Wetsuit Selection and Donning/Doffing: The Complete Guide to Essential Gear for Open Water

Introduction

When Taiwanese swimmers first consider buying a wetsuit, they are often confronted with a bewildering array of choices: does a few millimeters of thickness really matter? What’s the difference between expensive and cheap ones? Do you even need a wetsuit in Taiwan’s water temperatures? This article gives you a clear and complete answer, from the logic of choosing to everyday use.

Why Wear a Wetsuit?

The function of a wetsuit goes beyond just keeping you warm. For open-water swimmers, it delivers three core benefits:

1. Thermal Protection:
The insulating properties of neoprene keep your core temperature stable when the water is cooler, reducing the risk of muscle stiffness and cramps caused by low temperatures.

2. Increased Buoyancy:
Neoprene has a lower density than water, so wearing a wetsuit lowers your body’s average density and significantly increases buoyancy. Many tests show that wearing a wetsuit can improve swimming speed by 3–5%, which has a considerable impact on long-distance races.

3. Reduced Drag:
The outer surface of high-quality wetsuits uses a low-resistance coating, and combined with improved body contouring, overall water resistance is lower than when wearing only a swimsuit.

Wetsuit Specification Selection Guide

The numbers represent chest/abdomen thickness / limb thickness. For most open-water swimming venues in Taiwan (water temperature 20–28°C), 3/2 mm is the most common and practical choice. If you mainly swim in Sun Moon Lake or Taitung Living Lake in summer, where water temperatures usually exceed 24°C, you may not even need a wetsuit (or you could opt for a thin 2mm speed suit).

Full-sleeve vs Shorty (without arms and legs):
For triathletes, a full-sleeve wetsuit offers the best buoyancy and warmth; a shorty provides better flexibility in warmer waters and is quicker to put on and take off.

Key Factors in Size Selection

A wetsuit must fit snugly, but not so tight that it affects your breathing. When trying one on, pay attention to:

• Neck: You should be able to fit two fingers inside; too loose will let water in, too tight will compress the carotid artery.
• Armpits: There should not be a lot of excess material, or you’ll feel restricted during your stroke.
• Knee bend: When fully bending your knees, you should feel only a slight pull, not pain.
• Try swimming motions: Do a few stroke movements in the store to confirm you have sufficient range of motion in your shoulders.

If your body size falls between two sizes, choosing the smaller size usually works better (a snugger fit = less water entry).

Standard Process for Putting on a Wetsuit

Wearing techniques (to avoid tearing the material):

1. Start with your legs, pulling up only a small section at a time so the wetsuit distributes evenly from ankles to thighs.
2. Once standing, pull the wetsuit up over the hips and waist, making sure there’s no excess material bunched around the waist.
3. Put your arms in one at a time, pushing the material up from the wrists to the shoulders.
4. Have someone else pull up the back zipper while you slightly tuck your chin to ensure your neck isn’t compressed.
5. Absolutely forbidden: Do not wear nail polish or artificial nails, and do not grab the wetsuit directly with your fingernails—neoprene is very easily punctured by nails.

Essential tools:

• When putting on a wetsuit, place plastic bags over your feet to help them slide easily through the ankle openings.
• Apply baby oil or a dedicated wetsuit lubricant to the inside of your wrists and ankles to significantly speed up removal.

Wetsuit Care

• After every use: Rinse thoroughly with fresh water (especially after swimming in the sea), flushing both inside and out to prevent salt and chlorine from corroding the material.
• Drying method: Hang to dry inside-out (turn it inside out from the waist and hang), avoiding direct sunlight (UV rays accelerate neoprene aging).
• Storage: Roll it up or lay it flat; never fold it for long periods (the creases will cause the material to age prematurely).
• Repairs: Use neoprene-specific glue (such as Black Witch) to repair small tears; once dry, it is extremely strong.

Practical Advice

• In Taiwanese triathlon events, if the water temperature exceeds 24.5°C, organizers usually announce a wetsuit ban (to prevent overheating). Be sure to check the rules before race day.
• Brand recommendations (by price point): Entry-level Huub, Zone3; mid-range Blueseventy; high-end Xterra, 2XU Propel. In Taiwan, you can try them on at local triathlon specialty stores.
• Try before you buy whenever possible rather than shopping online; sizing feel varies by brand, and being one size off can make a world of difference to your swimming experience.

Conclusion

A well-fitting wetsuit suited to Taiwan’s water temperatures is one of the most worthwhile investments for an open-water swimmer. It not only keeps you safer in cooler water, but also lets you swim faster and more efficiently. Choose the right suit, pair it with the correct donning and doffing techniques, and your open-water swimming experience will be elevated to an entirely new level.

Related Reading

• The Complete Wetsuit Guide: Selection, Donning/Doffing, and Adjusting Your Swimming Feel
• Open-Water Wetsuit Buying Guide: Complete Guide to Thickness Selection, Buoyancy Assistance, and Donning/Doffing Techniques
• Wetsuit Buying Guide: Thickness, Buoyancy, and Mobility for Triathlon Wetsuits
• 2026 Triathlon Wetsuit Buying Guide: Buoyancy, Softness, and Fit for Taiwan’s Water Temperatures