I have just purchased a new Blue Seventy Synergie wetsuit. It is my first wetsuit so I have no prevous experience
The sizing grid has me listed as being a Medium / Large size. But the Large seems to fit well, in fact it is snug enough that i can’t actually do it up on my own. It feels tight when on, no breath restricting tight but not far off I don;t think.
I am just worried that it may stretch a lot and become loose. Should they feel ridiculously tight? Or just tight. I imagine I would be happy had the sizing chart not made me paranoid
I am 6"1 (185cm) and currently 84 - 85 kilos (approx 186 lbs)
Has anyone else had issues with not matching the sizing chart?
Yes, at 5’1 130lbs and muscular I fit squarely into their XS size chart (and was thrilled to find a suit that had my height listed at all in a range)… bought the helix from trisports.com and when I tried it on I couldn’t even zip it up! Bless trisports.com service but now I remain wetsuit-less … do you like it in the large? Wish sizing was less mysterious as nowhere has suits ever to try on locally its all web orders
I also found their sizing chart bang on. If its your first suit it might be you are just not getting it fully pulled up in the crutch / arms and also not used to the snug fit.
I had an issue with their size chart. 2 years ago I had (I believe) a size MT that was a bit tight, especially around my shoulders. I’m 5’ 11 1/2" and at the time around 175 lbs. My shoulders would get tired and were uncomfortable in the wetsuit. I ended up selling it and moving up 1 size (and another brand) that fit me much better. I’m sure I would have been OK with a larger Blueseventy.
FWIW, I’m a touch bigger than you (6’2" and my weight fluctuates between 184-191) and I wear a Medium/Large Helix. It is tight getting it on, but once done up and wet it fits great. Unless you are quite muscular, I would think a Large would be too big. I bought a Large Reaction when I was heavier (about 210) and once I lost some weight, I noticed that water would pool inside the wetsuit…which is when I sized down.
Wetsuits should feel quite snug. And make sure its pulled up all the way in the crotch.
I’ve got the same suit. (it was my first as well). I can’t recall the size, but I had it fit at our tri shop. I really doubted the fit as it’s more snug than batmans suit. It takes almost two people to zip it up, but after I swam a few times in it I really started to feel comfortable in it. Give it some time and you’ll kove it.
I’ve got the same suit. (it was my first as well). I can’t recall the size, but I had it fit at our tri shop. I really doubted the fit as it’s more snug than batmans suit. It takes almost two people to zip it up, but after I swam a few times in it I really started to feel comfortable in it. Give it some time and you’ll kove it.
Thanks for all your replies.
You mention that after a few swims you started to feel comfortable, does that mean you just got used to it or did it stretch a little? I know the suits stretch when they are on, thankfully, but do they stretch as in ‘grow a little in size permanently’?
FWIW, I’m a touch bigger than you (6’2" and my weight fluctuates between 184-191) and I wear a Medium/Large Helix. It is tight getting it on, but once done up and wet it fits great. Unless you are quite muscular, I would think a Large would be too big. I bought a Large Reaction when I was heavier (about 210) and once I lost some weight, I noticed that water would pool inside the wetsuit…which is when I sized down.
Wetsuits should feel quite snug. And make sure its pulled up all the way in the crotch.
thanks for the info. i am a fairly muscular build but not in a body builder excess way. muscle is heavy though so a ‘built’ person of the same surface area should actually weigh more. So … If I was the same height and THE SAME WEIGHT as you but I had more muscle then my build should, in theory, be a little smaller … I think.
Which leads me to follow your advice and go and try the smaller size on. The M/L. They didn’t have the Synergie though n that size, just the Reaction. Still a model that fits is better than a better model that doesn’t. I will try both and see. If only you could trust the store staff … if that’s all they have they will want to sell it!
A lack of experience and expensive sport purchases don’t mix well!
I’m 6’3 and about 190 and I went with the M/L in the Helix model. I bought a L at first but returned it for the M/L since I would rather have the suit tight so as to limit the amount of water let in. Also, since there is plenty of flexibility in the shoulders, the tightness doesn’t limit your motion.
As the other posts have stated, wetsuits become more pliable when wet and, I believe, they actually do stretch a bit over time/use.
Honestly you can probably go with a L or a M/L and there won’t be much difference in performance. I think it mainly comes down to preference. I prefer tight, but that just might be from my years of competitive swimming in which all my competition suits were also quite tight.
I’m 6’3 and about 190 and I went with the M/L in the Helix model. I bought a L at first but returned it for the M/L since I would rather have the suit tight so as to limit the amount of water let in. Also, since there is plenty of flexibility in the shoulders, the tightness doesn’t limit your motion.
As the other posts have stated, wetsuits become more pliable when wet and, I believe, they actually do stretch a bit over time/use.
Honestly you can probably go with a L or a M/L and there won’t be much difference in performance. I think it mainly comes down to preference. I prefer tight, but that just might be from my years of competitive swimming in which all my competition suits were also quite tight.
Problem solved.
I went back and tried on the Reaction M/L it was much tighter but not restrictive. The arms didn’t feel too restrictive either when I raised them and I guess it can only get better when in water.
I had a 20% discount on the 2008 models and, as it is my first suit, was already a bit hesitant about paying the money for the Synergie so I didn’t want to special order an M/L in that and pay full price. I now have a suit that fits and a discount so am happy
Thanks to everyone for your help. Looking forward to my first tri in Oliver, BC at the end of May!
Huh. I’m 5’11", 210 lbs, 12% BF (muscular weightlifter) and my Blue Seventy Reaction XL fits me like a glove. I can’t imagine how some of you are fitting into the mediums.
Huh. I’m 5’11", 210 lbs, 12% BF (muscular weightlifter) and my Blue Seventy Reaction XL fits me like a glove. I can’t imagine how some of you are fitting into the mediums.
210lbs is a reasonable amount more than 185 I guess. Around 15% more in a 2" shorter frame.
Their size chart actually puts you in that XL bracket. Although they believe that you should be an inch or two taller I assume people buying tri suits tend not to be ‘sponsored by McDonalds’ so the sizing will vary from usual clothing and there will be far less variance between sizes.
My suit fits tight all over now though so I am happy.
