Looking at wetsuits, and wondered if anyone had experience with the De Soto Speedtube.
All my races are in warmer waters (if even wetsuit legal), so I’m looking at options that will give me the buoyancy benefit of a wetsuit while keeping body temperature from rising too much. Any thoughts?
I have one…love it…works great for warmer water swims without the top. I also use it at the pool when I am getting ready for an event.
basically, Mike x2. I use mine with an original T1 pullover for all racing and open water training, and even occasional pool time. very much prefer it to my bibjohn.
Carl
I use the speed tube bottoms, the thicker material in warmish water and for short swims over the Liftfoil suit. It’s a nice combo and the buoyancy saves me at least a couple of minutes. Better than the bibjohn alone because it doesn’t fill with water like the bibjohn can.
I use it for probably 85-90 percent of my races. It definitly helps with any overheating issues you may have.
I have a First Wave top and Speed Tube bottoms. I have had problems with buy bibshorts for the bike, and opted to get something I knew would fit without having to ship back and forth. I love them. I may eventually get a pair of the bibs.
I also comes off very easily. It does not go down to the ankle like a regular wetsuit would.
I overheat and am considering this in conjunction with a speedvest for warmer water races. Do you use the 2mm version or the 5mm version?
I overheat and am considering this in conjunction with a speedvest for warmer water races. Do you use the 2mm version or the 5mm version?
I have the 5mm.
I have the speedvest for this year that i’ll use with the bibjohn, if needbe. however, i normally decide to go with the speedtube if im inbetween based on water temp. Having no upper body restriction but the floatation of the wetsuit is great.
I use the original zipless T1 top with a speed tube 2 for all but the coldest of open water swims. I find the reduced buoyancy helps prevent my back from hyperextending and giving me pain when I exit the water. Excellent product, just like the majority of De Soto’s product range.
withouit the bibjohn, does much water creep up your torso? do you find the t1 top to be more free of shoulder stress losing the bibjohn?
In looking through the De Soto website it looks like the T1 top is only available in a zippered version, is there still a pull-over version made?
The pullover without a zipper isn’t made anymore.
No, and not significantly respectively. I have nver found any shoulder stress fro mthe bibjohn so there was none to lose. The shoulder stress usually comes from the restriction imposed on the stretch of the suit caused by the zip in a one piece. Two piece suits mean this doesn’t happen.
There hasn’t been a zippless top for 5 years or more. I was delighted when I found one on sale in Penticton in '05 and hence bought it there and then.
I love my Speedtube bottoms. For cool swims I go with First Wave top and ST bottoms(most of my swim). If it’s warmer I go with ST vest and bottoms. For vineman water temp 70+ I’m thinking of going with the bottoms only. They will help with buoyancy…I need all the help I can get.
PS: I rarely need my bibjohn bottoms:) but I will be going with them at Oside 70.3 next weekend.