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Tips for sizing and getting into a triathlon wetsuit

Photography by Brian Buchsdruecker
Models Madi and Rose Serpico

Donning a triathlon wetsuit takes a little time and patience and goes more smoothly with the help of a swim buddy. Here's a quick guide to finding the proper size and fit for a triathlon wetsuit, along with some tips for wiggling into them. Many triathletes wear a wetsuit that is too big, allowing water to pool where it shouldn't. First, find your size on the manufacturer's sizing chart. Decrease one size on the chart to find your correct size. The following steps will help you get into your wetsuit, a process that can take about 15 to 25 minutes.

1. Wear a tri outfit when putting on the wetsuit. This will prevent the suit from sticking to your hips. Use a plastic bag to slide your feet and arms through the wetsuit. Put the bag on your foot and then place your foot in the wetsuit. Pull the wetsuit up a little bit on your leg, and then do the same for the other foot.

2. Using gentle tugs, pull the wetsuit up and past your waist. Reach down and pull the wetsuit up so that it fits snugly in your groin. The bottom of your wetsuit should be about five to seven centimetres above your ankles. Do not pull the suit using your fingernails, as you will likely tear the neoprene.

3. Once the suit is up past your waist, insert one arm at a time using the plastic bag. Have your swim buddy pull the zipper up and adjust the suit in the back.

4. Check that the suit fits snugly in the groin and that the bottom of it is the appropriate distance above your ankles.

5. Have your swim buddy stand in front of you, reach behind you and pull the suit up over the rump of your bum, squeezing and pulling on either side of the zipper all of the way up your back. You should feel the suit loosen on your back.

6. With your suit now done up, fine-tune the fit. Grab the suit below your belly button and then pull on front of the suit all of the way up to your neck. You should feel the suit loosen on the front, along with a release of air.

7. Raise one arm at a time. Starting at your wrist, your swim buddy will pull the suit a few centimetres at a time all of the way down the inside of the arm, into the armpit and then across and back up towards the shoulder. This should pull the suit closer into your armpit and release it there. Do the same for the other inner arm and armpit. The best test for a proper-fitting wetsuit is to hold your arms straight out  in front of you at shoulder height.

The suit should sit flat against your upper chest.

Care for your wetsuit:

• A triathlon wetsuit is relatively delicate. Do not use any petroleum byproducts, cooking spray, baby powder or anything else that may damage the neoprene.
• Trim your fingernails.
• Never hang the suit up for any extended period of time.
• Wash the suit inside out every time you use it. In the summer, you may hang it outdoors inside out to dry, but not in direct sunlight.
• Store the suit inside out, folded in half with nothing on top of it.

About the Authors

Brian Del Castilho and Rose Serpico are co-owners of Tri It in Calgary. Richelle Love is the store's general manager and Madi Serpico races junior elite.

"The Big Squeeze" first appeared in the 2010 May/June Multisport issue of IMPACT Magazine