best wet suit, best price?

Sleeves or sleeveless is a choice you need to make but do not buy a shorty, they are not for swimming.  The biggest reason you wear a wetsuit is for bouyancy.  Does it make sense to float your torso and let your legs drag behind you?  Of course not.  That'll just slow you down more.

I have a Xterra Ventilator sleeveless.  It's their low end model and it works ok.  If I could buy another I would get a full suit probably an Orca Predator II.  But, it would have to fit correctly.  It might be best to find your price range and then see what company's offering in that range fits you the best.

What a cool idea! Reward for performance...I like it!

Autumn,

I knew I'd be doing a race in Michigan in June so when I saw that Bonzai sports put their ironman wetsuits on clearance last December for $100 I snatched one up.  I got sleeveless and it's wonderful.  The kids laugh at me when they see me put it on because it's like trying to squeeze into the tightest panty hose and then pull them up to your shoulders.  I get quite a workout just getting the dumb thing on...but then when it's on- watch out- I look like a superhero.

By the way, I was a little overly optimistic when I chose the size- I was sure I'd be down to the weight range for it.  I didn't try it on until about a month before my race and I couldn't get it zipped.  It provided great motivation in dropping a few pounds.

Debi

By the way, I rationalize all tri purchases with, "Do you know how much money I would have spent on Weight Watchers this past year?  I've lost the weight AND I have the gear.

This is true but the difference is marginal and should be weighed against the comfort factor.  I bough a full suit for exactly that reason...it's faster...but quickly found out that having my arms compressed in neoprene gave me a very constricted feeling that caused me to feel a bit anxious in the water.  And also, the tightness prevented my elbow from freely extending all the way so it took a little extra effort each time I extended my stroke.  Shoulder mobility was good though.  I haven't tried the sleeveless yet but I have a feeling that I'll be much happier with it.

Hey there,

I don't know if you actually got to use mine when you borrowed it last, but you're welcome to give it a try at any time if you didn't. ProMotion sleeveless. Good price, great customer service, plus the BT discount. I've had no problems at all with mine.

I have both a full and a sleeveless Promotion wetsuit. I bought both on clearance from the previous year.

I used to scuba dive when a teenager and hated wetsuits and the feeling they gave me. So I first opted for a sleeveless suit thinking I would be more comfortable and I could move my arms more easily. Yet,  I found it constrictive in the chest...I think they fit more snug around the bust and sleeves in an effort to keep the seal around your arms.

I did a Tri in early June with water temps were estimated to be as low as 55 so with the recommendation of my coach bought a full suit, booties and a wetsuit hat. Wow I love the full wetsuit and I don't feel like a sausage. My arm mobility is excellant and I don't feel like I have it on except for more bouyance. I find it much more comfortable than my sleeveless. I am considering selling my sleeveless Promotion.

I just spent two weeks in No. MN on vacation and swam 3-4 times a week with my full wetsuit and did a time study to compare swimming with and without my wetsuit. I think I was about 10% faster with my wetsuit and I"m a slow swimmer. In the pool I swim 2:35-2:40/100 yds.

I'd recommend getting a full suit and looking in the fall/winter to find a good deal so you can save some money.

Autumn, I also think that in doing an Oly event you are competing with triathletes that take their training more seriously and tend to be much more competitive. Many that I know are MOPers in sprints are BOPers in Oly distances.

You just described me exactly, and I've pointed this out to autumn previously. My last two tris:

• Indian Creek (Olympic) AG-10 out of 12 (83 percentile); Overall-115/148 (78%)
• River Cities (Sprint) AG-31/66 (47%); Overall (37%)