MSF testing stinger suits
loneswimmer
IrelandCharter Member
Some weeks @Jamie raised the issue of stinger suits again in light of his upcoming epic swim, (here's the discussion).
@Jamie, @evmo and I discussed it, and (I intended to post this weeks ago!) we are proposing that MSF do some tests on (at least one) stinger suit and come to a transparent determination of and for the members here and extension the sport at large.
Part of the stinger suit issue has been that most of us are simply not familiar with them, nor have even seen one. For cold water swimmers we can't get over the comparison with wetsuits. Any existing judgement seems, correctly or otherwise, to be based on individual's perceptions and possibly manufacturer's advertising and bumpf. It seems we haven;'t really put this issue to rest.
We don't have a complex (or any really) current plan. @Jamie hopes he will be able to source a suit from Finis, (who have long been one of his sponsors), that we can use. Since we'll likely only have one male suit, @evmo will take charge of it and hand it off to some of you that it will fit and want to get involved, and use the central location of Aquatic Park and all you local SF swimmers to do whatever testing (buoyancy is easy, speed and heat retention will require more) you deem necessary.
Results of tests to be published here, and possibly a committee to decide the outcome and update the rules as appropriate.
@Jamie, @evmo and I discussed it, and (I intended to post this weeks ago!) we are proposing that MSF do some tests on (at least one) stinger suit and come to a transparent determination of and for the members here and extension the sport at large.
Part of the stinger suit issue has been that most of us are simply not familiar with them, nor have even seen one. For cold water swimmers we can't get over the comparison with wetsuits. Any existing judgement seems, correctly or otherwise, to be based on individual's perceptions and possibly manufacturer's advertising and bumpf. It seems we haven;'t really put this issue to rest.
We don't have a complex (or any really) current plan. @Jamie hopes he will be able to source a suit from Finis, (who have long been one of his sponsors), that we can use. Since we'll likely only have one male suit, @evmo will take charge of it and hand it off to some of you that it will fit and want to get involved, and use the central location of Aquatic Park and all you local SF swimmers to do whatever testing (buoyancy is easy, speed and heat retention will require more) you deem necessary.
Results of tests to be published here, and possibly a committee to decide the outcome and update the rules as appropriate.
loneswimmer.com
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Does anyone here work at a lab that can test any of these things, or know someone who does?
While subjective testing is by definition fuzzy, it's also something that has been missing from this issue. I put a lot of faith in the opinions of people I trust. One, five or ten reputable swimmers giving opinions based on personal experience is better than what we've currently got, I think, which is very little. If we only have one suit, than a bunch of swimmers with nothing to gain doing some swimming in it, will give us a good snapshot.
loneswimmer.com
@Jamie's points about stinger suits (see this thread) - remain in force: namely:
- "Stinger suits" are currently too vague as a concept. What material? What thickness? How much coverage? Etc.
- A full-body (or near full-body) dark-colored stinger suits would seem, purely on the face of it, to have heat-retentive qualities in the sun.
Stinger suits were not listed as Standard Equipment in either v1.0 or v1.1 of the MSF Rules. But it was left ill-defined enough that someone could conceivably wear one and still claim an "unassisted" swim.
This issue needs to be clarified in the Rules, regardless of the insights gained from this test. The test won't be a deciding factor, merely informative and interesting.
Compression is a major issue.
A relatively tight stinger suit will add compression, thus improving muscle performance.
Keep moving forward.
About five hours into my EC swim I was dodging jellies. One got me on the left shoulder. While I was distracted by that pain, I ran smack into another one that hit me in my face (lips and forehead mostly), across both shoulders and my chest. It was no box jelly, but it was blinding pain. I spun in the water out of control – even the Observer Report stated that I did summersaults in the water. My face swelled (no permanent scars, but considering the location, maybe scars would be an improvement). Fear and pain made that a defining moment in the swim. A stinger suit and mask would have been an assistance.
Upon contacting himself for comment, Morrison offered the following thought: "If Steve was under the impression that Jamie would be wearing a stinger suit... in Lake Michigan... why wouldn't he just contact him to find out for sure?"
(Adopting the DNOWS house-style third-person self-referential.)
Morrison added, "Signing off for now. Good night and good luck."
Does anyone have good evidence that compression is actually an advantage?
http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer
The technology of the racing suits was driven by and developed for elite swimmers who are not exactly known for having the "lumps, bumps" referenced in the article.
The drag reducing fabrics used are another matter altogether...
http://notdrowningswimming.com - open water adventures of a very ordinary swimmer
loneswimmer.com