I went from the Archimedes 3:5 1 to a Helix and now to the Archimedes II. I can't really remember swimming in the original Archimedes as it certainly wasn't a bad wetsuit but I found the Helix a lot more flexible in the arms and shoulders. Since going to the new Archimedes I find it every bit as flexible as the Helix and maybe some. It does feel more buoyant or my position in the water better, I don't know but it feels a faster and a nicer wetsuit for me to swim in. I'm not a great swimmer having dipped just under the hour for my last IM if that gives you some kind of gauge but get the new model...

Thanks for the great advice! When you compare the sizing, are the Blue70 and the Huub identical?

I actually use all three suits you are talking about, the original Archimedes 3:5, a 2016 Helix and a new Archimedes II 3:5. Here are my thoughts

I swam in the Helix since about 2007 and always loved it, I feel so unrestricted and barely noticed I was wearing a full suit. Before that I swam in various Orca suits (Predator, P-Flex, 3.8) and the Helix for me felt so much faster and comfortable. In 2013 I wanted to try something new and bought the Archimedes at a race expo. After one swim in it I decided to use it in the race and actually had a nice swim PB. It certainly felt buoyant and fast but I found the suit felt 'stiff' somehow. I also found the neck closure would bunch up and roll during swims which was super uncomfortable, still though it was my go-to suit for years and I used in every race and all open water training sessions. It started to wear a bit and develop some holes so last year I went back to the Helix since I was able to get a pretty good deal on one. I noticed though that my swim times in training and racing were actually getting slower. I'm around a 1-hour Ironman swimmer with decent form but I obviously benefit a lot from the 3:5 buoyancy of the HUUB. Mid-way through last summer I decided to try the Archimedes II and have never looked back! I am beating my old swim times that I did in the original Archimedes and they've improved the neck closure so right now I am a very happy swimmer... well other than the fact that the ponds are covered in 5 feet thick ice at the moment! I wore a medium in all suits and found the fit to be very similar. I'm also not affiliated in any way with HUUB so this is my unbiased opinion and n=1 experience.

I also noticed that the Archimedes III is due out today but I am sure there will be no deals on that for a while!

Thanks a lot! Actually I wear the Blue70 in size M and I find the legs and the arms a bit too short. Otherwise the suit fits me. Despite the added bouancy, I hope to get a bit of an extra length in the Huub suit. Dan

I was a M in the Helix but using a ML with the Archimedes. I have long legs and arms so sounds like you would be best going with the ML.