Help! Problem with wetsuit!!

[Oldgirl]

I've just been for my second swim in the sea this evening to test my wetsuit and it has rubbed a HUGE welt along the back of my neck. Swam for nearly 40 minutes and could have stayed in longer but thought my head was about to fall off!

The back of my wetsuit sits quite high up - almost to my hairline, which seems quite high. It fits really well everywhere else and is very comfortable so I am now hugely peed off and beginning to dread the GLS in 3 weeks as there is absolutely no way I can swim a mile with this bloody thing lacerating my neck!

Any suggestions as to what I can do? Is bodyglide likely to help?

Thanks

[manic porpoise]

Any suggestions as to what I can do? Is bodyglide likely to help?


Yes. It works well but you have to ensure you are thorough. I missed a bit last week and it hurt.

[KatieBun]

I'll bring some Trislide to the GLS, OG. Just discovered it. Much, much better than Bodyglide. Don't worry. Main thing about it, MP, is that it's a spray.You can spread it around so it's hard to miss bits.

[manic porpoise]

KB, where can I get Trislide? I did a quick search and only found US suppliers. Actually, first I searched for Triglide and was confused as that's a drug.

[Stevie_k]

I have a wetsuit but haven't tried it out yet. Where do you have to put this stuff, what are the chaffy bits?

[KatieBun]

www.mysportingtimes.com

[manic porpoise]

I have a wetsuit but haven't tried it out yet. Where do you have to put this stuff, what are the chaffy bits?

For me it's the back and side of my neck. Some people have trouble with the front of the neck too. I think it rubs when I turn my head to breathe or (try to) spot where I'm going. It also tends to be a little higher than you would expect so I tend to put stuff up to my hair line.

[Dave_G]

Have you tried wearing a rash vest under your wetsuit? A lot of people do so, and as a result have no trouble. any good watersports shop ought to be able to provide you with one: if not, there are plenty of online suppliers. Best of luck!

[Oldgirl]

Thanks for the replies folks, I have ordered some bodyglide as I couldn't find Trislide either so hopefully that'll do the trick.

I've got a rash vest and did think of wearing that but I felt it might be a bit too restrictive - but hey, if it's going to mean I can do the swim without my head being severed then I'm prepared to give it a go!

[carribeanquest]

This (https://www.bravesoldier.com/friction-zone.php) is the stuff that I totally recommend. I never tried bodyglide or anything else but this stuff smells nice and works perfectly.

Do be aware that something petroleum-based (for example, vaseline, baby oil or moisturiser) will "eat" the neoprene of the wetsuit and therefore should be washed off as soon as possible. A product designed for the task (bodyglide or the stuff I linked to) should not do this.

cq

[noeyedear]

a surf instructor would say to just tough it out, you'll get used to it and your skin will toughen up but it will take a few sessions in the water and sounds like your problem is pretty bad.

get someone to check that your suit is done up properly with the flap that goes between the zip and your skin laying properly, i went out for my first proper swim in ages last week and got a pretty bad burn on the back of my neck because the flap was not lying flat.

[Oldgirl]

Thanks I'll get my swim buddy to check it for me when I swim next.

I'm sporting a rather attractive friction burn right across the back of my neck which has prompted some rather strange (and some rather disgusting) comments from my 'friends'! I have very short hair and it's clearly visible so maybe a scarf is in order until it has healed!

[xml]

You could just use vaseline. I know manufacturers recommend against it as it could potentially damage neoprene, but in reality it's unlikely to happen within the lifetime of the average wetsuit providing you rinse it properly after use.

I've tried bodyglide, vaseline and baby oil, but probably the best thing is just to make sure you've fitted it properly and had a test swim to see if it is rubbing. Just moving the fastening or undoing the zip a little bit can make a huge difference, especially in salt water.

[cruiser33]

i went for my first open water swim on sunday for about 20mins just (in prep for GNS)

had same problem, right at the hairline, can still feel it now. i've ordered body glide too.

i have another problem though if i can ask
i bought the blue seventy sprint wetsuit - size medium.

wetsuit fit - it seems to fit ok. its not baggy or gaping anywhere and feels reasonably tight on land. I'm 5'9'' and just about 11st. their charts say (Medium 5'8"-6'1" 158-187 lbs medium 172-184 cm 72-85 kg). so not sure if i should have went for the size down or not?

The other problem was inside my elbow joint. It began to get sore/tiring (not chafing), I think from pressing on the suit creases with each stroke. I’m not sure this is a suit size problem. I would think any suit would crease there anyway? Is it a matter of getting used to it?

ta

[Oldgirl]

Cruiser33 - like you I went for the size of suit that was recommended for my height and weight but then after all the trouble I had with mine, last week I went to a local stockist and tried several wetsuits on (Jeez that was hard work) and reached the conclusion that the one that I had hired was too big. What a difference when I had one on that fit properly! So I bought it!!!!!!

I swam in the new suit on Saturday morning and it felt amazingly comfortable in comparison to the other one!

I suppose I'll just have to keep up with the OW swimming now! :D:D

[cruiser33]

Cruiser33 - like you I went for the size of suit that was recommended for my height and weight but then after all the trouble I had with mine, last week I went to a local stockist and tried several wetsuits on (Jeez that was hard work) and reached the conclusion that the one that I had hired was too big. What a difference when I had one on that fit properly! So I bought it!!!!!!

I swam in the new suit on Saturday morning and it felt amazingly comfortable in comparison to the other one!

I suppose I'll just have to keep up with the OW swimming now! :D:D

no more rubbing on your neck then?

i'm considering buying a size down and if it doesnt fit can send it back i suppose, hmmm

[missjackiechan]

I had the opposite went for a suit that should have fitted my height and weight and forgot how out of proportion my shoulders are...my shoulders are womens size 12 rest of me a size 8...so the result was I could'nt move my arms properly and the suit restricted my movement and started to make an old shoulder injury ache - opted for size up and all is fine.

I also use bodyglide around neck and into hairline, seems fine.

[Oldgirl]

no more rubbing on your neck then?



New suit is really comfortable and no rubbing on the neck at all thankfully! Now I've just got to manage to get myself round the one mile course in one piece and all will be well!

[cruiser33]

New suit is really comfortable and no rubbing on the neck at all thankfully! Now I've just got to manage to get myself round the one mile course in one piece and all will be well!

great news, good luck :) let us know how you get on

[BakerStreet]

I get rubbing quite badly if I'm not freshly shaved. Its half way up my kneck on my left side. Its not that uncomfortable.

However in my sea swim last week, I didn't suffer there, I had it on the back of my kneck and it was quite unconfortable because of the salt. I am guessing this was because I was lifting my head in the straight ahead vertical postion more than I would be in a lake.

Only bought my bodyglide stick last week and it appears to be working well :)

Just wish I had used it on the back of my kneck for the sea swim :)