recommendations/budget for a wetsuit

jen2012

Hi All:

 

Working on my budget and I will need to purchase a wetsuit next year.    What do you all recommend and approx how much should I budget for it.  Thanks.

 

Jennifer

mussonag

Wetsuits have a pretty big price range... anywhere from $150 for a base model (still usually good) to $1200 for the TYR Freak of Nature. So your first step is finding the one you want. The only way to do that is to go to a local tri shop, or wherever sells wetsuits in your local area, and trying a bunch of them on. Fit is the important thing. You could have that $1200 suit but it isn't going to make you any faster, warmer or more comfortable, if it doesn't fit correctly. It took me about 6 suits to find one that fits me well. I found suits from Orca, Quintana Roo and Xterra that fit well. I ended up going with the QR because it fit the best even though I could get a better deal on another suit. We get a sponsor deal on Xterra so it might be worth checking out.

Once you find out which suit you want and the price for that suit you can start to budget. If the suit is say $200 and you need it in August, you can set aside ~$30 a month and by the time you need the suit, you will have the money to buy it. BAM! I would recommend getting the wetsuit at least a month out from the race you need it in and testing it a few times. Getting comfortable in the suit, how it handles in the water and how to get it on/off quickly helps enormously with race-day confidence!

-Andy

Dino Sarti

Hi Jennifer,

Here is a link to a thread I posted earlier this year related to general information about purchasing a wetsuit. In addition to the information there, I would say that most of the wetsuit differentiation out there is marketing. There is very little marginal return on most of the "high end" features being advertised. Find a good place on-line with a great return policy and possibly an end of the season sale. Order three and then keep the best fitting while returning the losers.

http://members.endurancenation.us/Training/TrainingForums/tabid/101/aft/9020/Default.aspx

Remember - rubber is rubber, plastic is plastic. Fit and comfort are the most important. To protect your budget, color and brand name should be your last concern.

John Stark

Remember we get a killer team discount from Xterra.  Go to the Resources tab above and choose Team Discount.

 

John

 

 

Jess Withrow

Fit is by far the most important consideration. I have a 2008 Quintana Roo Superfull that John bought on eBay for me my first season doing tri's, and it's a little too big - it always let water in and was SO annoying. I finally replaced it with an Xterra Vortex this past season (their lowest end model - I didn't use the EN discount, but at the time had a code from a coach friend and got it for something like 60% off). It fits perfectly and I've been super happy with it, especially for the price I paid for it! Their size guide is really accurate, and their return policy and customer service is great - John had a speedsuit from them that ripped and they replaced it without any problem. John has a higher end wetsuit - a Huub Archimedes -because it has super thin, flexible neoprene around the neck (he was a wrestler and has a crazy big, 20" neck and everything else was choking him... And since the ability to breath is helpful when racing, he justified the cost!). The Huub is noticeably more flexible than my Xterra, but unfortunately that makes it more delicate, too - the leg had a tear from IMFL, and it was only the second time he wore it. So... I'd look into the EN discount for the Xterra suits if I were you! It's a great deal!

Gordon Cherwoniak

Jennifer,

I'll also stress to get the suit that fits best.  As Dino says I'm not sure about some of the marketing but the flexibiily in the shoulders for some is a definite help. 

Hard to do when buying online.  The xterra discount we have is great.  Desoto also makes two piece wetsuits which can help with longer/shorter body or narrower shoulders etc.  I don't own a desoto wetsuit or an xterra for that matter but as I understand it you can then mismatch say you need a small-menium bottom and a small top for better fit.  Take to the rep on the phone if you need help with sizing.

Gordon

harrast

I purchased an Xterra (vortex pro(?) around $250 discounted) on the web using a discount code similar to the team discount. Xterra has had a fairly liberal return policy if the suit doesn't fit right. Of course, since this is your first suit, you may still be unsure even after trying it on. In general, and others correct me if I am wrong, the suit should be quite snug, you might even say tight. But it should give you full range of motion in the shoulders. IMHO, about $250-$300 should get you all the features you need. There is also a very specific technique for putting on a wet suit that makes it doable even when your skin is sweaty/tacky. I think I saw the how-to video on the website of All3sports.com. Good luck.

GMAN 19030

We get a 25% discount on Desoto stuff so I'll chime in and say the two piece Desoto suits are awesome as you can mix and match sizes. It can lessen potential shoulder fatigue issues as the two pieces move independently of each other.

Bruce Thompson

Jennifer - if you are buying your first wetsuit, I'd suggest getting a full sleeve suit, not the sleeveless.  This is because you will be able to use it in a wider range of water temperatures.  For a cold/cool water IM like CDA or AZ, you'll want/need a full sleeve suit.  For warmer water races that are still wetsuit legal, you won't overheat in a full sleeve model.  I made the mistake of buying my first suit as a sleeveless model, and then had to buy a full sleeve version later for IMCDA.  Now I race only in the full sleeve model.  Could have saved myself some $ if I had just gone full sleeve on the initial buy.

cgres123

Hi Jenn,
This link will answer all your concerns as well as link you to all the manufactures.

http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=1952

Few years back the site offered the Promotion Wetsuit for a discount if you registered for the site which is free. I did that and bought the sleeved Promotion Wetsuit for like 150.00 bucks. I have raced numerous SC events as well as IM with no problem.

If you got a lot of dough feel free to spend 700.00 as it will collect dust just as good as my 150.00 suit.