rokasports wrote:
thanks everyone for the interest in the X! very excited to launch this suit.
wanna jump in here and answer a few questions.
on fit, the Maverick X was patterned initially from the pro, so you shouldn't have to size up our down if you're coming from one of those suits. in fact, the size charts are the same on the site, which you can tell because i haven't had a chance to relabel the pro chart for the x page when you click in to see the full-size chart jpg. :) not sure where someone read the fit is different but if you find it lemme know!
because of the reinforced taping in the low back, the suit may feel more supportive but should not require a size down. up top, the suit will feel more flexible and less restriction since we have patterned the arms up, improved the armpit and shoulder panels, and since we floated the neck. the floated neck also helps minimize water entry. overall, everyone we've worked with has commented favorably, and we believe the improvements to the X are real and meaningful.
re: how much suit is enough, sure, we could stop with elite or pro, but we're not in the business of settling. we will constantly try to deliver the best gear possible so people can swim as fast and as free as possible and exit the swim with the least amount of fatigue. in our view, races are hard enough, and your gear should get out of the way. if over time we can then diffuse that innovation to more accessible price points, we will, which is how the elite and comp suits were born.
totally get that the price point isn't for everyone – YMMV – and we respect that. in fact, i was not in the market for a $900 wetsuit when i first got into triathlon in 2010. couldn't afford it, so i bought a $300 suit "for swimmers." however, i did later regret that and built my own! ;) ;)
nonetheless, no one is forcing anyone to buy the Maverick X. all of our suits are great and hit above their price class. whether the price is worth it is up to you, just like whether it's worth it to get deeper depth aero wheels (or get aero wheels at all) or get a stiffer carbon frame bike. this is the nature of performance gear, and everyone's needs are different.
if you are interested in any of our suits and especially if you are on the fence, please keep in mind our 30-day moneyback guarantee (yes, you can swim in the suits and still return them), free shipping and free returns. we also ship directly to 31 countries in europe from belgium via
http://eu.rokasports.com and
http://uk.rokasports.com and ship to oceania from sydney on
http://au.rokasports.com.
best,
rob
Thanks for the input and insight.
I have a question related to durability, specifically in the underarm area. I have had two Comp suits fail in the past three months under my right arm. Thanks to amazing Roka customer support and service, I have just received my new comp suit to replace the failed 2nd one...but I did have to do IM South Africa in a rather chilly and leaking Comp suit that still took me to #1 swim in my AG. Both suits that failed involved the intersection of the seams under the armpit after the round fabric reinforcement fell off in that area in the liner. I confirmed the sizing with Roka and it is correct. I think it has to do with the fact that I swim with a very long stroke; that is why I love Roka so much...even the comp suit is incredibly flexible in the shoulders compared to any other suit I've worn. But failure sucks when it happens 2 weeks before a major event, and it is a pain for Roka and me to sort it out...so my question:
Do the different neoprenes used in the more expensive suits have an impact on longevity and reliability in your experience? Would this apply to the X? Or are the patterns simply faster/more comfortable (in addition to the neoprene coating) as you move up the product line?
And one more question for Roka...do you think it is possible to make a wetsuit with the same zipper design on the high end swimskins? I love getting out my Roka swimskin just by flicking up the zipper and pulling from the shoulders. Sometimes coming out of the water it is tricky to find the lanyard, run, re-orient my head, etc etc!
For all those questioning the price/value of the suit, I certainly get it. For those lucky enough to have the extra funds, I'm sure the suits are better. For me, the basic Comp version took 2 minutes off my 3800m times compared to my previous Orca suit. In addition, the suit feels so much better and the effort to swim fast feels much less. Awesome products and awesome service!