I was pretty proud of myself this fall when all the other swimmers at the lake started wearing wetsuits and I didn’t. The water was colder in September than it had been all summer, but I found it refreshing. Then October brought even lower temperatures, and the cold water started getting to me. My body acclimated fairly quickly after swimming for a few minutes, but the minute I got out of the water I got so cold I had a headache for two days. It was time to find a pool or get a wetsuit.
Luckily, my new swimming friends told me about blueseventy USA, a local wetsuit company that makes high-quality wetsuits, swimsuits, and accessories for open water swimming, triathlons, and pool swimming. I arranged a visit, and was surprised to learn that their office was just a few miles from my house. I was even more surprised, and quite relieved, when I arrived to try on suits and the manager was an old acquaintance. Shopping for wetsuits is exponentially more intimidating than shopping for bras, a swimsuit, and jeans all in one outing! Seeing a friendly face helped me relax and feel like less of a newbie.
Take Care
I left blueseventy USA with the Women’s Glide Wetsuit (also available in men’s sizes), a sleeveless shorty designed for entry-level performance and rated for water down to 60 degrees F, blueseventy Thermal Gloves, a blueseventy Thermal Cap, and instructions to visit the blueseventy website for instructions on fit and on putting on and removing a wetsuit.
There is a learning curve in getting into a wetsuit (fold the material and pull up, working from the bottom of the suit), zipping it up (press your thumb on the bottom of the zipper while using your other hand to pull the zipper tag away from the body and up), and caring for it (don’t leave it out in the sun to dry). I appreciated the tips; I can see how it would be easy to tear the material on thinner suits or damage the zipper.
My first time out I remembered that the blueseventy USA manager told me that wearing the wetsuit to the beach was a bad idea because they aren’t designed for sitting; driving in the suit could damage it. Unfortunately, I forgot to allow for extra time to get into the suit once I arrived at the beach. I felt bad that I kept my swim buddies waiting! I also didn’t count on needing a post-swim plan for quickly getting into dry clothes. The cold wind and air are brutal once I leave the water.
Testing the Waters
There is a moment when I walk into the cold lake, when it hits my waist or chest, and I make a bit of a fuss about how cold I am, all the while knowing it’s too late to turn back. Then I dive in anyway and feel an instant frostbite-like burn on my face, arms, and legs. The first time I wore the blueseventy Women’s Glide Wetsuit my bare legs were instantly cold the minute I entered the water, then, miraculously, as the water reached above my knees the cold stopped. The suit worked! I took a few more steps into waist-deep water; still, the suit kept me warm and dry. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t feel cold at all.
I was also wearing sleeves that had been cut off of an old blueseventy wetsuit, blueseventy Thermal Gloves, and a blueseventy Thermal Cap, so when I dove into the water, most of my body was covered. I still felt the face burn, and my lower legs were cold, but the stinging feeling faded quickly after only a few seconds in the water. I couldn’t believe what a difference the wetsuit and accessories made. The cold water was no longer an issue.
My body was perfectly warm. The arm and leg holes or the Women’s Glide Wetsuit kept the water out. The redesigned, lower neckline is quite comfortable and still maintains a water-tight seal. I’ve been wearing the wetsuit for late afternoon and early evening swims for the past few weeks in water temperatures from 65 degrees F down to 52 degrees F, and it has performed perfectly.
Form Fit
The Women’s Glide Wetsuit is the only wetsuit I’ve ever worn, so I didn’t know what to expect or have anything to compare to it. I am impressed with the thin, high performance material (97% “smoothskin non ferrous vulcanized” rubber, 3% nylon) that is smooth and wonderfully hydrodynamic.( I appreciate that blueseventy uses Yamamoto material in their products. It’s a neoprene derived from limestone rather than petroleum.)
I had no idea that such thin material could provide such an effective barrier against the cold water or feel like a second skin. I don’t feel restricted in any way by the suit. Instead, I feel like a dolphin or a seal gliding through the water every time I wear it. Yes, I glide! The suit is aptly named.
I think the shorty style is ideal for the early fall temperatures here in Seattle and water temperatures down to a slightly below 60 degrees F. It keeps my core warm, and allows my shoulders complete freedom of movement whether I swim crawl or breast stroke. I also like having my legs uncovered. My lower legs get cold when I swim but not enough to bother me because the rest of my body is impervious to cold. It seems like a miracle. I still can’t get my head around how such a thin layer of rubber mitigates the cold.
When the water gets another five or 10 degrees colder I’m probably going to want a full-length suit, but at current temperatures I feel like I need some uncovered skin or I’ll overheat. I have no idea if that is even a thing, like taking the blankets off one foot when I’m in bed. I’m still learning about how different parts of my body handle cold water. I always have cold hands and feet, but in the water I don’t seem to need thick gloves or socks. I find it amusing that I moved 1500 miles away from my best friends to avoid winter, and now I’m in love with swimming in cold water.
Details
The Glide wetsuit is 4mm around the hips, lower torso, and core, with a 3mm chest panel. The wetsuit has a special coating for water repellency and to improve durability.
Styles & Sizes
The Glide wetsuit is available in sizes women’s XS-XLA (“extra large Athena”) and men’s sizes XS-XXL. Wetsuit size don’t correlate with apparel sizing, so check the size chart to determine correct size. I found the sizing charts accurate in helping me select the size I needed. Unfortunately, blueseventy was out of my size at the time of testing, so the suit I tested was a bit short through the torso (I also have an abnormally long torso and needed to go up one size).
Bottom Line: An excellent wetsuit for open water swimming that provides an effective barrier against cold water while allowing freedom of movement. Ideal as a first wetsuit.
$175 (Visit the blueseventy store at Amazon)
Manufacturer’s Site: https://www.blueseventy.com
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