Can You Wear a Wetsuit in a Pool?
Garrett Durham April 3rd, 2025 Posted In: Articles
Can You Wear a Wetsuit in a Pool?
You’ve just bought your first wetsuit, carefully selecting the perfect one for you. You have done your research, thought about what you plan to use your wetsuit for, chosen the right style and the right thickness. It’s just arrived on your doorstep, and you put it on for the first time. Everything fits perfectly. The next step, rightly so, is to get into the water to get a feel for what it’s like to swim in this wetsuit. Maybe you’ve worn a wetsuit in the past, but there is something special about swimming in a new wetsuit for the first time.
You search the lakes, rivers, and oceans around you for the inaugural swim, but either you aren’t comfortable enough just yet to do an open water swim or all of the open water is too far or not easily accessible.
Which leads you to; can you wear a wetsuit in a pool? The answer may surprise you. Keep reading and we’ll dive right in.
What Are Wetsuits Made Of?
Wetsuits are used for a variety of activities and work by insulating your body (trapping heat inside) with neoprene. Because of how they are used, wetsuits have to be resilient so they can bounce back into shape after stretching to fit your body… and be sturdy so they last for a long time… while being as resistant as possible to degradation from weather.
When neoprene was invented and it was starting to be used for wetsuits, it became quickly apparent that this synthetic rubber material had all of the characteristics needed for high quality, long-lasting wetsuits. Neoprene is almost completely resistant to degradation caused by the sun and salt, is resilient, and has high tensile strength. Wetsuit manufacturers have been utilizing neoprene for decades.
While neoprene has great qualities that make it ideal for wetsuits, some things can make a wetsuit break down faster than it should, including sun, salt, and chlorine.
Wearing a Wetsuit in the Pool
For starters, there are different types of pools – saltwater and chlorinated. Can you wear a wetsuit in a saltwater pool? Absolutely. Just always be sure to rinse the wetsuit thoroughly after you are finished and allow it to air dry (not in direct sunlight). Swimming in a saltwater pool is very similar to swimming in the ocean. If it is rinsed well with freshwater and then stored properly, swimming in a saltwater pool is nothing to worry about.
Now, can you use wetsuits in a chlorinated pool???
The answer to this question is “absolutely.” However, proper wetsuit care is MUCH more important here. If you choose to swim with a wetsuit in a chlorinated pool, our best advice is to immediately rinse the suit with freshwater using a wetsuit shampoo and properly air dry the suit.
How long will a wetsuit last in a chlorinated pool?
This is another great question, and one that doesn’t have one set answer, unfortunately. It depends on the quality of the wetsuit you purchase. It depends on how often and how long you plan to spend in the chlorinated pool. And it depends on how well you care for the wetsuit at hand. We know swim instructors who are in chlorinated pools for 8 hours a day, 5-7 days a week. Most of them purchase cheap suits because they know they’ll run through them faster. And in these cases, wetsuits only last them about 6-12 weeks tops. However, we know plenty of folks who swim at the Y with a good quality wetsuit, that take good care of their wetsuit, and they’ve lasted them about a year. So, how long the wetsuit lasts mostly depends on you.
Where you decide is to use your wetsuit is ultimately up to you. Wetsuits are incredible tools and can make swimming in certain situations much easier. But wetsuits only make things easier if they are properly cared for. To that end, I like to optimize my wetsuit for a long life by making sure it is properly cleaned, properly stored, and kept away from anything that could damage it (i.e. sharp objects, humidity, direct sunlight, extreme temperatures, etc.).
Benefits of Training in a Pool
Training for an open water swim in a chlorinated pool can help build your confidence in the water. Sure, swimming in a pool takes away some of the challenges of open water swimming (there isn’t current in a pool and you can touch the bottom in most lap pools), but you can use a pool to help you train for sighting and swimming in a straight line in the open water.
Instead of relying on the lane ropes and the lines on the bottom of the pool, pick a spot out of the water as your focus point. Every few strokes bring your head out of the water and find your object, continuing this pattern until you are on the other side of the pool. Learning to rely on a fixed point outside the pool will help the transition into an open water swim because you will already be familiar with sighting in a more controlled environment.
Potential Downfall of Swimming in a Chlorine Pool That You Should Know…
Most manufacturers will not cover a wetsuit that’s been damaged from chlorine. Be sure to check warranty information before making your purchase.
Moral of the Story…
Saltwater pools, chlorinated pools, gene pools, we don’t care where you choose to stick your wetsuit. You can absolutely use your wetsuit in a pool. Just be sure to go for good quality wetsuits that will last, and for crying out loud… take good care of it! If you take good care of your wetsuit, then it should take good care of you, no matter where you choose to use it.
Editor’s Note
This article was originally published in 2020 and has since been reviewed and updated to reflect relevant and correct information.
I found it hard to swim in my new wetsuit. I couldn’t move forward??
Hi Julie! What kind of wetsuit did you purchase for swimming? For competitive or open water swimming, it’s best to get in a triathlon wetsuit that features a smooth skin exterior to help you “glide” in the water and move forward. A standard neoprene wetsuit, especially if it lacks stretch, might not be the best choice. If you need any more help to find a better option, you can also reach out to our awesome customer service team either via email (service@wetsuitwearhouse.com) or call +1 866-906-7848. Hope this helps!