Wetsuit--how loose is too loose?

It is too loose.

It should be hard to get on. It should feel really uncomfortable until you get in the water.

Sorry Switch, sounds too loose to me.  A wetsuit should feel like a second skin.  Yep, that tight.  What they feel like on land is nothing like they feel in the water.   If yours is feeling loose on land, you're going to be accumulating water in it, probably above your hips and small of your back. 

I'm sure you'll hear lots of input, but if it's a piece of cake to put on, it's too big.

LMFAO--thanks:)

Sorry to say that you'll have to get over that hatred of tight things because that bad boy should feel tight!  It almost can't be TOO tight....unless you literally can't breathe.

But try the swim if you can still return it after....you'll know if you're taking on water because you'll be able to feel the drag instead of feeling the slick hydrodynamic feeling that a wet suit should give you.

OK...so I probably shouldn't have gotten this size. Frick.  

No problem, back it goes.

Now, I could go down one size in women's sizing (which weight-wise I'm at the uper end of the spectrum), that seems reasonable.  Or I could get a men's small, which on size-chart I fit well within the weight/height window.

Is there a reason to not get the men's size?  I'm just wondering if it might give me a little more room in the arms?  I don't really have a chest, but do have a butt, and I have big arms for a woman--very flattering picture I've just painted of myself, I know, but it's the truth.

I would get the women's.  I tried on a bunch of wet suits for my first buy.  A women's suit still fit way better than a size down or two in men's.  When they make the suit, I think they take into account most women have rounder butts while most men don't 

Call and talk to the company about sizing and fit. Sounds like it is to big but which other wetsuit to order is a good question.

OK.  Very helpful everyone.  Thanks Noelle--the woman-to-woman butt info is always appreciated.  If you really think "It can't be too tight," I'll get the size down in womens.  If I end up hulking out of it, that will be a funny story in and of itself.  

Not that I want to spring for this, as I'm guessing it would be ridiculously expensive, but do they make custom wetsuits for people with weird anatomy?  I don't think I'm that weird, just sorta weird.

My kids thought I looked very "superheroish" and wanted to keep touching me, well, it.  It was pretty funny.

My two year old: "I like this." Poke. Pat. Poke "I like it a lot."

I talked to a sales guy rather extensively before I bought it. I went through all the different possiblities I was considering and why, and he thought because I had a long torso and big arms I should size up. HE was the one who told me to order up, though he did sound pretty clueless:/

I was just having the body composition v. weight discussion in another thread, and I think this could be part of the problem.  I'm a very lean woman, so my weight makes me sound bigger than I am.  If I wear a 4/6 is women's clothes, it doesn't make a lot of sense that I would wear a woman's "large" wetsuit--but who was I to argue with the sales guy after 15 minutes;) <facepalm>

My guess is that at least half the women trying to squeeze into their first suit feel equally as awkward about their bodies as you do.  

I would bet that you're the only person who sees your anatomy as "weird" and you'll be totally fine in the women's suit 

You should feel superheroish........go supermom doing her first tri!!

Thatis helpful and hilarious.  I in no way felt violated, and that's wrong?  I'm gonna think of that every time I put on a wetsuit.

I love this sport.

As long as it is not so loose that excessive water is seeping in, what is the benefit of it being so tight?

My Xterra Vortex is an XL when sizing charts say I should definitely be a L.  I got mine 2nd hand, so I didn't have the opportunity to test multiple sizes. It takes some time to get on, feels snugs especially in the upper chest, but doesn't feel like I am in a vise. I also don't feel like it is a parachute when swimming. What is the downside?

chris00nj--if the suit has wrinkles or folds in the material it will slow you down sliding through the water.  My current Orca is the first real tri suit I ever owned. (I have been a freediver for 35years).  My Orca does not let water in, but is loose enough to have folds in the neoprene which I'm sure slows me down while swimming.  In retrospect, I should have bought the next size smaller suit. Remember, while racing, you have all the time in the world to get your suit ON, before the gun goes off.  Also of hugh importance is to use a wetsuit lube BEFORE putting your suit on. (Never ever use petroleum products on neoprene). Lubed correctly, your tight suit will slide on WAY easier AND be way more comfortable/less restrictive while swimming.

Hope this helps

+1 

My wife and I have the same wetsuits, but hers is the women's version and it's easy to see they just add a little more room in the hips/trunk area and the chest for the ladies version.

So, I'd say it boils down to your body build but my guess is that in almost every case you'd be better off in the women's version.

I have nothing to add here other than your two-year-old is hilarious, and I can TOTALLY see my almost 4-year-old doing the same thing.  Funny :-)