How to take off a wetsuit in a triathlon

Learning how to take off a triathlon wetsuit quickly is a key skill to master. It can be easy to lose minutes in transition during a race if you have trouble removing the wetsuit. However, with preparation and practice you will be able to take it off with no problems at all.

how to take off a triathlon wetsuit

Run to transition

You should start to take off your wetsuit as soon as you leave the water. As you run towards the transition area you should unzip the wetsuit and pull out your arms one at a time. It’s important to keep one hand free to help remove the other arm. Then, pull the wetsuit down to your waist and remove your goggles and swimming cap.

Transition

Once you arrive at your bike you can take off the rest of your wetsuit. Pull it down as far as you can before focusing on one leg at a time. You can stand on the wetsuit with one foot and pull the other leg up to remove it. If you are struggling with your balance you can simply sit down and pull it off your ankles.

What to do with the wetsuit after removing it

Once you’ve taken off your wetsuit, don’t carelessly throw it on the ground. Make sure it isn’t going to get in the way of yourself or other triathletes by placing it carefully in your transition area. You should also take care to avoid getting your bike and run kit wet. It won’t be very pleasant pulling on your running shoes if your wetsuit has been lying on them whilst you’re on the bike.

Wetsuit Removal 101

Buy a triathlon wetsuit

A triathlon-specific wetsuit will be much easier to remove than a normal wetsuit, not to mention being easier to swim in. They often have shorter legs and thinner material around the ankle to make them faster to take off.

Use Body Glide

Body Glide is a neoprene-friendly lubricant that will make removing the wetsuit easier. Apply it to your wrists and ankles before the race and your wetsuit should slide off more quickly. You can also use it on the back of your neck to prevent any chafing, which is a common issue for many triathletes.

Don’t tear the suit

Whilst you want to try and remove your wetsuit quickly, you don’t want to damage your suit in the process. Some wetsuits use very thin neoprene on the arms that can be easy to tear if you are not careful. Don’t use too much force and avoid using your fingernails. You should also watch out for any sharp objects on the ground when you step out of the wetsuit.

Practice in training

Like with other elements of a triathlon, you should practice in training before race day. After your open-water swimming sessions, practice running out of the water and taking off your wetsuit as quickly as you can. This will help you to notice any issues that you need to focus on and improve your time.

Be careful with a watch

A common issue triathletes have is the wetsuit getting stuck on their watch. This can be very hard to fix if you have already pulled the wetsuit down to your wrist. You can try pulling hard but this may damage the wetsuit or pull the watch off your wrist. One easy fix is pulling some or all of your wetsuit sleeve over the watch. Alternatively, you could remove the watch before pulling the wetsuit off.

Make sure the wetsuit fits well

A poorly fitting wetsuit can be much harder to remove, especially if it is too tight. Make sure you buy the right size wetsuit for you. It should feel tight but not too restrictive.

Watch the pros do it

Pro triathletes will have worked hard to perfect the technique for removing a wetsuit. If you want a demonstration of the right way to take off a triathlon wetsuit, watch the first transition of a pro race. Most of them will be able to remove their wetsuit in just a few seconds.

How to put on a triathlon wetsuit

Apply lubricant to your wrists and ankles to make the suit easier to take off. You can also apply it to your neck and lats to prevent any chafing.
Putting a plastic bag or a sock over your feet and hands can help the wetsuit to slide on more easily.
Start with one foot at a time. Pull the wetsuit over your foot and pull it as high as you can up your calf, then repeat with the other foot. You can sit down to make this step easier.
Pull the wetsuit up over your knees and hips. You don’t want to see any bunched neoprene, it should all be smooth. Be careful not to rip the neoprene at this stage.
Continue to pull the wetsuit up to your lower chest, making sure there is no bunching and that it is tight around the crotch. If you don’t pull it high enough there won’t be enough material for your upper body.
Pull the wetsuit over one arm until your hand comes through the wrist hole. Pull any excess neoprene up your arm to your shoulder, then repeat with the other arm.
Make sure the wetsuit is tight around your chest and pulled up high to your neckline.
Pinch your shoulder blades together and zip up the wetsuit. Asking someone to help with this can make it much easier.
To finish, make sure there is no bunched neoprene and that it is pulled up as high as possible. You shouldn’t feel hunched over at all and your shoulders should have full range of motion.

Do You Need To Wear A triathlon Wetsuit?

If the water is above a certain temperature (around 61°F), you do not have to wear a wetsuit during a triathlon. You might be thinking that you could save time and hassle in transition by not wearing a wetsuit.

However, due to the added buoyancy from the neoprene, a wetsuit can dramatically improve your swim time. Most triathlon wetsuits for beginners feature 5mm neoprene on the legs to help keep them higher in the water. This gives your body a more streamlined position, which allows you to swim faster. A wetsuit can also be useful if you need to stop to rest during the swim as it will help you to float more easily.

So no, you do not have to wear a wetsuit for a triathlon, but we recommend that you do. Even if it takes some time to remove in transition, you will likely make up that time with a faster swim.