I’m in the market for a new (entry level) wetsuit. My old one is too large and causes bad chafing on my neck.
Are some brands/designs more prone to chafing than others?
I often fall between S and M (typically too tall for S, and to thin for M: 178 cm, 68-70 kg). As a general rule, should one go for the bigger or the smaller size?
(According to the charts, a QR Ultrafull shoud fit me, but only when I’m at my thinnest. Zoot and Sailfish seem to be the only manufacturers where I fall safely within a category.)
That’s a tough one b/c in my experience (buying a new wetsuit this year) each manufacturer is a little different in sizing. I have a problem b/c I am too tall for my weight. In other words my height and weight never seem to match the sizing charts.
For example, in DeSoto, according to the sizing charts, I should be closer to a size 5 than a size 4. However, size 5 is huge on me and 4 fits absolutely perfectly.
In 2XU, I am a Large in height, but a Medium in weight, so a Medium-Long works for me.
In QR, same thing, but, QR sizing charts run big, so a Medium-Long works for me.
I went through a ton of trial and error. So, you have two choices:
Find a local store with a wide variety of types and sizes and try them on (hopefully in the water - Endless Pool, etc.).
Get a credit card with a high limit, buy a number of suits from Trisports.com, test them in a pool, return the ones you do not want within 30 days.
I did option 2. Trisports’ return policy is fantastic – 30 days to test and return.
JMO, but I’m of the belief that neck chafing is more a result of improper rotation. Meaning you’ll get more chafing if you rotate your head utilizing the neck rather than rotating the entire body to breath. There are better suits out there which decrease chafing but if you concentrate on proper rotation you shouldn’t have to worry about it. This may be incorrect but it works for me.
You might be correct - but 90% of swimmers have neck chafing problems. The 10% without these problems are using DeSoto suit, the design with no opening/zipper at the neck eliminates the problem.
If you contact Desoto, you will get good advise about which size to choose. (Last time I ordered he wouldn’t ship before I didn’t send my personal measures.) With the possibility to have different top and bib, the desoto suit will fit most people.
Uh, I don’t have any problems and I don’t use a DeSoto. That must have been a pretty rigorous experimental design you had going there. Let me guess n=1? I happen to use a 2XU. Result no chafing.