Can somebody please direct me to a place where I can get the best deal on sleeveless wetsuit right now? Online or in store. I live in Houston area.
Cheers!
There used to be some on Ebay for around $99
You can also do a google search to rent one.
Or probably pick up a used one in good shape for $70 or so.
check DeSoto they often have sells at this time of the year.
Email Xterra ask for Brian Walters.
http://www.xterrawetsuits.com/contact.html
He took good care of me last year.
I got an off rental wetsuit for a $100. It was pretty much brand new. I’m sure you could get a John for way cheaper!
De Soto makes an entry-level bibjohn for $140- and you can get the sleeveless Speed Vest for $140. The great thing is that you can eventually upgrade and get a full top for colder weather and keep your sleeveless one for warmer days without getting a whole new wetsuit. Plus, you can choose different size top and bottom to fit better. I love my De Soto two-piece wetsuit. This is definitely the way to go. www.desotosport.com
x 2 on Ebay
and if you are under 160 pounds, the seller has two more options…
x3 ebay
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Hi,
How big are you? Height, weight and build?
What brands do you fit well?
All the brands fit differently, so a great deal on brand X is rubbish if you have a body for brand Y.
The DeSoto Mafia aside, there are some good, inexpensive suits from QR(2008 Ultrajohns deeply discounted by many online retailers),
Xterra and Synergy Sport are consumer direct and probably have deep discounts on 2008.
Some dealers have last year’s rental suits on sale (My shop, triumph multisport, has a handfull of B70 sleeveless reactions for $100…PM me).
Some rental shops are clearing out rentals as well.
Even if you are on the cheap, you owe it to yourself to get some he4lp on what brand(s) you fit best and some education on sizing and wearing, so that you do not needlessly suffer in an ill fitting, too large, too slow suit.
*
there are some good prices to be had on http://www.wetsuitsonsale.com/shop.html
I ordered my first wet suit there. I took the risk and didn’t try on the particular model, but just went by the sizing guide… worked out alright
I’ve gotten 3 suits from there (for me and family members). Great experience with them all.
I second the reccomendation for Brian Walters at XTerra
My sister picked up a brand new Vortex2 john for 99$. I bought a VectorProX2 john for 175$ a few months prior. Do you need it now? get on their mailing list, they’ll fire out huge specials a couple times a year.
I actually ordered the VectorProX2 john for 175, realized they sent me a vortex2, which at the time was i think 129$, since I emailed Brian Walters, he apologized, told me I could have the suit they sent me for 99$ instead, or I could send it back and get the one I ordered. He gave it to me for cheaper than it was being offered for because of the mistake
THe guy is a class act- If you email them with your height/weight/body type/measurements HE is the one that responds- the freaking president of the company, not some schlub in HR. they run that company right.
stra05
what did you think of the quality and buoyancy compared to other established brands?
I’ve swam in ProMotion (www.wetsuit.com) suits for the last 3 years. It was my first (sleeveless) and I acquired one of their fulls as well. Happy with both. Great suit for the money, and good customer service.
I haven’t swam in other suits. My only experience with wetsuits have been scuba diving or wakeboarding.
The quality seemed pretty good. Wouldn’t put it at high end, but it was up there. First time I dove into the lake with it, I laughed b/c I wasn’t sinking. It kept me very warm in sub 60 water, hasn’t show much wear in the few uses I’ve had (2 races and 3+ days in the river) and I feel it’s fairly balanced with the buoyancy.
I found a great one one here for $100 (fullsleeve)
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I bought my first wetsuit, an Aquasphere XT, online for $200. My second one, I got at the end of season sale at a local Tri store. Before you buy anything online, at least go into a store and find out what suit fits you best and in what size. For instance, 2XU - doesn’t fit me at all, and Zoot is too tight in my arms. Orca - fits me just great, although a smidgen tight on the neck, but not significantly so. On top of that, the sizes are usually way off from the literature, as I usually wear a size or two bigger than what the lit says I should wear. Then look online for it. Or buy it on sale at the local Tri shop like I did for a few extra shekels.
You’ve got some good posts. But the word buget is the catch.
My take:
Fit is the most important.
Yes, price but be careful here. If you don’t have good customer support what was a budget WS could become $$$$. On this do a search.
Happy swimming:)
Check out ProMotion Wetsuits. They have been around for 25 years. Very reasonable prices for their suits
I have bought 2 suits from them and was quite happy with them
Honestly, the best wetsuit for my $$ is zoot zenith closeouts on ebay. There is one guy on there who gives awesome deals. I’m not going to plug him but you should do a search.
I didn’t fuss and carryon about trying on wetsuits. I read that the fit changes in the water anyway. I looked at sizing charts, talked to people at the company (my size is wildly difficult to fit) and made my purchase based on that information. It worked out perfectly and I don’t see why others can’t do the same thing.
I should add that I am a good swimmer and swimming in my zoot makes me feel like I’m paddling a canoe with my hands because I sit so high in the water. But I think my swimming background might make me a lot more forgiving of any minor fit issues. Having not had any problems with fit I am not sure what all the fit hype is about?
I know tribuys.com was having a 2008 wetsuit blowout sale. Check the website or call.