How much faster is a full sleeve wetsuit for IM?

acwilson1

I know there are other considerations . . . temperature, fit, etc.  However, I am wondering if anyone has any 'hard' data on speed in a sleeveless vs full sleeve wetsuit i.e. "I have 2 suits and am routinely xxx faster in one or the other".  

I currently have a sleeveless which I like but it is getting gray in the beard [like me].  I am thinking when I replace I should go full sleeve.  Looking for input.

Dino Sarti

I don't like full sleeve except for the coldest water. Sleeveless gives me the best feel in the water and least impact on my form. I am training in a speedo all year and then if i race in a full suit, I think my stoke will suffer for it....

Paul Hough

I wear my shorty (no sleeves, cut off at the knees) if the water is 74-78 and it's a sprint or otherwise. I haven't been in an IM yet where the water was wetsuit legal and the temp was over 72, so the clear choice there is a full sleeve suit.

Scott Alexander

No data here, as I haven't had a sleeveless in years (donated it to LLS/TNT).

But, since IMCDA09, when I DNF'd due to hypothermia, if a race/swim is wetsuit-legal, I'll use the full sleeved!