Some valid points raised in the article. why hasn’t anyone else sold a two peice. I own a T1 and I think the benefits are worth it. It fits well, it’s easy to take off, and it has a low neck line. I’ve worn Orca and Ironman, the Orca fit was good, I hated the Ironman.
Also, why the zipper on the DeSoto now? I imagine he gave in to complaints, but I have never had any problem pulling the zipperless top off.
but I have never had any problem pulling the zipperless top off.
I have. I got a T1 when they first came out and have both the sleeveless and long sleeve. Long story short: the sleeveless was near impossible to get off. The long sleeve was difficult at times. I’ve lost time in races struggling to get the top off. Desoto put zippers in both for a small fee and they work great. I really love the T1
I guess what I should have said was, why not both? I know some people have problems with it, but I like the no zipper.
I am in hunt for a new wetsuit at the moment - totally bought into the 2 piece concept and as such rented a de soto and I just couldn’t get the correct fit - the top seemed to ride up on me - continually had to pull it down on the hips - major neck hickies (i wish:)) - and felt the shoulders were hindered severly - tried an zoot and seemed way better - planning on trying an xterra as well - won’t be dropping the cash unless I can swim comfortable in one. I have been swimming a fair while in life plus been in a wetsuit for around 6 yrs
I thought they did make them in both. I must be wrong. At any rate, there is no extra time or energy involved in having the zipper. It’s much easier for me to get off. Which brings up the question why some people have problems getting the tops off and some don’t. Flexibility? Back too wide for top? Who knows…
I just couldn’t get the correct fit - the top seemed to ride up on me - continually had to pull it down on the hips - major neck hickies (i wish:)) - and felt the shoulders were hindered severly
That’s odd, in that the whole idea behind the 2 piece is that it should eliminate those problems. Oh well, as they say, what works for one may not work for another.
I was thinking of upgrading to the new suit and didn’t see a non zipper version on the website.
Unless one has shoulder issues, I don’t see what the big deal is about no zipper, just like a tee shirt, tuck your elbow into the bottom and flip it over your head.
On another note in the article… I have worn an Ironman Stealth for about 4 years and have often suspected that the textured forearm panels in my suit were of no value. Now I’m concerned that they are actually slower than a non textured version. Time for a new suit?
my long winded point was like bike fit, saddles and most other things - do your homework as fit is everything…
do your homework as fit is everything…
It is.
I don’t see ribs on the forearms of those speedo fastskins, do you?
your wetsuit with the forearm panels may be slower, or it may not, than a wetsuit without the panels, but it is still faster than no wetsuit at all.
I have swam in an IM wetsuit, Xterra and a QR (non panels) this year. The panels on the IM actually felt like I was pulling a ton of water compared to the Xterra’s panels. *edit: I have no qualitiative data only subjective data regarding the panels. *I can’t compare to the QR though. Previously I was only swimming 4k per week, but since I’ve had the QR I’ve been swimming at least 10k per week.
The shoulder area in the QR is the most flexible and offers the least inhibition of my stroke of all the wetsuits that I swam in this year.
I really like the article on ST on wetsuits. For all of the DeSoto wetsuits are the legs both 5MM on both T-1 suits? This was a very interesting part of the article. I know when I swim my legs do sink without a wetsuit on. Also, it seems that almost all full wetsuits do feel restrictive in the upper body, at least for me, which make my swim feel really uncomfortable. The range of motion is key. Any info on the T-1 suits legs, both 5mm?
Never swam in a T1. This year only QR, Xterra and Ironman. The QR is the least restrictive suit I’ve ever worn or tired on, no shoulder restriction what so ever for me. Sorry I can’t be more help.
I thought ironman did have a two piece about three or four years ago, I can remeber Cam Brown and Bryan Rhodes using it at Ironman NZ.
I heard Ironman dropped it because the stealth proved to be faster in testing.
You never seem to hear about the ironman two piece now, anyone know what the story behind it was?
“Any info on the T-1 suits legs, both 5mm?”
T1 has 5mm legs all the way to the ankle
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You can’t make ribs on fastskin, because it has no thickness, unlike neoprene. However, from SpeedoUSA.com, “Flexskin panel on inner forearm has a titanium silicon scale that neutralizes the drag.” Those are the FSII version of the “ribs” you see on wetsuits.
right, but that’s different than saying that forearms “grab” the water, making it a more powerful pull.
FINA may prevent the addition of such a feature on suits.
And I’ve never seen any real “evidence” that those ribs or rough panels really do anything anyway…
Was hoping the article would be more conclusive with testing and data; however, I would agree that responsibility belongs to the manufacturers to test and releast performance data.
I have done my own informal testing and came to the following, unscentific, conclusions:
Using T1 top and bottom, I was able to consistently knock 10 second off each 100 repeat in a pool over swimming without a wetsuit.
Using T1 bottoms only, I was able to consistently knock 9 seconds off each 100 repeat in a pool over swimming without a wetsuit.
(Putting the suit on while wet was a pain in the bunghole.)
A peer of mine performed the same test w/ the same results of only a single second slower when not using the T1 top and only using the T1 bottoms. (note that he is an excellent swimmer and only has marginal gains when wearing a wetsuit. Any wetsuit.)
But, the results were conclusive. Using only the T1 bottoms yielded a 9 second per 100 yard performance improvement.
Since water temps in Florida and Georgia (area where I live and race) rarely go below 70 degrees, I pretty much only use the T1 bottoms for racing. And since its hot as hell here for most of the year, I never overheat when wearing just the bottoms.
Brian