I’m looking to get a new wetsuit, not the top of the line, but the next step down, I am 6’3 and weigh about 170-173. Im thinking of a blue seventy Energie or an Orca Sonar?, or even a Desoto. Looking for advice from tall skinny people. or anybody in the know. Thanks!!!
-adam
The thing about the DeSoto is that it will fit just about anyone, any build.
Try to find a shop that carries a variety of brands. Try them on. Swim in them if you can. I’m 5’9" and 140. I wear XS in most wetsuits and the best fits for me have been Xterra, 2XU, and Aquaman.
Well I’d seriously look at the nineteen. I bought one the day before IMC after an in water demo the day before & loved it.This is my 4th in my wetsuit since 1993. I’ve had a QR early on, the a Xterra Vortex & now this one. Best LS upper body fit of all. I still have a sleeveless Ironman one I won for the few warm h20 swims I do. I really liked the arm felxibility & ability to roll which is something I’vd been working on anyway to increase efficiency & reduce energy usage since my leg was injuried & I wanted to try to save anything & everythig for the run. I am quite pleased with it. Fit well. went on easily no h20 intake etc. I am already looking forward to using it next season.
Barb
http://www.nineteenwetsuits.com/
http://www.slowtwitch.com/mainheadings/product2007/wetsuits/wetsuitsnineteen.html
Just got one last weekend. I tried QR, Blue Seventy, and Zoot on at the Chicago Expo. It was nice to have all the heavy hitters there to try them all one, QR and Blue Seventy didn’t fit me well as to get the chest shoulders to feel right it would have been too big in the middle. The Zoot ended up being the best of the 3 in fit so that’s what I went with.
I spent more then I wanted to but it was a good fit, great suit, and pretty good price with the Chicago Expo discount and a little dealing from my end, which I typically suck at.
I’m pleased with my Promotion Wetsuit.
If you are going to go with a lower priced suit (as I think you are), I think you’d be happier (relatively) with the Black Pearl as compared with those other suits. At the higher end, the T1 is not much more flexible than say the QR Superfull, Aquaman MetalCell, XTerra, or BlueSeventy Helix. I still prefer it to those suits, but I think there is more parity. At the lower end, where virtually all the suits are using #38 rubber which is heavier and less pliable, I think you’ll notice more a difference with the two-piece design. Fundamentally, the design of the two-piece is less dependent on the quality of the rubber. It’s also less dependent on fit, which is why people say DeSoto suits fit everyone. Again, fit and flexibility are both going to be much improved in a high-end suit from any maker. But, if you are on a budget, I think the DeSoto is your best bet. But try on a bunch of suits. You’ll have more confidence in your decision if you test them out.
adam,
wanted to give you some info on 2XU wetsuits.
Our comp1 suit sells for $389 and is very similar to our high end $499 suit. the back panel is a non SCS coated, but this is the least important part of the suit. the rest of the suit is the same, and its a very high end suit for the money.
Little secret as well is that since we sold out of our comp2 wetsuit, we have offered some dealers (trisports.com) our comp1 at a discount, and they may be selling them for $299!
so, the relevant part is that i am 6’2 and 174. i wear the MT and it fits like a glove.
I worked at a retail store for 7 years and have worn every wetsuit out there.
you just have to be sure and get the crotch ALL the way up in the inseam prior to pulling the top half on. also, make sure the arms are pulled up to give plenty of room in the shoulders prior to zipping it up.
Hope this helps a bit.
let me know if i can help further
chris
www.2XU.com
you just have to be sure and get the crotch ALL the way up in the inseam prior to pulling the top half on. also, make sure the arms are pulled up to give plenty of room in the shoulders prior to zipping it up.
Just want to echo what Chris said. Said another way, it’s crtical how the wetsuit is fitted to you before you use it. Again, I was at IMC over the weekend and at the morning swims, I can’t tell you how many people I helped get their wetsuits on ( Nineteen’s and all the other brands) and when they had the suit fitted properly, it totally changed the way the suit worked for them - in a positive way.
The three pillars of getting the most out of your wetsuit are:
Right brand
Right size
Being properly fitted prior to use
If you optimize all three - it should feel like swimming with no wetsuit, only faster!! 
Hope this helps.