Wet suit purchase advice
Tue, 22/04/2008 - 8:56am
Wet suit purchase advice
Open water swimming is about to start so I need to buy a wet suit. Only one problem - I'm clueless!! (specifically about what wet suit to buy - I literally know nothing about wet suits).
What kind will suit me (no pun intended) - I'm a strong swimmer?
Where can you buy them (I take it you should get them fitted in a shop)?
Where is cheap to buy them?
What brands should I try to get and which to avoid?
Any help with these questions will be appreciated......
You'll want to get a proper tri wetsuit as opposed to a surf one, they have the rubber on the outside and are much easier to swim in.
The cheap ones tend to be a bit thicker which gives good for bouyancy - useful for average swimmers. A good swimmer like you will probably be slowed by any wetsuit though, so you have something to gain from the more expensive ones which have thinner neoprene round the shoulders, and will slow you less, as well as a hundred marketing gimmicks.
TriUK have an endless pool where you can try them out, it's a long way to go but you could pick one up before HIMUK, iIt doesn't take long to adapt. A certain member of the club tried his wetsuit for the first time just 2 days before IMUK 2005! You get a discount at TriUK, too. You might try getting a 2007 model, they don't change much. Also have a word with Rotary, TriUK gave me mine in return for raising an extra grand.
My Ironman (now BlueSeventy) Stealth has done me proud for 3 years now - I think the Helix is the replacement. But you'll probably be fine with anything from BlueSeventy, Orca, AquaSphere, XTerra, somone else probably knows about these.
Hello James,
You can order online and send back if a suit does not fit you. Fit2Run at Wootton Road Abingdon have some Orca suits in and are due some of the 2XU range as well. 2XU are a relatively new brand that is gettting very positive reviews.
I have been talking to the owner of the store and we are trying to arrange (yet to be confirmed by the committee) for 2XU to come to one of the open water swims in May and bring some suits which people can try on before they buy.
Hope this helps,
Phil
Hi All
Sorry for joining this conversation a bit late (just back from Club La Santa!) but felt I have to comment on the wetsuit issue. Off the peg wetsuits are fine if you are an average size - unfortunately those who know me will appreciate that I am far from average (nicknames of Shorty, Stumps, Titch etc paint the picutre)!!
I got my wetsuit from Snugg and cannot speak highly enough of their suits and their service. I know that you will pay a bit more for their made to measure suits but they WILL fit you. They are also made for your particular buoyancy levels (you men tend to need more bouyancy in the legs than us girlies for example) and the suits can be adjusted at any time if you lose or put on weight. As with most manufacturers there are different suits available to suit most budgets and usage.
There were several Snugg wetsuits on show at La Santa and the only negative comment was from one girl who wished she had asked for blue panels (like my suit) in her suit!
Hope you get a suit that you like James, I will be taking mine to the open water sessions but probably not until it's warmed up a bit!!
Sarah