How To Get The Ultimate Protection When Taking a Dip
If you are a water sports enthusiast, you must sometimes wonder: can you use a wetsuit in a swimming pool?
It is your suit, so you can as well wear it where you want. However, that’s not much of an answer, is it?
Now, before you make up your mind whether to swim with your regular swimming attire, or wear a wetsuit that you just bought, well, let’s read some more about this.
Read: Swimming in the ocean with a yeast infection
So, to answer the question, can you use a wetsuit in a swimming pool?
Wear a wetsuit in a saltwater pool without too much harm. However, chlorinated water can cause the artificial rubber used in a neoprene suit to start disintegrating. CLEAN YOUR SUIT WITH SHAMPOO AND RINSE IT THOROUGHLY AFTER SWIMMING IN A CHLORINE POOL.
What is a wetsuit and how does it work?
You can wear a wet suit for scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, surfing or any other surface water sport.
It is made of neoprene material, which is a type of synthetic rubber. However, it is not the material so much, as the purpose behind the engineering of the suit.
Now, a neoprene suit for swimming absorbs water, and then it traps a minimal layer of water on the skin, between the skin and the suit.
This layer of trapped water is the buffer zone, which prevents the body from losing heat to the surroundings. It also prevents cold water from outside from penetrating to the body.
That is how a wetsuit keeps you warm.
When you can wear a wetsuit
From our definition of a wetsuit and how it works, you already know that this swimming attire is designed to keep you warm.
Which brings us to the next thing on the list … where best to use the swimsuit? Once the swimming season starts to slip away by early October when fall sets in, you can continue swimming in your wet suit.
For swimming in the ocean
You can also use the wet suit for swimming in the ocean. Remember, ocean water, lakes and rivers are colder than the swimming pool.
Also, when swimming in the open water, you are exposed to more contaminants than when you swim in the pool at home.
That’s why you need to cover up more for swimming in the ocean. A good, lightweight suit can help you. Remember to wear your neoprene gloves for swimming as well as your swimming socks.
For a saltwater pool
This is another important consideration to bear in mind when you buy a lightweight wetsuit for swimming.
Wetsuits are mostly used for swimming in the open water. The ocean water is saltier than the water in a saltwater pool.
You can use a lightweight suit for swimming in a saltwater pool. However, make sure you rinse it out thoroughly when you are done swimming.
Also, remember to use the right shampoo for your suit to clean out all the salt traces. If you do not do this, your wetsuit can start fading.
In a chlorinated pool
After you have shocked the pool, the chlorine levels in the pool will be high. However, you can use a wetsuit to swim in the pool after the designated time.
Salt from a saltwater pool is not good for your wetsuit. However, Chlorine from a chlorinated pool is equally bad.
We will not mince words here – but chlorine damages wetsuits! Overexposing your wetsuit in chlorinated pools can cause the artificial rubber used to make neoprene to start disintegrating.
Of course, this is not going to happen overnight. Also, it will only happen if you do not clean and rinse out the suit thoroughly after using it in the chlorine pool.
If you can avoid it, it is best not to swim in a suit in a chlorine pool. This is going to affect the structural integrity of the suit, and it will wear out faster.
When you use your lightweight wetsuit in the pool, do make sure you clean it as soon as you get out of the pool.
You need to remove the chlorine completely. Soak the suit in water if you do not have running water.
Is a 5mm wetsuit good for a dip? Yes in 10 degrees Celsius water
Are you planning to swim in the river, in the ocean, or elsewhere? You must be wondering whether you can swim in a 5mm wet suit.
And yes, you can. However, it depends on the nature of the water. If the water is too cold, this suit is perfect because it will keep you warm. However, because of the extra thickness, it can slow you down considerably.
Wearing a 5mm suit to swim in the pool is a bit of overkill. It is too thick, and it is going to make you warm too fast.
Since it creates more drag in the water, the wetsuit is going to make you do more work to cover your swimming distance.
So, where or how exactly can you use a 5mm suit for swimming?
- Use it for swimming in the open water in places that have rocks
- Use it to swim in rivers that have floating debris
- Wear it for swimming in areas that have aquatic life that is not afraid to get too close to you
- If the water temperature is too low, the wetsuit might help you
Because of the extra thickness, the wetsuit does not sustain scratches or abrasions. If you swim over rocks, it will not tear away too easily.
All the same, it is best to avoid getting too close to rocks and logs when swimming because you could easily get trapped.
Also, when you are swimming in open water, it is best that you never swim alone. You should swim in a group, close to the shore where rescue can get to you fast.
If you cannot use the 5mm wetsuit for swimming in the pool, what should you use? A 3mm wetsuit is going to give you more flexibility, easier movement in the water, and it won’t feel too heavy.
When should you use a 5MM suit for a dip?
When the water is very cold, use a 5mm wetsuit. If the temperature of the water is at 43°-52℉ / 6°-11℃ but not below that, use this suit. The thickness is going to keep you well insulated against the cold water.
If the temperature of the water is 42℉ / 5℃ or below, you should get a thicker wetsuit. The most appropriate thickness is 6/5mm – 6/5/4mm.
Both this wetsuit and the 5MM one should come in the full-suit design for more insulation.
3mm wet suit
A 3mm suit qualifies to be called a lightweight wetsuit for swimming. It is definitely thinner than a 5mm one, so you feel more flexible in the water.
This is the most popular wetsuit for surfing and other surface water sports.
