Keeping us warm in the cold

The days are getting shorter as we get further into the winter. As temperatures drop, our wardrobe also changes with the season. We adapt by bundling up with more and more layers that keep us insulated from the cold. Some go back to the swimming pools, the chlorine, the lanes separated by lines. For some, winter means long stretches of swimming in pools, longing for the freedom of the ocean, looking up at the ceiling and imagining the sky with every stroke... fantasies that quickly fade with the hustle and bustle of everyday life, swimming lessons, and flip turn after flip turn in a crowded pool.

 

Why should we give up open water swimming during the colder months? 

 

By wearing a coat, windbreaker, hat, or gloves while we enjoy our favorite outdoor activities, we are making the decision to adapt to these weather conditions using different articles of clothing. Swimming is no longer any different.

 

 

 

With the new Zeal Thermal wetsuit, we are making cold water swimming more accessible to avid swimmers. This high-tech wetsuit provides the most thermal insulation of the Orca range. To maximize heat retention, it has a warm, comfortable inner lining called Thermal X2, and a second layer of neoprene that we call a "batwing" which prevents water from getting into the zipper and neck area. The Yamamoto 40+ technology in its high-thickness panels provides buoyancy without affecting flexibility, giving the wetsuit great elasticity that allows for total freedom of movement in the water.

 

With this wetsuit, the goal is for you to keep enjoying your swimming sessions in the ocean, even when the water is cold, without compromising your swimming technique. Not only is it possible for you to swim in the winter, but it can also be very beneficial. More and more people are getting interested in cold water swimming. Despite requiring some adapting and training, with the Zeal Thermal, this practice is all the more accessible.

 

 

 

Swimming in cold water can have some great health benefits, such as better mental clarity and concentration, improved circulation, increased metabolism, and lymphatic circulation. It can also improve mental health by reducing stress. Cold water activates and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, creating a general feeling of well-being that helps us to relax. 

 

In terms of the technologies that have been developed and incorporated into the construction of the Zeal Thermal wetsuit, the suit is made from 100% Japanese Yamamoto neoprene. This type of neoprene is produced from limestone and offers excellent performance, providing superior thermal insulation, buoyancy and a light weight compared to the competition's wetsuits.

 

 

 

To conserve heat and prevent heat loss both in the zipper and neck, the aforementioned Batwing construction consists of a second layer of neoprene that prevents cold water from penetrating the suit and coming into contact with the body, creating a kind of hot water barrier between the two layers. It fits tightly and prevents chafing in the neck area and thanks to the use of laser cutting and an inner lining called Hydrolite, this combination guarantees comfort and insulation.

 

Yamamoto 39 X2 and Yamamoto 40 X+ technologies are behind this suit's excellent thermal insulation that does not sacrifice flexibility. Located in the torso where they are most needed, up to 5mm-thick panels of Yamamoto 39 and the Thermal X2 inner lining do not affect the swimmer's form or restrict movement. This material provides 95% more thermal insulation compared to swimming without a suit. Yamamoto 40 is located the shoulders, which requires 65% less force to stretch than traditional neoprene.

 

In addition to the Zeal Thermal wetsuit, take to the water with cold water swimming accessories such as the Hydro neoprene booties, 3mm-thick ergonomic thermal swimming gloves, or the thermal neoprene cap, so you will be ready to extend your open water season and get a little more enjoyment out of the ocean.