Looking to upgrade from my Xtera Vortex 4. It seems to fit well except around the neck area where I get lots of water dragging in. Not a strong swimmer (39min 1.2mile) but im coming off my first year and want something nice that my abilities will grow into. I’m 5’6 135. Suggestions and opinions greatly appreciated.
Also I am not in an area where I can try on wetsuits.
I swim in Synergy Hybrid. 5’8" 145. I love it. Great customer service, great warranty (which I’ve had to use), and great exchange policy. Contact the directly. I didn’t try mine on beforehand. I let the dude at Synergy guide me into the right fit. I went with an S2. Very tough to get on the first few times (and tough solo because of the zipper) but definitely enjoy swimming in it and always look forward to my OWS.
Xterra. You get a 30-day window to try out the wetsuit. You can’t go wrong. The suits are great…reasonably priced too (if you can get the suit during one of the typical >50% off sales).
I’m almost the exact same size you are. I’m currently in a Quintana Roo Hydrofull, I believe size XS. Unfortunately, QR stopped making wetsuits in 2011, but it seems like they still might have some old stock sitting around here.
I would also suggest B70 in a small (I tried on a Reaction, but I think all models will fit about the same). They make quality wetsuits and I was able to get a good fit with that brand as well – I just chose the QR because I got a good deal on liquidation last year.
It might be a good idea to order a few different ones online from sites with decent return policies, so that way you can decide what works best for you. You will probably have to pay return shipping a few times over, but if you can find some good deals, it’s still cheaper than buying at full retail and you know that the one you choose will be the best fit for you.
It doesn’t matter, the swim will be canceled.
B70 Reaction. Am a similar size and swim ability to you and it’s great. Really helps put my body in a better position.
B70 is looking good. Read some great reviews online pretty much across their whole line. Hopefully i will never have to use it, since the swim will probably get cancelled.
Another vote for the Blue Seventy Reaction. I’m 5’6" and about 135 lbs and use the size small. I’ve had it 3 years and it’s still holding up strong. (must be some good luck attached to this suit because none of my tri swims have been cancelled yet… almost the second lap at IMLP though)
I’m slightly larger than you, so I’m not suggesting this based on size alone, but this year I started swimming in a Roka partly because I’m a huge fan of their 30-day trial period. Prior to that I had always swam in a QR and liked the thought of being able to swim in a suit without penalty. DeSoto does the same and receives rave reviews, too. Call and talk to both companies…they’ll help you find the perfect fit.
I was using a small vortex 3 and went to a medium HUB archemiedies
The HUB is just a little bit stretchier and a little shorter in the body than the V3
I’m 5"4’ and 140 lbs with a long body and short legs
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In case you don’t venture over to the classifieds much, there is a B70 Helix, size SM, for sale for $200. Here’s the link.
I’m leaning towards the XS. Most of my height is in my legs and I don’t want it loose around the neck and chest like my xterra. Thanks for the heads up though.
Another vote for the synergy hybrid. I’m 5’ 7", 145 and the size S2 works great for me. Only issue is that the legs were a little long when I got it, but that was easy to fix.
I’m 5’7 (172cm), 130lbs (62 kg or so)
I wear a 2XU R:2 XS.
make it easy… Contact Emilio at De Soto… then you can choose different size top and bottom to fit your torso…
make it easy… Contact Emilio at De Soto… then you can choose different size top and bottom to fit your torso…
That’s my solution also. I have a first wave med\sm top and a small bibjohn; fits like a glove