If the water you are swimming in is not too cold, the 3mm wetsuit is going to suit you just fine. It will help your body retain the warmth.
Because this wetsuit does not get too warm, you can also use it for swimming in summer when the sun is hot. It will not make you extra warm.
These wetsuits also have UV protection, so they can protect your skin from UV damage. Since they cover more skin than the regular swimsuits, they offer more protection.
2mm neoprene suit
If you are going to swim in water temperatures of 62°-68℉ / 16°-20℃, a 2mm wetsuit is going to be perfect for you. It is going to keep you warm, but only slightly.
If the water gets any colder than this, you might need to go thicker, say, 3 to 5mm for the wetsuit.
Clearly, the 2MM suit is for summer swimming. Therefore, you can have it in the sleeveless design, or you can get a long sleeve if you like.
When you are buying a wetsuit, you will find the thickness size indicated as 2MM/1MM. What this means is that the wetsuit has two thicknesses.
The thicker part of 2mm is for the torso area. This is where the body needs more warmth.
The thinner part is for the armpits and the groin area. These areas do not need too much warmth. Also, the thinner profile helps in flexibility.
You can also get a thinner wetsuit at 0.5MM to 2MM. This is perfect for swimming in the pool.
However, remember what we said about swimming with a wetsuit – clean it with wetsuit shampoo when you are done swimming. Rinse it in running fresh water to remove all traces of chlorine.
Chlorine-resistant wetsuit
In your search for the best wetsuit for swimming, you might want to look for the best chlorine-resistant wetsuit for swimming in a chlorinated pool.
Of course, such wetsuits are available. They come coated with a substance called Chloroban. This wetsuit might cost slightly more than the regular suits, but it gives good value for money.
These wetsuits are not largely available, so you might have to look for them a bit widely. Currently, the best ones come from toasteeswetsuits, which is an Australian brand name.
The Chloroban coating makes them chlorine resistant, they have UV protection, they are flexible and they will not sustain damage too soon.
Even if you buy such a suit, do not bank too much on the chlorine resistance. Rather, clean it well after use and air-dry it to get rid of all chlorine traces.
At what temperature do I need a neoprene suit?
A wetsuit is supposed to keep you warm when you are engaging in cold water activities, including swimming.
Therefore, if you wear it when it is not cold, you can feel toasty-warm, and you do not want that.
In that light, it is mostly recommended to swim in a wet suit when the temperature is below 65 degrees Fahrenheit/ 18.3 degrees Celsius.
You could also wear the wet suit when the water temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit, but any higher than that could make you feel too warm.
To swim in the ocean, wear a wetsuit all of the months, except during the summer. The ocean water is usually colder than the pool water.
Do you need a wetsuit in 15-degree water?
You need to wear a wetsuit in 15-degree water (in Celsius). Triathlon experts say that if the water is below 20 degrees Celsius, that is cold. Unless you are a hardened cold-water swimmer, wear your wetsuit.
If the water temperature goes above 20 degrees, well, that is now considered warm water. You can swim in it comfortably with a swimsuit for women, or swimming trunks for men.
Do I need a wetsuit for 20 degrees?
Yes you do. However, it does not have to be a long-sleeve one. It can be a shorty because at this temperature range, the water is not warm, but it is not too cold either.
Again, if you are fully hardened against the cold, you can swim in this water with a regular swimsuit.
In fact, 20 degrees Celsius is the temperature of the rivers and lakes in summer, in most places. It is perfectly okay to relax in the water in summer, with regular swimming attire.
The water will feel a bit cold on entry, but your body should get used to it soon enough, and then you can have fun.
What wetsuit for 17 degrees?
As we have mentioned in the past sections in this article, wetsuit come in different thicknesses.
Downright, this is the best wetsuit for swimming in 17 degrees. You can order the XUKER 3MM/2MM wetsuit on Amazon.com.
Thicker wetsuits are perfect for swimming in cold water, say, below 18 degrees Celsius. For such water, a 3MM wetsuit is great for this weather. In addition, you should also wear neoprene boots for swimming.
For water temperature of 17 degrees Fahrenheit, get a 3MM wet suit. If the temperature gets to 20 degrees Celsius, well, the wetsuit gets thinner, to 2MM.
For temperature of 11 to 14 degrees, you will need a thicker wetsuit of 4MM. This also means you need to wear a swimming cap, and neoprene swimming gloves, and boots.
Also check my posts on:
How To Childproof Swimming Pool: 8 Drown-proof Ways
Causes of Drowning In Swimming Pool
Can You Wear Socks In A Swimming Pool
What Not To Do At A Swimming Pool
The Best Large Inflatable Swimming Pool for Adults
How To Clean A Swimming Pool Filter
How To Heat A Swimming Pool For Free
What to Bring To a Swimming Pool Party
Final thoughts
Using a lightweight suit to swim has many benefits. However, it is not recommended especially if you are not fond of cleaning your gear after swimming.
Just as we have Chlorine-resistant swim suits, we also have chlorine-resistant wetsuits. Although they are not yet very popular, look around for one.
Chlorine-resistant suits can be a good option for swimming trainers. As a trainer, you have to spend a lot of time in the water. A regular wetsuit will sustain chlorine damage.
Finally, to reiterate, clean and rinse your wet suit thoroughly, as soon as you are done swimming for the day.
If you leave swimming pool water on the wetsuit too long, the chlorine penetrates the fibers and it breaks them.