Sportsister tests: Aqua Sphere Powered W-Racer Wetsuit

Specialists in swim and triathlon wear, Aqua Sphere offer a huge range of women’s clothing, including no fewer than four female specific wetsuits.

I tried the W-Racer, a mid-range suit designed for moderately experienced triathletes looking for a performance orientated suit with a balance of buoyancy and protection. The entry level suit available from Aqua Sphere is the W-Pursuit, while the W-Phantom caters to the needs of elite level athletes, offering a decrease in overall buoyancy for the more experienced and aggressive swimmer.

Front

Front:
I tested out the suit in both the swimming pool and in open water, which is obviously more what it is designed for! The fit chart was accurate and straightforward to use, with the resulting suit fitting well and as it was supposed to.

Arms

Arms:
I had a slight problem with tightness around the tops of the arms, but I am aware that I have larger arms than are average for a woman. The suit fit neatly on the torso and limbs, without being constrictive around the neck, and there was good length in the limbs. The suit comes in six sizes, based on height and weight, starting at XXS and going up to XL to accommodate over 185cm tall and 75kg in weight, so there should be something for most physiques.

Back

Back:
In the water, the suit fulfilled its function well, directing flow over the smooth outer surface swiftly and effectively, to decrease friction, therefore assisting in forward propulsion. In cold water, it maintained body heat very well indeed, giving good protection for the vast majority of open water events.

Legs

Legs:
Stroke flexibility was slightly hampered by the suit, but that’s common to all wetsuits, and wasn’t unduly problematic. The suit is very buoyant, and those with a naturally high leg kick may find it on the over-buoyant side, but for front crawl it allowed a relatively natural feeling stroke and the reassurance of that extra float. Breast stroke was more of a problem, but that again is in common with most wetsuits.

Panels

Panels:
The style of the wetsuit is quite futuristic, with the different panels for assistance with propulsion, and the contrasting pattern, but it’s a good looking suit, that doesn’t look too superhero like and retains at least some semblance of a nod to the wearer’s gender.

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Good Points
- Great range of sizes to suit most body shapes
- Excellent enhanced ability to glide through water
- Additional propulsion from panels on arms
- Extremely good quality materials and construction

Bad Points
- Smooth outer to fabric makes it a little tricky to get on
- Swimmers with a naturally higher leg position might find it over buoyant for an easy kick.

Price: £339.99
Sizes: XXS-XL
Rating: 3/5

More info: www.aquasphereswim.com/uk

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