Speedo Wetsuit range reviewed by Ironman Champion Kendrick Louis

All you need to know about your new ocean swim essential.

As a professional surf Ironman, the NSW lockdowns hit my training schedule pretty hard between June and October 2021. Normally I would be at the pool, logging 5- 7km four mornings a week before I hit the beach for my other areas of training throughout the day and in the afternoons. The lockdowns and closure of pools around NSW hit me with a bunch of restrictions and a conundrum of how to get my swimming in.

Sydney in Winter isn’t all bad but an early morning swim in 8-10 degrees (Celsius) air temp, in the dark without diving in to a nice 25-degree Celsius pool but instead a 14–15 degree (Celsius) ocean or ocean pool isn’t for the faint hearted.

To get the type of kilometres under my belt that I required I needed some assistance if I was to last in the ocean for more than 30 minutes. Luckily this winter I was able to swim in the new Xenon wetsuit from Speedo. Designed for ocean swimming and triathlon, the Xenon is the top tier of their wetsuits to be released in Australia in November.

What I loved

• I loved the buoyancy a wetsuit afforded for distance swimming. Whether you are a beginner, or an elite athlete, the superior Yamamoto neoprene gives you an element of buoyancy you don’t get without a wetsuit. It keeps you in a better position to swim further and for longer.
• This wetsuit felt like a second skin, the freedom of movement from my neck, through my shoulders and down to my hips was phenomenal.
• It was a quick slip in and out of the wetsuit. Having not done much swimming in a wetsuit but been surfing my entire life, I was pleasantly surprised with how easy it was to get in and out of such a fitted wetsuit. A really good quality zipper and soft neoprene was helpful in that regard.
• The warmth got me through long winter swims. Whether it is a cold day, or you are a cold frog that finds even tropical waters cool, the wetsuit takes the chill out of the water, protects you from the wind and other elements and has the bonus of protecting a large portion of your body from the sun.

The details

Features:

• Yamamoto SCS (Super Composite Skin) - Advanced surface coating reduces water friction during the swim.
• Maximotion+ - Continuous and extensive 1.5mm neoprene panels for supreme flexibility for your stroke.
• Y39 (Yamamoto 39 cell neoprene rubber) - The most buoyant foam existing, which provides the highest lift to the body, thus minimizing the form drag created by the immersed body.
• Body Positioning Regulator - Thicker panels strategically placed for more buoyancy and perfect adjustment of your swim position.
• Core Stabiliser - Reinforces the core, enhancing the connection from the torso to the upper and lower body, to promote a more efficient stroke.
• Fuse Neck - Double sided SCS collar construction for a water tight neck and extreme comfort.

If you’re looking for a way to help get the extra kilometres under the belt or get in to a bit more cold water swimming, I highly recommend looking at the Speedo triathlon and open water wetsuits.

Happy swimming!
Kendrick

Kendrick Louis is an Australian Ironman Champion having won World and Australian titles as well as The Kellogg’s Nutri Grain Ironman series.