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Flexibility: The secret to a good wetsuit

Flexibility is an important factor for swimmers who can maintain a horizontal position, as it allows them to move freely and naturally in the water. These athletes don't want their swimming biomechanics to be affected by the wetsuit they wear. To achieve

Elasticity or flexibility is one of the most important characteristics of a wetsuit. In triathlon wetsuits, flexibility prevents the suit from interfering with athlete's biomechanics and helps triathletes conserve energy. In open water, more flexible wetsuits allow swimmers to swim naturally and move freely in the water.

To judge the elasticity of a wetsuit, three essential factors should be considered in its design and construction: the type of neoprene used, its inner lining and its thickness.

The Type of Neoprene

The different panels that make up a wetsuit are composed of different materials. Each combination of materials has a different stretch capacity and requires more or less force for the panels to stretch and regain their shape.  Orca has analyzed and compared 1.5 mm panels of different materials in the Orca Lab at their maximum elongation.

Yamamoto 44, Orca's exclusive material, is the most elastic option at 1.5mm thick, stretching up to 513%. It is followed by Yamamoto 40 neoprene, with 383% elasticity, used in the shoulders and armpits of high-end openwater wetsuits (RS1 Thermal and Perform). Yamamoto 39 neoprene, used in mid-range freediving suits, reaches 307% elasticity; and Yamamoto 38, with 200% elasticity, strikes a balance between elasticity and compression in the lower body.

The Inner Lining

The elastic properties of a wetsuit's inner lining are essential to achieving a flexible suit. Infinity Skin, made from nylon and bamboo fiber, boasts 283% elasticity, achieving the highest quality in terms of flexibility. 

On the other hand, Thermal X thermal inner lining, which is intended to provide maximum insulation to the swimmer, achieves 217% elasticity.

Finally, Hydrolite lining, with 170% elasticity, is a compressive lining that improves the wetsuit's seal in the neck and extremities to prevent the ingress of water.

Thickness

Each panel of a wetsuit should have different thicknesses depending on the properties you are looking for: flexibility, thermal insulation or buoyancy. A thickness of 1.5mm is used in the shoulders and armpits, achieving 217% elasticity. 2mm panels, with an elasticity of 197%, are placed on the arms. Generally, 3mm panels, with 177% elasticity, are used in the chest and back and 5mm panels, with 130% elasticity, are used in the legs to improve buoyancy and the stability of the swimmer. 


Ultimately, having plenty of flexibility when swimming in open water or competing in triathlon will not only allow you to perform at your best in the water, but it will also save you energy and prevent possible injuries while you enjoy total freedom of movement.

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For best results, take your measurements with no clothing on

Place the measuring tape over the widest part of your chest.

Hold one end of the measuring tape in place and circle your chest, keeping the tape straight, until the tape reaches your starting point.

Get a book, a hand mirror and a pencil.

Take off your shoes and anything you wear on your head.

Look for a level surface to stand on with a smooth wall behind you.

Stand in front of the wall with your feet together.

Balance the book on your head and press it against the wall. Use the mirror to check that it is in a horizontal position and well centered. Mark the position of the top of your head on the wall with pencil.

Once the mark is made, step away and use a measuring tape to measure the distance from the ground to the mark you just made with pencil.

Step on the scale, without clothes or accessories, and write down your weight.

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