So I’m currently racing in a 2009 Reaction, which has served me well but I think I have shrunken out of it somewhat (it’s a size M, and the B70 size charts tell me I would be SmT, but of course those may not always be accurate). In any case, I wander into my local tri store to discuss ordering a Helix and whether it would be worth it to wait for the 2011 for next season or get a 2010 now and the owner tells me “Oh, I actually have a 2009 SmT in the back that someone ordered last year but refused to buy I can let you have for, oh, $350.”. So I try it on and OH MY GOD it is tight. I do manage to get it on, but it takes a good while longer than my Reaction. It doesn’t feel bad once it’s on, but taking it off was also slow, and I’m worried about how long it would take me to get off in transition. This, mind you, was with no Bodyglide. I have a few questions for the more experienced STers, preferably those familiar with the Helix:
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Is $350 a good price for a new 2009 example? I assume it is, and can certainly afford it (I was planning $640 for a new one soon or next year anyway).
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Does the size sound right? My Reaction used to take a while to get on, but I’ve dropped 10-15lbs since then and gained a bunch of muscle, so I don’t know if it’s too large, or if I stretched it out a little when I was bigger.
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If the size is right, will it get quicker to remove with some practice or breaking-in?
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Is there anything in the 2010, or likely to be in the 2011, to make it worthwhile spending several hundred more to get? All the website talks about is the “paper-thin laminated strips” on the arms to supposedly help your elbows stay up better. I do prefer the new colors, but not enough to justify the price, and while my form isn’t great, I swim with the local Masters six days a week, so it’s improving.
Thanks! This is a full sleeve, by the way. I’ve been coveting one all year, and would love to have my concerns put to rest so I can go snatch it Monday and get to race in it on Thursday if it sounds good. I’d hate to grab it and have it not fit, but I fear a medium would be too big and no good.
1)$350 for that wetsuit is not too shabby, especially a new one, and I can’t say that the new Helix is worth $300 more than last year.
2)I also have the '09 Helix. I’m 6’0" and 145 which puts me pretty square in the SMT, but I could only get the medium, and it fits me fine.
3)The Helix uses a different type of zipper to make getting out of the suit easier. The suit zips from the top down, which can be a pain putting on yourself, but when you get out of the water, a quick pull up undoes the zipper and pops the suit open. It is much easier to get out of than to get in to.
4)The new Helix is not that much better, and definitely not $300 better.
1)$350 for that wetsuit is not too shabby, especially a new one, and I can’t say that the new Helix is worth $300 more than last year.
Thanks; I thought so.
2)I also have the '09 Helix. I’m 6’0" and 145 which puts me pretty square in the SMT, but I could only get the medium, and it fits me fine.
This is the part that concerns me now - you’d be falling off the bottom of their SMT size according to the chart (5’6"-6’0", 150-172lbs). I, on the other hand, am 5’11" 159lbs, and if you’re wearing an M it makes me think I should too.
3)The Helix uses a different type of zipper to make getting out of the suit easier. The suit zips from the top down, which can be a pain putting on yourself, but when you get out of the water, a quick pull up undoes the zipper and pops the suit open. It is much easier to get out of than to get in to.
I wasn’t clear; the zipper was annoying, but the problem getting the suit both on and off was the cuffs. The zipper speed is a non-issue for me, since I always have my Reaction off to the waist by the time I hit my transition area. I just don’t want to be struggling with the arms while everyone else is already dashing for the run start (I do aquathlons). If I could get the Helix off as easily as the Reaction, that would bury my concerns there, but I was wondering if the cuffs would come off faster with practice or use. Any idea? I’m leaning toward M now anyway.
4)The new Helix is not that much better, and definitely not $300 better.
Thanks for confirming that.
yes the 2009 Helix is good and that isn’t a shabby price for it either.
http://accelerate3.wordpress.com/2009/03/16/wetsuit-test-results/
So to tie this up, I bit the bullet and bought it yesterday. I spent all night ruminating about if it was the right choice, since I couldn’t get it zipped myself. Tonight we had our local aquathlon series and I had a very cute girl from the swim team zip me up (which didn’t exactly hurt my opinion of the suit), and holy crap I loved it. The neck felt a little constricting at first, but by the time I was in the water and swimming it felt great. I had trouble getting my left foot out, so my transition time sucked and I figured it would be about a wash overall, but when I took off on the run and glanced at the clock I was, well, substantially ahead of where I ever was with the reaction. I’m jumping out of my skin waiting for the official results to be posted, but I love this wetsuit! I wish I’d bought it at the beginning of the season.