TriforU.de 'test-drove' the Rocket Science speedsuit and this is a translation of what they had to say:
- With normal swim pants: about 16-17 strokes per 25 meter
- With speedsuit (short legs & arms): about 14-15 strokes per 25 meter
- With rocket skin speedsuit: about 13-14 strokes per 25 meter
- With neoprene: about 11,5-13 strokes per 25 meter
- Long arms and legs seem to really make a difference that you can feel compared to short alternatives.
- In 26 °C warm water and with a swimming time around 45 minutes with only short little breaks we could swim through without any problem with the rocket skin, without overheating and a feeling of tightness. If the NO-H2O-Drainage system works we could not really test. But we did not have any problem with water in the suit. The suit is so flexible that you did hardly notice any resistance in arms or legs at all."
Here is a direct link to close-up images of the suit: [Link]
I wrote Rocket Science asking for more info about the tailoring of the suit and this paragraph really stood out:
"... The advantage of the full body suit: The material itself has a coefficient drag of CD=0.032; the surface of the suit does not absorb any water because of its coating.
Regarding covering the arms:
"...Arms are the only part of the swimmer that regularly exit; (turbulent flow), and re-enter; (during the laminar portion of the flow), into the water. Arms are also the only part of the body that acutely move faster then any other part of the swimmer relative to the water. The effective velocity of the arms is much higher then any other part of the swimmers body creating larger effective gains that can be achieved when it comes to drag reduction. ..."
After looking at the close-up images of the suit, I am impressed with the craftsmanship of the sewing and the little nuances such as putting a small pocket over the zipper. The material looks a lot like Chloroprene but I am not really sure what it is. I was told that it cost $50 to $60 a yard so it may not be Chloroprene.
Will all this said and with an independent review of the suit, on face value, the rocket Skin; (lower case "r" for rocket Skin), looks extraordinarily credible.
Here is a link to the Rocket Science Sports 'Rocket Skin' swimsuit page: [Link]
6 comments:
What do you think about the Blueseventy nero 10k or nero comp? Is it a (better) alternative?
Here is the link:
http://www.tri4u.de/test-blueseventy-nero-comp-%E2%80%93-knallenger-schwimmanzug-4575.html
Cheers
Christian
I have no idea for I have never worn one a 'Nero' nor a 'rocket skin'. The brand I generally wear is TYR and the only speedsuit I own is a Nike Hydra.
Okay, can you tell us more about the Nike Hydra with pictures...maybe for our triathlon magazin tri4u....a review maybe :-)
Christian
The point they make about the arms being the place where there is the most to gain makes sense, but I've never seen a flyer wear an "armed" suit, and I think it was telling that even with the advent of the LAZR this past summer five of the eight finalists in the 200 fly wore only leggings. Even Phelps, who is sponsored by Speedo and who wore the full body suit for his 100free (on the relay) and 200 free, wore only leggings for his fly and even IM events. There's something about swimming fly, especially the 200 fly, with the gentle undulation and easy recovery required, which makes a full body suit feel constricting. Who knows, maybe the Rocketsuit will prove this wrong, but I doubt it.
JC
The NIKE hydra has been discontinued. I do like the suit though. It certainly is not as competitive as the new generation of suits but I got it for $165 new and I have about a couple dozen or so more races it it.
Thorpe wore full body suits for just about everything. I think it is preference.
The rocket Skin is primarily designed for freestyle I suspect.
It certainly was mix and metch during the Olympics.
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