I know this has probably been discussed before, but I’m new to triathlons and I’m looking for my first wetsuit for an ironman in the fall. I’m an average to below average swimmer, and trying to build distance. Which brand is fastest? Which brand is the most comfortable, and is it still fast? Are the suits like lower grade xterra and promotion that sell for $300 comparable to the $500 suits and what’s the difference? $300-$500 is a lot to spend on something you don’t know anything about.
Thanks
You are asking people to debate their religion here - so don’t be surprised with the responses.
That being said - I’d say for a middle to slower in the pack swimmer any wetsuit that doesn’t feel overly restrictive and is the right size will make such a huge difference it’s pointless to nit pick over minor potential improvements.
Spend within your budget and buy from a place that will ensure you have one the is a good fit. That will take care of your needs.
Has anyone had any problems with xterra or pro-motion suits?
I love my Xterra. I strongly suggest trying as many on as you can before you buy. Like shoes, they all fit a bit differently. For me, QR and Xterra are great. Everything else is awful and would be really tough to swim a long race in.
More $$$ gets you better rubber usually and some thinner rubber in certain areas. The better rubber is flexible, but also more fragile - not necessarily a good thing if you want the suit to last. The thinner runner also may be a detriment if you are a poor swimmer and will rely on the buoyancy of the suit, esp. in the legs.
If you are not near a store, Trisports.com has a great policy with regard to returning wetsuits. I ordered about 6 suits from them and picked the best and returned the rest.
Any two piece suit…
I love the Promotion suit, customer service is great also.
What is their return policy? We don’t have any dealers nearby, so I would be buying a suit I haven’t tried on. Also, are they as fast as the xterras and QR?
are they as fast as the xterras and QR?
Ya know, this is probably like race wheels. Does 200 dollars and SCS Nanoskin rubber buy you a minute saved in a half-IM swim? Maybe. But you’d probably get a great deal more benefit by improving the engine with 4 hours of one-on-one with a good swim coach critiquing your “average to below average” swimming ability.
What is their return policy? We don’t have any dealers nearby, so I would be buying a suit I haven’t tried on. Also, are they as fast as the xterras and QR?
Promotion only sells their wetsuits direct. Call them and they will help you determine the right size. They were great about exchanging mine. http://www.wetsuit.com
How long does a good wetsuit last? I’m starting to lean toward a QR or an xterra, and I’m wondering how many saltwater swims I can count on before having to replace the suit. I’ve been told that xterra and QR are pretty much the fastest, but do they last a long time? And are they comfortable?
How long does a good wetsuit last? - good question - I dunno. I still have both my original ones, less than 5 years old. And are they comfortable? - I have a long sleeved IM Stealth and the ss Promotion something. They are both very comfortable. Now that I have the Stealth, the neck on the Promotion feels high to me.
How does your promotion suit compare to the ironman stealth? Promotion has much cheaper prices, so I was under the impression that they must not be as fast. In most cases you get what you pay for, but I’m all for paying less money if the suit is just as good.
For an Ironman distance swim you want something that is first of all fitted properly, secondly comfortable and third flexible. Personally, I’ve found the DeSoto First Wave two peice to fit the bill the best. Go to DeSoto website for more info why. As for Promotion suits, personally, I found them a little bulky and not flexible enough for me. As for which one is the fastest… it takes more practice swimming on your part.
1:03 swim IMWI 2005.
The answer will ALWAYS be the wetsuit that fits… for me, that happens to be a DeSoto two piece (no zipper)…
Joe
What is lost in this entire thread so far is the dehydration factor from a long sleeve suit in an Ironman length swim. If you are racing an Ironman in North America (especially an IMNA event), most of the events are in quite warm water. The long sleeve suits are total overkill and cause a lot of dehydration that we are not generally aware of. You will lose a minute or two with a short sleeve, but over an Ironman, you will gain this back over the bike and run with a body that is less dehydrated and has a better sodium balance. Sure, you can get “hydrated again” and take salt tabs, but better to be closer to your optimal equilibrium in the first place. Most people just end up with craps, digestion issues or worse yet hyponatremia when they try to overcompensate after the fact.
I did IMCDA in my full QR Supersuit and it was by far the most comfortable swim I’ve had. And yes, many venues do require a sleeveless, but not IMCDA. Also, when I feel myself getting a tad warm, I gently pull the front of my neck down for a second to get some cooler water in.
The fastest suit will be the one you can hardly tell is on you.
Any two piece suit…
Yeah! Any two piece suit by DeSoto. The T1 top is more flexible/stretchy. The TRES bottom is just fine.
Interesting thought. I hadn’t considered that angle. I’ve resisted a sleeveless because they are slower but maybe you are on to something.
A lot of folks push the two piece here. I raced in one for a full season and didn’t like it much. it rides up and chaffes the neck something terrible and is slower to get off. I sold it on eBay and went back to a one piece, Aquaman Metal Cell, which is an incredible suit. The “upside down” zipper is the best zipper design and the suit is very fast and lightening fast to get off (important if you do sprints/olys).
If two piece suits were such a huge advantage why do none of the top ITU triathletes use them where the swim is critical. I may be missing somebody but I can’t think of a single top pro using a two piece at any distance.