milesthedog wrote:
Yes, these top suits are great, but moving on. I'm asking for thoughts outside the box, a paradigm shift - not a thread for boasting about the wetsuits we currently own or about the merit of fit.
In order for a suit to fit well and be flexible, it make compromises by using less durable and thinner neoprene, in addition to compromises throughout the suit all to free elastic impingement in the shoulder region of the suit. If a waterprooof strip of non-neoprene material were used, I think there is the possibility that designs could progress forward.
I mentioned this idea to a Blue Seventy rep for my tri store in 2010 and of course he said that the Helix was as good as it gets and that if it fits properly, nothing needs to change. I view any replies to this post talking about the merits today's suits in the same way I viewed that reps response: a complete lack in the understanding of the nature of innovation.
I'm not sure if you were actually responding to me, but as you replied to my post, I think you are. Boasting? I really don't know what you are talking about in terms of shoulder restriction in a Maverick X...basic question was have you tried it? If you want to innovate, you should start with the understanding the best examples of the status quo. (not limited to one suit...you should understand all the solutions put forward thus far.) Thus, a reasonable question to ask someone who is arguing for more innovation! I don't make wetsuits and don't have a stake in the status quo...if someone were to come up with a dramatically improved design, I would benefit too. Establishing a baseline for comparison is not boasting.
Two knowledgeable people have already responded to this thread indicating the difficulties with your proposed innovation. Blue Seventy seems to have said the same thing.
Since you are the expert on innovation here and the one who doesn't exhibit "a complete lack in the understanding of the nature of innovation," I suggest you put action behind your words..THAT is what innovators do. It really amazes me that the tone would get nasty about such an innocuous post as mine. I sincerely hope that you are hard a work at developing your ideas about wetsuits rather than waiting for all the complacent people who currently produce the most innovative wetsuits on the market.
I'm confident that after prodding wetsuit companies for at least 7 years to shake off their insistence on neoprene in the shoulders that you have the technology, the knowledge of how to cut wetsuit patterns, the ability to innovate new textiles and chemical applications, and business capital that you are willing to risk to bring your ideas to life. "Innovation" is really easy when it amounts to "companies always do X and insist that it is the cutting edge of progress, but really, doing Y would be so much better." Please, sincerely, get out there and do Y. If it works, you'll be successful.