Wetsuits are a piece of swimming gear that people in warmer climates will often neglect, but it can often be the difference between a good swim and a bad one in colder climates. Nearly everyone knows that a wetsuit is a piece of gear that is designed to keep the occupant warm, but they often don’t understand just how it works.

A wetsuit works by taking in a little bit of water from the body of water that you’re swimming in and then trapping it in between your body and the suit itself. Your body then heats the water within the wetsuit to body temperature and keeps it at that temperature so that the cold from the external body of water doesn’t interrupt your swim or performance in the water. In reality, a wetsuit can often be not just a luxury but an absolute necessity.
One of the core benefits of wetsuits is that they help you maintain body temperature and not feel cold; however they can also help you have more peace of mind. In a competitive landscape, you want to have every factor on your side including your mentality, and if you’re too busy worrying about how you’re going to feel on race day rather than excited to actually compete then you’re already on the losing track. Having a wetsuit on will also reassure you and make you feel safe. If you want to shop for some high-quality wetsuits, check out Hyperfreak wetsuits.
Another factor to consider when wearing a wetsuit is the fact that they are naturally buoyant and will help you float and stay higher up in the water. This boost of assistance is often critical for endurance swimmers and competitive triathletes who will grasp at any competitive advantage that they can get. Floating higher in the water will naturally make it easier to swim as it produces less drag than a body that is lower in the water, and it also puts your body in a better position to produce a more forceful stroke. The benefit is so notable that you can often see swimmers swimming in wetsuits even if the water is warmer and able to swim without a wetsuit. In addition, this more elevated position will also help the athlete conserve their energy and swim for longer, faster.
Another added benefit to wearing a wetsuit is the natural boost of speed that you are able to receive. The outer of the wetsuit has a special skin on it that helps to repel water and helps you glide through it as opposed to fighting your way through it. This outer coating can be especially useful over long distances as the right fitting wetsuit can help lessen the amount of time that is spent in the water by a huge margin and can contribute massively to the overall time of a competitive event such as a triathlon.

All in all, the benefits that come with donning a wetsuit are unmistakable and undeniable. Due to the factors listed above, they often naturally give any swimmer a boost of confidence and help them perform at their peak when it comes time to get in the water, be it competitively or recreationally.