I’m completely new to tri and am still a ridiculously bad swimmer (but working at it…). So the Blue Seventy Reaction wetsuit that I own and am using is certainly not going to be limiting my performance any time soon, but it did raise a question in my mind. What is it that you’re buying with a more expensive suit, like Blue Seventy’s Helix, and are these advantages/features noticeable?
Coming from a cycling background I kinda know what you’re paying for with the high end stuff-- a little more aero here, lighter there, the FTP-raising placebo effect of having badass components on your bike, etc. But I’d be curious to know from the hard-core swimmers if you think the features of the highest-end wetsuits justify the cost.
Low vs. high-end wetsuits… what is it that you’re paying for?
I can’t speak for my counter-parts at other manufactuerers, but with our range of suits the increase in costs mostly comes from an increase in the materials as well as the work to put the suit together. The rubber used on our best wetsuits is more expensive( and much better - lighter, more flexible, more buoyant, slicker) and there are more panels and seams, so the cost to put that suit together is higher.
I could go into much more detail, but generally speaking, that is the reason.
From a non-industry point of view I can echo what Fleck said.
I went from a low end entry level wetsuit from a major mfg to an upper end from a different mfg. The upper end wetsuit had much, much more flexible material, especially in the shoulders/arms. Also, like Fleck said, the upper end wetsuit had many more panels/pieces and fits better.
The entry level suit was fine. It was well built, lasted and fit ok. But it did tire my shoulders out. The upper end like I said is much more flexible and does not fatigue my shoulders at all. The only drawback is I noticed I had to be more careful with the upper end suit as the more flexible material is thinner in places.
I’m completely new to tri and am still a ridiculously bad swimmer (but working at it…). So the Blue Seventy Reaction wetsuit that I own and am using is certainly not going to be limiting my performance any time soon, but it did raise a question in my mind. What is it that you’re buying with a more expensive suit, like Blue Seventy’s Helix, and are these advantages/features noticeable?
Coming from a cycling background I kinda know what you’re paying for with the high end stuff-- a little more aero here, lighter there, the FTP-raising placebo effect of having badass components on your bike, etc. But I’d be curious to know from the hard-core swimmers if you think the features of the highest-end wetsuits justify the cost.
Thanks for enduring the noob question.
I think I can speak to this fairly well as someone who started off racing in the Reaction and is now using the Helix. Both suits are excellent and the Reaction was the perfect suit for me in the beginning. However, I have found that swimming in the Helix does make a big difference. As others have stated, the quality of material, the way it is put together, etc is all superior to the less expensive model I once used. Having said that, I am glad I started out in the Reaction because anything more would have almost been “too much wetsuit” for me. As my skills improved then upgrading my suit was the only logical move.
I would suggest staying with the Reaction for now and as you improve then consider an upgrade. There is no magical time you need to swim to “earn the right” to wear a more expensive suit. You will just know when the time to upgrade is right! Give the Reaction a couple of seasons and then see how you feel!!
Have you (or anyone else) ever done a comparison across wetsuit ranges for any company? Maybe something similar to DesertDude’s review where you did 4x400s on the same course at the same rate of percieved exertion in different levels of wetsuits… not just different company’s wetsuits. It would be interesting to see how much time is saved from the lowest end to the highest end wetsuit.
Better, more flexible, more buoyant rubber, a better (low drag) SCS coating where as many low/bottom end suits are not coated, less restriction, better feeling when wearing, better patterns/cuts/designs.
I’d almost always look at only the top 2 suits in a line and evaluate each independently of each other. In the past, there was one company who’s 2nd line suit was faster then the top line suit.
Signature line bias aside (since Xterra sponsors me), what I have found…
Given that a manufacturer has a low, middle, and high end wetsuit range
The ‘best’ value in suits seems to be found in the middle range of wetsuits. In the past, I have liked and swam better in Zoot’s 2nd in line wetsuit (as an example). I have an older Xterra wetsuit that is now their 2nd in line. The arm/shoulder patterning/paneling is the same. The neoprene on the body is not quite as flexible or bouyant, but it is more durable. The two swim very similar, and I suspect that the top of the line (for me) is faster. Desert Dude used their 2nd suit in his testing, and it outswam most of the top of the line suits from the other manufacturer’s (for him).
The price jump to from the middle to high end suit generally seems to be quite a bit steeper than the price jump from the low to middle jump. So, another vote for the middle of the line suit.
