I am 6 foot, 165 lbs. 38" chest, 32" waist. Long legs, short torso. According to the webpage it recommends a Small-Long. Does this sound right?
I am interested in the Vortex 3 Sleeveless. Does anyone have anything positive or negative to say about this suit?
I like my V3 Sleeveless, but be careful with your fingernails. It’s a very soft suit. If I were you, I would spend the extra little bit to get the full sleeve version. Also, I would contact them about sizing. It’s tough to recommend a size by Internet. The small suit seems like it wouldn’t fit your chest.
Any reason for the full over the sleeveless? I know a full will always be faster assuming fit is proper. I just assumed there would be an easier transition from swimming with and without the suit with the sleeveless.
How much more warmth can the full buy one?
When buying my first wetsuit over the internet I looked at all of the options & ultimately chose the brand where I fit right in the middle of the size chart. It happened to be an Xterra (it’s been 2 yrs and I can’t remember the model) & I’ve been happy with it - the sizing for me was right on.
My first and only wetsuit is a V3 full. I’m 6’4", 185, 32in inseam which I believe put me dead on a size on their chart. It is easy to put on and take off and bunches ever so slightly in the knees and elbows. I’ve always wondered if I should have sized down.
I just assumed there would be an easier transition
Not entirely true. I can get a full sleeve suit off in exactly the same time as the sleeveless (arms VERY easy, legs more difficult). Plus you get the front-end buoyancy. Plus you get warmth. How much warmth? I’m not sure, but I’d MUCH rather swim in the lake (here in NC) right now in a full suit vs my sleeveless. Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
The Xterra full sleeve suit is like $70 more. It’s faster. It’s warmer. I wish I’d have gone that route. That’s my opinion. 
Gotcha. I actually didn’t mean T1 transitions though. I meant more like would a full wetsuit stretch out my stroke more into catchup making it harder to transition into a faster turnover stroke without the suit.
I’ll look into both suits though.
I have both the full sleeve and sleeveless Vortex 3. Call Xterra and ask about sizing. I was between a small and small long (5’9", 152lbs) and ended up with a Small Long in both after talking with their rep.
Both are great suits, it all depends on your preference with sleeves.
I’ve actually been thinking about getting rid of my sleeveless. Our first kid is on the way so I’m trying to trim down my tri gear collection to make room for toys and diaper bags! If you are interested send me a PM. It only has about 300 meters of pool swimming in it so its basically brand new (bought it thinking I would use it for IMC, ended up going with the full).
My experience with the Xterra size charts have been really good. They usually fit true to what they are called out and many times you can fit in more then one size. I’m 6’3" and 180 and I fit will in a ML so yes you would probably be a SL. I would also go with the full wet suit. I first bought a sleeveless thinking it would be more comfortable but the truth is that it doesn’t take long to get used to one with sleeves and it doesn’t slow down your stroke. And it doesn’t seem like it but it is in fact much much warmer.
I’m 6’ and 200lbs. I think I sort of qualified for one size by weight and the other by height. I contacted them and got a recommendation to use their ‘Large’. It fits snug, but perhaps just the way it should.
I have sleeves. They don’t provide any transition penalty because I usually have it down to my waist before I’m even on solid ground. Don’t think there is any transition penalty at all.
If the sizing chart has you in between SL and ML. Given that the weight range for the Small is 100-165, and the weight range for Medium is 165-185, it just seems much more likely to me that you want the Medium Long.
But if you contact their customer service like I did, they can give you a very well-informed recommendation. Also know that they will readily exchange the wetsuit for you if you don’t like the size you get at first.
Good suggested on contacting them. I emailed all my stats and they suggested the Small-Long. Nice to know I can try it out for 30 days and return/exchange it for only shipping costs.
Now I just need to decide if a wetsuit is worth it.
I love it. I am 5-10 and 155 and small-tall fits great. It should fit you well too. I would say anyone over 170 lbs should go bigger, less than 145-150 smaller.
Ordered a Small-Long Sleeveless. I figure I’ll swim in it next week and see if there are leakage issues in the arms. If so, I might exchange for a full, but hoping the sleeveless works!
I am 6 foot, 165 lbs. 38" chest, 32" waist. Long legs, short torso. According to the webpage it recommends a Small-Long. Does this sound right?
I am interested in the Vortex 3 Sleeveless. Does anyone have anything positive or negative to say about this suit?
Sully–you’re my clone, to a T. 34" inseam by any chance?
I have a vortex2 - medium. Fit a little big at first but perfect now(or maybe I’ve gotten fatter…). I get very minimal water leaking to/from my suit, and plenty of flexibility (just read the ST articles on donning your wetsuit). Glad I got the med over the ST.
Daniel
34" indeed.
Did you go with the full or sleeveless? If I went with the full I’d probably choose the medium, but thought the small-long might be better for sleeveless since it would be tighter at the arm holes and less water may leak in.
I’ll get it some time next week and give it a try. Gotta love 30-day satisfaction guarantees!
I believe if you go by their size recommendations and it doesn’t fit they’ll exchange for free (don’t quote me on that, but they did when I ordered). I’m 6’1" and about 155 and have a M (I chose it over the SLO becauseI had rented a suit first and it was a M and fit well). It’s plenty snug on me, but I honestly think either would work.
Full suit! Not only for the extra buoyancy, but I’ve been racing all season long in 55-someodd degree water and need/want all the warmth I can get. Collegiate nationals (with the attending ST bellyaching from peeps not even there) was the warmest OWS I’ve done this year, or tied.
Make sure to soak the suit in a bucket the day before trying it so you actually have an idea of the flexibility. Mine felt better after the 3rd or 4th race/swim I did in it.
Good luck!
D
I’m similar to you as well: I’m 5’11, 165. 41" chest, 31" waist, 34" inseam. I went with the full sleeve suit in a Medium (Vortex 2) and it fits great.