Hi everyone,
I am on a market for a new wetsuit. My budget is around $600 and I am choosing between Blueseventy Helix and Tyr Hurricane Wetsuit Category 5. I swam in helix and absolutely loved shoulders flexibility and hated reverse zipper! I wonder how flexible is Cat 5 compare to Helix? Is it about the same? Worse? Better? Also description for Cat 5 says “SPECIAL SIZING NOTE: This product size small. We recommend to order 1-2 size bigger.” I am tall and skinny (5’9 and 128), what do you think Cat 5 will be a good fit for me? If it runs small I, probably, need to order XL, which sounds crazy 
Thanks!
I don’t have any experience with the Cat 5 but own a Helix. The top zip is a pain but it also makes it impossible for someone to accidentally (or intentionally) open your wetsuit during the swim.
I love my Helix.
Love my Helix too. Don’t have experience with TYR to compare. My friend borrowed my Helix for an IM and he improved 5 minutes from his mid level wet suit.
Zipper is a pain but it never gets unzipped by someone else while swimming.
Hi everyone,
I am on a market for a new wetsuit. My budget is around $600 and I am choosing between Blueseventy Helix and Tyr Hurricane Wetsuit Category 5. I swam in helix and absolutely loved shoulders flexibility and hated reverse zipper! I wonder how flexible is Cat 5 compare to Helix? Is it about the same? Worse? Better? Also description for Cat 5 says “SPECIAL SIZING NOTE: This product size small. We recommend to order 1-2 size bigger.” I am tall and skinny (5’9 and 128), what do you think Cat 5 will be a good fit for me? If it runs small I, probably, need to order XL, which sounds crazy
Thanks!
As I always ask, why limit yourself to those 2 brands?
not to hijack here, (but i guess that’s what i’m doing here… sorry op. m(…)m
BUT, has anyone experienced the said “getting accidental unzip” in a race situation?
i have an old 2XU and am wishing for a new ones, but never experienced the accident nor witnessed one. i can understand how it could easily happen though.
Well, the main factor for me is a flexible shoulders. I read reviews on different wetsuits and those 2 seems to be the best in my price range. But if somebody can recommend other brands/models that meet this criteria I will be very thankful I was considering also Huub Aura, but some people complains about break-away zipper in their reviews. And I don’t like the design
I use the Cat5 and love it. lots of room in the shoulders. fits pretty snug. I am 5’7 155lbs and went with a medium. I got a great deal on it, brand new and didnt look back. for some reason when i swim with that wetsuit it feels like your legs are way up in the air, very buoyant. I have never used a helix so i cant compare. my first wetsuit was a 2xu lower end wetsuit then upgraded and it has been great. hope that helps
I am obsessed with my Helix and highly recommend it. My favorite things about it are the fit, shoulder mobility, and actually, the reverse zip. I never have to worry about having someone else zip me. You can actually zip it up yourself as long as you are flexible in the shoulders. Plus, as someone already mentioned, you don’t have to worry about someone else hooking it during the swim.
I have to say, I have heard nothing but good things about the Hurricane as well and either way you are getting a top end suit.
I wonder if that’s a new sizing note for the Cat 5, because I don’t remember knowing that it ran super small when I bought mine. Wish I would have known that.
I would go with the Helix. I have a Cat 5 and it is so tight I almost can’t wear it (size small). I have a Blue Seventy Reaction that fits much better. The Cat 5 is also pretty fragile. Tons of fingernail nicks from just wearing it a few times.
Thanks everyone for your input. I’ve decided to buy BS helix.
Good choice I love mine. Don’t let the zipper concern you. Once you get it zipped up it becomes a non issue.
Seems as though I may be a little bit late here.
But I’ll throw it out there anyway…
The Aqua Sphere Phantom offers extreme flexibility in the shoulders and uses what we call BioStretch Zones to allow for an extended range of motion.
Like the Helix, the Phantom is one of the only suits on the market to use 1mm neoprene in the sleeves.
At the same price point, the Phantom also offers a patent pending technology in the Core Power System. This is a velcro system built in to the suit to support your core muscles through out your swim.
The Phantom also uses a reverse zipper for ease of exit of the suit.
I’d be happy to help you find a suit if it’s not too late…
jake
Is the Helix too much suit for a new/beginner swimmer?
Hi there, I work for blueseventy and a lot of the praise here for the Helix is humbling! It has been a terrific suit and received high praise for many years. A few words on the reverse zipper - First, yes, you can acquire the skill to zip it yourself with flexibility and practice. But asking someone to help isn’t bad either- that usually eliminates the tugging/stress on the zipper/suit that is inflicted when we zip a suit up by ourselves (both regular and reverse zips). Second, having the base of the zip at the neck creates a nice secure collar position. This results in lower instances of the chaffing from the collar sliding around and also reduces the need for the wetsuit’s collar opening to be closed by the velcro tab alone. Finally, you can’t have it unexpectedly tugged open and most athletes remark they can get out of the suit faster than any with a standard design zipper.
Enjoy your Helix and let us know how it goes!
Ryan
Is the Helix too much suit for a new/beginner swimmer?
Hope not. I just bought one.
And quite frankly - ability has nothing to do with what we should buy. the ability to afford the wet-suit, bike, etc. determines what you should buy.