If you are a ‘hard-core’ swimmer or FOP athlete, then I certainly think that it is best to get the best wetsuit that you can afford. Wetsuits provide ‘hard-core’ swimmers less of an advantage than they do for the lesser-fishes, so getting the most out of your wetsuit is key. In other words, a ‘lesser’ swimmer ‘may’ not notice any difference between a middle/high end suit, but a more ‘hard-core’ swimmer will likely be able to tell a little bit of a difference.
Steve, a question for you and the others in the industry: Why don’t you clearly write which rubber you are using in your different suits?
Bjorn,
We actually do this. Every one of our dealers should have in their store a Nineteen Stretch This kit. It has a small swatch of neoprene from each of our Pipeline, Tsunami and Frequency models. That way customers can actually feel the stretch and feel of the rubber in their own hands. There is also a detailed description of each of the three different types of rubber that we use in each wetsuit model as well as a size chart. It is our hope that our retailers will hang this up in a prominent place in their wetsuit sales areas.
To put it in cycling terms (which I am new to), can you tell the differnce from 105 to Dura Ace? I can now, after 3 years of riding 105 and then getting Dura Ace. The more you are in tune to your body and its performance with a certain item, the easier it is to judge.
I come from a swimming background. In two minutes of swimming, I could tell the difference from the Rocket Science Elite to the Rocket (I think it used to be called the XP). And the difference between a full arm and sleeveless was evident after about 20 seconds.
I will say, buy what you can afford. But if you are not a strong swimmer, you money is better spend on a pool membership.
Is there any noticable speed difference b/t a low-end and high-end wetsuit? Let’s say a person can swim 1:40/100M comfortably w/o a wetsuiit, and 1:30/100M with a low-end wetsuit. How much faster will the high-end suit get him? Another second or two?
Thinking of terms of time saved / dollar, I’d venture to guess a low-end suit has a better ROI. It probably gets closer as the race gets longer (low-end suit = less flexible neoprene = more fatigue) but I can’t see a scenario where a $400 wetsuit will ever provide twice as much time savings than a $200 wetsuit. My big assumption here is both suits fit well.
That being said, I think a wetsuit is probably one of the best time savers (i.e. investment) for an oly for an MOP or BOP racer. Couple a low-end wetsuit with an aero helmet, which is still prob less than expensive wetsuit, and you get a lot of speed for your money.
I’m not in the market for a wetsuit…I just couldn’t justify spending $400+ for a high-end wetsuit that I wear 4-5x per year.
Agreed. An entry level wetsuit is typically more than good enough for novice swimmers. For people who are skilled swimmers, and want to maximize their potential in the water, the top-of-the-line suit is worth it.
I come from a swimming background, and decided to start off with a top level wetsuit, because I want to take full advantage of my strength areas. (of course I also got a great discount, which helped in the decision)
But the differences between the top- and bottom-end wetsuits are very minimal compared to the speed that can be gained through more practice in the pool (for newer swimmers at least)
That is about all you can do. There are so many variables with wetsuits and swimming - Everyone’s body is shaped a bit different. Everyone’s swim stroke is a bit different. Everyone’s body position in the water is a bit different. It’s really hard to control things and get some decent numbers - that’s why going for the best fitting wetsuit based on some specific fit criteria, is the best thing to do.
I do agree with you on your point that the longer you swim and the more you race and the more you use your suit the more that you will really appreciate a top-end wetsuit.
i made that exact switch (from a Reaction to a Helix). The difference in fit and “stretchability” of the rubber in key areas like the shoulders and the upper back is dramatic.
I’m in my third season in the Helix and it’s still in perfect shape so I easily expect to get five years out of the suit (15-20 uses per year between races and open water training). A worthwhile investment, IMHO.
i made that exact switch (from a Reaction to a Helix). The difference in fit and “stretchability” of the rubber in key areas like the shoulders and the upper back is dramatic.
I’m in my third season in the Helix and it’s still in perfect shape so I easily expect to get five years out of the suit (15-20 uses per year between races and open water training). A worthwhile investment, IMHO.
I’ll keep it in mind… For now, when I get a little money burning a hole in my pocket it’ll still go where I’m used to putting it–into my bike.
Here is an article from a triathlon swimming site that is an experiment testing the buoyancy of a blue seventy, fast skin, and regular swimsuit. I thought it was along the same line…
