Another wetsuit question

I've had a bit of a search on here but can't find the answer so could some of you please try and enlighten me.

I haven't open water swam as yet and will need to buy a wetsuit soon and that is something I am working on. Time seems to be running out until my first OW swim event in early May.

Question is this though

With the addition buoyancy that a suit provides it seems to be that swim times for people are slightly quicker. If this is the case by how much over a pool swim? Also would this be including the fact that in open water you do not get the benefit of a push off the wall every 25 metres?

How do people compare on time from, say for example, a 1 mile OW swim to the same distance in a pool?

Thanks,

Chilli

1000 people in the pond at AT will be a bit packed me thinks. The other one I'm in is only likely to have about 100 to 120 max I'd guess and it is in a big reservoir so hopefully that won't be too big a factor.

I get sinking legs the further I go so may this be of benefit then or can you end up just kicking into fresh air?

I'm in the quicker in OW camp.

My IM swim (3800) is about the same pace I can do 1500 in the pool

Slowing for the wall, then touch turning and accelerating again can't be efficient for a big chap.Maybe if I could tumble turn efficiently I wouldn't lose as much.

Wetsuit helps body position in OW, no turns and drafts a plenty all help on an OW swim. No panicing from me in OW.

The top end suits reduce bouancy for the better swimmers so if you are a less competent swimmer the lower priced suits are often better suited. Fit is everything, try them on, try multiple types, one of the stores (TriUK?) has an endless pool to allow you to try swimming in them. Failing that you could wait till the summer and then try them at a lake - a few will loan/hire suits for tests and ensure you get the right fit. If money is tight then it may be worth trying some on and trying to pick up a bargain.

M.eface

@PurpleTriLady - my first suit was a cheapo Foor one and I found it too buoyant in the legs causing me back pain (eventually I realised this..).  My next one was one with far less leg buoyancy and I've found it much much better.  May be worth trying some others. 

I agree that the difference a wetsuit makes varies but for comparitive purposes I did 2 Ironman races in 2010 2 weeks apart.

The first (IM Germany) was non wetsuit swim due to lake temperature, my time was 1.43.08.

The second (Challenge Roth) I swam in a wetsuit and my time was 1.21.08

So for me im pretty sure a wetsuit makes me 15-20 minutes faster in open water when compared to not wearing one.  in nearly all the other Ironman swims ive done with a wetsuit my times have been in the range of 1.15-1.25, ive done one other non wetsuit ironman swim in 2007 and my time was 1.50 something.

If I was to swim 3800 meters in a 25 metre pool without a wetuit but with the benefit of push off then id hazard a guess my time would be around 1.30?

I think what you gain with the buoyancy of a wetsuit more than makes up for not having a wall to push off.  One of the other factors in Open Water is that you can draft, even if youre not an accumplished drafter, you can still get a pull as being part of a bigger pack of people i.e. your in a body of water moving in a certain direction.

One other thing to consider is that swimming without a wetsuit is more tiring as your legs drop more, that means you either need to kick more or work harder for a given speed.

m.eface wrote (see)

The top end suits reduce bouancy for the better swimmers so if you are a less competent swimmer the lower priced suits are often better suited. Fit is everything, try them on, try multiple types, one of the stores (TriUK?) has an endless pool to allow you to try swimming in them. Failing that you could wait till the summer and then try them at a lake - a few will loan/hire suits for tests and ensure you get the right fit. If money is tight then it may be worth trying some on and trying to pick up a bargain.