Wetsuit : triathlon neoprene suit
SwimThe neoprene wetsuit improves buoyancy and swim speed by 2-5%, but its use is regulated by strict water temperature thresholds.
Under WTC/Ironman rules: wetsuit permitted if water T° ≤ 24.5°C, banned if T° ≥ 25.5°C, optional in between (but the athlete waives ranking if pros don't wear one). Estimated gain: 1-3 min over 3.8 km. The zipper is at the back : practice opening and removing it in 30-40 seconds during T1 drills. Two types: sleeveless (faster to remove, less buoyant), full-sleeve (more buoyant, warmer). Never use petroleum-based products on a new wetsuit : they degrade the material; prefer triathlon-specific lubricants.
In TriPaced:
In TriPaced, the Race A/B sheet shows the average water temperature from recent editions of your race (when available), to anticipate wetsuit use. The training plan may include a few pool sessions with the wetsuit to get used to the shoulder movement restriction before race day.
Source Toussaint H.M. et al., 1989 : Wetsuit effect - a comparison of the passive drag with and without a wetsuit (Med Sci Sports Exerc)