Folks,
So a while back I said I would post my thoughts about several of the suits out there. A few of you responded that you were interested, so… here’s the post.
I’ve been able (lucky enough) to try the following in an endless pool…
Orca - Apex2 / 3.8 / Sonar
Blue70 - Helix / Reaction / Energie
2XU - C1 / C2 / Elite
I have no tried the Zenith yet… but thoughts are as follows.
The primary consideration should be size, the secondary should be distance of races, or at least which are you’re goal races.
All of the companies have VERY different sizing scales, and these will be a big part of deciding on which suit would fit you best. It seems some companies cut their suits to a particular body type, and if you are not one… well try another. Again, these are what I thought of the suits, and I am by no means a swimmer. I am good biker and my running has come along a lot in the last year. I’m 22, 6ft. and 153 lbs. Tall skinny kid, with no upper body.
The first suit I tried was the Intro and medium price range suits. C2 / C1 / Sonar / Reaction / Energie… For what it’s worth these suits were all very similar, and if i were to have to choose one company over another, I’d go to their higher tier suits to see particular cuts and sizing, then if the price is too high… go with the company lower end suit which fits the best. As far as materials are concerned… yes, I’m sure ever company will claim to use the best out there, but movement it decent, and the sizing cut will make more of an impact. I’d personally either go low end or high end… i didn’t feel enough of a difference in the mid level suits to justify the price. However the C1 was the most similar of the group to its higher end Elite than the others to their respective superiors.
Now for the good stuff.
The first 2 suits on the top tier were the Apex2 and 3.8. WOW! There is a hell of a difference in these as compared to all the other mid range suits. The necks felt non restrictive and almost comfortable, the motion was amazing, and they felt like a suit should… tight! but not restrictive in any way. If you were to purchase either of them, you should ask ourself which races you want to do. Some people will see the 25 dollar difference as pennies, but at 22, 50 buck is Gas… a lot of gas. The fit of both suits was identical, and as for the orange panels on the sides… well, if they do “breathe” that’s great… i don’t care. However the 3.8 had a noticeable amount of buoyancy improvement over the Apex2. I’d reason this to the extension of the Aerolite paneling which goes the full length on the 3.8. The suit levels you off a lot, and you really do just float. If you are a long distance racer, this may be really nice, and if you keep your body un-level in the water (legs downward) you will appreciate the extra float.
Next was the Blue 70 Helix. Tight! But really good! This suit was a bit tougher to get on, BUT! The motion in the arms was very much so unique to the suit. The legs were a tighter cut, but the arms felt really great, and i can see why so many swimmers love this suit. A bit less buoyant, but a bit more flexible in the arms, than either of the orcas. So there was the difference in the 2. A bit more float in the 3.8 but a bit more motion in the Helix. Also the helix had this natural feeling of pushing your arms up. Much more than the orca.
As for the 2XU, It felt great… jut like a high end suit should, but it didn’t have anything t really catch my attention like the other 2.
So which did I get? The Helix… yup. WHY IS THE IMPORTANT PART!
I did like the 3.8 very much and the buoyancy was something i really wanted! but…
On the sizing chart I fall right smack into the B70 SMT size…making the B70 fit like a second skin, in Orca I was on the cusp of 2 sizes. If you are wider in the shoulders (swimmers / broad guys) I think the Orca will be a better fit, and if you are a female with a larger chest try the Orcas as well. If you are built average, or smaller in the shoulders… the B70 may fit better. Again these are just so far what i’ve seen, but FIT is going to be the big one. A certain company may make a size just for you… if you that suit will fit better than all the suits in the world which are gold plated and filled with magic floating neoprene.
Hope this helps some folks…
and remember… fit by weight first!