or a classic like el ZONE3 Vanquish. Is swimwear that handle the main technological advances and the most avant-garde materials to bring out the higher performance to each stroke.

Choose the size well

Fundamental. Here there can be no mistakes. If you approach our Valencia store The advisors will tell you which size is the most appropriate, but we are going to give you some tips so you don't fail with your neoprene size.

In general terms, the suit must be well fitted, without gaps to prevent water from entering and causing the uncomfortable 'stock market effect while we swim, but at the same time it is necessary that it gives us freedom of movement. A neoprene that does not fit and adapt well to our body, whether large or small, can cause unnecessary chafing and discomfort during our sessions in the sea.

Aspects like the weight and height They are vital, but Chest Measurement It is the basic value to not fail with the size. The ideal is to take out the measuring tape and measure the torso at its widest point.

Neoprene thickness

The main function of the wetsuit is protect you from the cold. In triathlon, for example, the FETRI prohibits its use when the water temperature is higher than 22 degrees (24 for distance Ironman) and that is where the thickness of our suit. The neoprene should not provide heat, what it seeks is to keep you warm while you swim and so that you can use your own energy to maintain a temperature optimum.

The most flexible neoprenes such as AQUA SPHERE Phantom V3 o the ZONE3 Vanquish They incorporate fabrics such as Yamamoto that provide warmth, flexibility, comfort and speed with a more moderate thickness, but in our catalog we find other models that provide that extra quality without resorting to larger thicknesses. This is when we come across the ZONE3 Aspire and the AQUA SPHERE Racer. These are neoprenes that have garnered excellent international reviews for their thermal capacity and the incorporation of panels that provide that much-demanded flexibility. All this also, with a more moderate price. Without a doubt these are two stars of the catalog of 365Rider.