Different wetsuits tailor to an assortment of water sports. You can purchase surfing, swimming, diving and multi-sport wetsuits, with each being specifically tailored to help you perform your best while in the water.
In our blog, we will be exploring some of the best wetsuits to buy for swimming. Here at Wetsuit Centre, we have more than a decade of experience as suppliers of the largest selection of wetsuits across Europe, so you can be sure that we know what we’re talking about!
You can browse through our swimming wetsuits on our online store.f you are in need of any assistance or unsure about whether one of our wetsuits is right for you, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our team who will be happy to help!
Swimming Wetsuits
Swimming has taken off in the UK, and for good reason. It’s not only a fantastic way to keep fit, but it also works wonders for the mind. It’s a great sport that can be enjoyed alone or with friends and family.
Whether you like to go wild swimming in the sea or the lakes, there’s only one main hurdle that needs to beat - and that’s the cold.
The great thing is, throughout the years, wetsuits are ever more increasing their technology to ensure that we are kept warm, comfortable and able to move freely when in the water.
In open water swimming,you have the freedom to enter the sea and put your body to the test. Many of swim clubs have been born from the sheer passion of those who want to be in the water.
When it comes to choosing the best wetsuits for swimming in UK or European waters, then you will need to consider a few factors, such as what time of year you want to swim.
If you are looking to dip in the water throughout the winter months of December to April, you will need to look for a good quality, flexible winter wetsuit.
The major difference between winter and summer suits is the thickness of the neoprene. A winter thickness is 5mm on the body and 3mm on the arms, whereas a summer version will be 3mm on the body and 2mm on the arms.
Summer Swimming Wetsuits
If you have decided that you would much prefer to spend your summertime swimming, your options for suits will drastically increase.
Brands such as Blu Smooth are designed specifically for ocean swimming. The suit is cut in various thicknesses so that your body position is in the best possible place so you can swim efficiently.
One the best-priced suits on the market are from Blu Smooth Open Water Wetsuit. It used high-quality neoprene on the market and the construction of the suit is second to none. It’s one of the best suits to consider for those who are serious about swimming in the sea.
A proper open water suit is constructed in a different way to a standard wetsuit. The whole of the suit is composed of a smooth skin, which in terms of swimming means that there is less water resistance so you can swim much faster and use your energy more efficiently.
The neoprene of the wetsuit is shiny and smooth, this has been designed to decrease the amount of drag in the water, for a more energy-efficient swim.
If you are completely new to open water swimming, you might prefer to start off with something like the O’Neill Reactor which is at an affordable price. Choosing this suit, you are safe to take a dip and see if open water swimming has the potential to be your new favourite past time! If it’s not, then at least you’ll have a great wetsuit for other watersports such as surfing or general beach use.
Winter Swimming Wetsuits
If you have decided that your swimming season will be throughout the winter, then you may want to start off with a 5mm wetsuit for the UK waters, this will help you to acclimatise to the cold water. Your winter wetsuit will need to have a very good upper body and lumber flex.
As you advance you may find that a 5mm wetsuit is too thick, there are currently no open water winter swimming wetsuits available, so you will most likely need to brave it and jump down to a thinner and much more specialised wetsuit.
When purchasing a general winter wetsuit you won’t need to spend a fortune to get great value for your money. You might want to consider something like the O'Neil epic 5/4 wetsuit, it has great flex and also benefits from the thermal lining on the chest and kidneys to keep you warm.
When choosing a wetsuit, you might also want to consider a rash vest too, this can be worn under your suit to prevent rashes, but if it also incorporates thermal lining it will also help to retain additional heat.
If you want to find out more information about wetsuits or require further advice, then please feel free to contact a member of our team who will be more than happy to help!
