I suffer from the cold far more than the average person. I’m on the lookout for an armless shortie wetsuit for my swim holiday trip in the Med in October.
I was wondering if anyone has any recommendations?
I have a DeSoto full wetsuit. All of their wetsuits are two piece. It is a game changer with neck comfort for me. The neck just stretches over your head, and doesn’t have any velcro pieces to mess up. In terms of pulling down on your shoulders, since it is a two piece it is much better.
If you are looking for sleevless and shorter than full length legs - you can get their speed vest and speed tube (sleeveless vest and knicker length bottoms).
Also another consideration is to look for swimrun specific wetsuits. Orca has a short sleeved one for swimrun (not sleeveless), and also Orca also has an option of a neoprene base layer tank top. If you paired this with a pair of the buoyancy neoprene shorts, it would work for you. I haven’t found a major manufacturer that has BOTH a pair of the neoprene shorts and a neoprene tank.
Sailfish makes some top-end wetsuits. The Pacific is designed for training (not racing) and is for warmth vs. speed. If that’s what you are looking for it’s a good option. As other have pointed out, a sleeveless top from the likes of Desoto paired with buoyancy shorts is another good option. third option is to get a cheap sleeveless (ex. a low-end Xterra) and cut the legs to the length you want.
Swimrun apparel company Ark Sports has a very well reviewed sleeveless shorty wet suit, the Ark Uto Air (mens / womens), that might be what you are looking for. The legs on this suit are going to be very thin (as in no neoprene) but the chest and belly will provide warmth. Their other swimrun suits, like the Orno X (pricey) or the Korpp (less pricey), have short arms but would also be a good choice for a relatively thin layer for warmth. Hope that helps!
I have a DeSoto full wetsuit. All of their wetsuits are two piece. It is a game changer with neck comfort for me. The neck just stretches over your head, and doesn’t have any velcro pieces to mess up. In terms of pulling down on your shoulders, since it is a two piece it is much better.
If you are looking for sleevless and shorter than full length legs - you can get their speed vest and speed tube (sleeveless vest and knicker length bottoms).
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Desoto speed tube and speed vest is the only set the OP needs to consider.
I have used these (and other options) for exactly this for purpose - nothing comes close to and can even wear either item alone if deciding more temp moderation is necessary.
Does water not get into a 2 piece more, reducing warmth?
In my experience this has never been a problem. The desoto top pieces overlap the bottoms, although in the case of the speedtube bottoms, it’s a bit lower cut than other Desoto bottoms, so it has a drawstring waist to keep water from flushing in (you can wear it on its own no problem). All desoto tops dont have a zipper going all the way to the top, so I’ve always found them better than any other suit for a balance of sealing and minimal rubbing.
Hello, Emilio De Soto here. I am happy to personally assist you with in getting into the perfect wetsuit for the October Mediterranean. I have swam in over 2 dozen different locations, off the Balearic Islands, in the French Riviera, the Cinque Terra Coast, Aegean Sea, the Dalmatian Coast, Amalfi Coast, and off the eastern and south coast of Sicily.
Sorry if this comes across too harsh- but wetsuits are meant to allow water in, it’s the whole purpose. The water that gets in gets warmed up next to your body and keeps you warm. The only ‘suits’ that do not allow water are called ‘dry suits’ and they are for scuba only.