Swim & Tri Compare

Tighter than feels right on land. A tri wetsuit should have no loose folds at the lower back or behind the knees. Those pockets fill with water and drag. It will feel restrictive standing up and free once you are swimming. Size to the brand's chart by height and weight, not by your usual clothing size.

A buoyancy short lifts the hips only. Good for pool work and for swimmers whose legs sink, and legal where wetsuits are not. Full suits differ mainly in panel flexibility through the shoulders: an entry suit is warmer and stiffer, a higher-flex suit costs more and lets you hold a longer stroke late in the swim.

For most of the year, yes, Taupō and the lakes sit well below the temperature where most events go non-wetsuit. Check your race's rules: many set a water-temperature cut-off above which suits are banned and below which they are compulsory.