need some advice from someone with wetsuit experience.
i can purchase a 3mm xterra wetsuit for 99$
or
any 5mm wetsuit (zoot, 2xu, nineteen) for aboue 225$
is the extra thickness worth the money?
What are your swim times?
What are your swim times?
not very fast, 1:35-1:40 per 100 m
.
Yes, the extra buoyancy will help even the fastest swimmers, just like a full sleeve suit is always faster than a sleeveless (on paper). More rubber = more buoyancy = less energy exerted. Thicker neoprene will help to plane you out on top of the water which will stop you from plowing through the water, thus saving your energy. Most swimmers, even with an effective kick swim with a feet down attitude, which drags through the water.
For the added price you will get a good quality neoprene with good flexibility. Keep in mind that the fit of your wetsuit is ultimately more important than the brand. Most suits at this price point use the same neoprene with similar flexibility. The one that fits you without having extra space or material is the one to go with.
jake
Get the 5mm, provided it fits and has good flexibility (I am not an expert on wetsuit flexibility so I wont comment, what I will say though jumping from a mid-low end 2xu to a top end TYR really makes a noticeable difference, I am noticeably more bouyant and my shoulders are noticeably less restricted).
Spend the extra money, DEFIANTLY…People seem to be willing to spend a fortune on some random bike part which ways 100-200g less but wont invest in something which could literally save a minute over a HIM swim (my experience).
Have a look at the TYR Cat 3. I have only good things to say about my Cat 5 and I would argue that the CAT3 is good value. The 2XU and ORCA stuff get a very good marks from the people I race with (those two brands dominate the AUS market).
The TYR Hurricane Cat 3 is a down right steal. The Cat 5 is amazingly sweet, but bang for the buck, hard to beat the Cat 3.
5mm does make a difference, and also realize that in most of these suits, the 5 MM is places like the chest, etc, and arms, shoulders are more like 1.5mm so less restrictive