Difference between swim suit brands

[Snytjie]

This weekend I did a long swim without a suit. It was the first time I swam any meaningful distance in open water without a suit. I was very surprised to not only achieve the time I would've expected suited up, but also to feel nothing worse than the previous week's swim which was actually 15% shorter. I thought a lot about fitment and suit fatigue, and starting looking for some info. I'm sure I put my suit on correctly. I also tried several suits on before buying my current one which is from a reputable brand. My current suit is getting pretty worn, so I'm wondering if an upgrade is on the cards.

 

Do any of you have any experiences/opinions about the differences between swimsuit models, e.g. between an Orca S5 and an Orca Alpha/Predator? I read all the sales jargon but I have a thorough distrust of such things. Did a 0.88mm shoulder panel in a higher model provide an advantage to you over the 1.5mm one of the entry level suit?

 

 

[beachless]

Some people like their models to look like this    

 

Is that why they call you beardedtriguy ?

[Rocket-Boy]

This weekend I did a long swim without a suit. It was the first time I swam any meaningful distance in open water without a suit. I was very surprised to not only achieve the time I would've expected suited up, but also to feel nothing worse than the previous week's swim which was actually 15% shorter. I thought a lot about fitment and suit fatigue, and starting looking for some info. I'm sure I put my suit on correctly. I also tried several suits on before buying my current one which is from a reputable brand. My current suit is getting pretty worn, so I'm wondering if an upgrade is on the cards.

 

Do any of you have any experiences/opinions about the differences between swimsuit models, e.g. between an Orca S5 and an Orca Alpha/Predator? I read all the sales jargon but I have a thorough distrust of such things. Did a 0.88mm shoulder panel in a higher model provide an advantage to you over the 1.5mm one of the entry level suit?

A swimming suit has both advantages and disadvantages. 

It will help with bouyancy which should lessen drag but there will always be shoulder fatigue from resistance.

Personally I swim in tri shorts when the water is warm enough, I prefer the freedom of movement, but Im also a strong swimmer with pretty good technique. 

[T.XTERRA]

This weekend I did a long swim without a suit. It was the first time I swam any meaningful distance in open water without a suit. I was very surprised to not only achieve the time I would've expected suited up, but also to feel nothing worse than the previous week's swim which was actually 15% shorter. I thought a lot about fitment and suit fatigue, and starting looking for some info. I'm sure I put my suit on correctly. I also tried several suits on before buying my current one which is from a reputable brand. My current suit is getting pretty worn, so I'm wondering if an upgrade is on the cards.

 

Do any of you have any experiences/opinions about the differences between swimsuit models, e.g. between an Orca S5 and an Orca Alpha/Predator? I read all the sales jargon but I have a thorough distrust of such things. Did a 0.88mm shoulder panel in a higher model provide an advantage to you over the 1.5mm one of the entry level suit?

Hi there Snytjie as requested this is just my view and I hope it helps.

 

First off there is no doubt your swim abilities are better than when you first started. Not only are you a stronger swimmer but confident, Confidence is a key factor because if you were nervous or weaker  this would effect your body position negatively resulting in slower times. You would also only be focussing on buoyancy as a result.

 

The natural solution for our improvement is to find a swim coach for stroke correction and build strength. One of the tools we use to ensure we are developing our open water swim is a wetsuit.

 

Wetsuit selection should be based on where you are at in terms of development, body shape and events you doing or planning on doing etc. (Ie there isn't really a need to go buy the top of the range if you only going to do 1 sprint distance race a year.)

 

In your particular case you have evolved as a swimmer and as such you are questioning the finer details of suit technology. This means you are no longer just focussed on buoyancy, but rather looking to be as efficient as possible.  Therefor an entry level wetsuit may not complement you anymore.

 

As an intermediate to advanced swimmer doing long IM distance swims you would benefit from the added technology in a more advanced suit.

Wetsuits perform a function much like aero bikes with deep section wheels, proper race distance specific road shoes and aero helmets. All these thing contribute to the BIG picture. Reducing resistance saving calories to finish strong and in good time.

 

There is nothing wrong with using an entry level suit with less technology. It will get you to T1 comfortably no problem. Swimming in a mid range or top end suit however will just have you there just that little more comfortably.

[Azi]

I used an Orca S4 entry level wetsuit - nothing wrong with it, comfortable and does the job without a fuss. I then got a Huub Aerious 4:4 which was later replaced by a Huub Aerious 3:5 (both mid-level suits).

 

The mid level suit was way more comfortable than the entry level because your arms move around more freely, and overall the feel and fit is better. I'm not sure if it made a huge difference in terms of speed (I would guess not more than 5 minutes over IM - I usually swim a km in 23 minutes) but I was definitely more comfortable at the end of the swim than if I had used the Orca.

 

Just to add for those interested, the difference between the Huub 4:4 and the Huub 3:5 is tangible. I could feel the difference in buoyancy in terms of where my legs were positioned between the two Huub wetsuits (and I don't really have sinking feet to start with).

[Snytjie]

Some individual feedback: I tested a more advanced model of my Xterra suit at IM (yes, the day before the race ) by first swimming in my suit and then trying the other out for the same distance/intensity. I could immediately feel the difference: the advanced model was more 'alive' (i.e. it allowed me to move/roll with the water movement more freely) and there was less resistance around the shoulders. It was also much more close fitting than my old suit, but this is probably just because I lost weight since I bought the old one 3 years ago.

 

The difference was tangible enough that I bought the advanced model and raced with it. No regrets. Terry's statement above about confidence is correct in my case: I liked being more 'one' with the water's movement more than being propped up as much as possible by the entry level suit, and this is only because I have enough confidence in my swimming capabilities.

[Oxter]

Some individual feedback: I tested a more advanced model of my Xterra suit at IM (yes, the day before the race ) by first swimming in my suit and then trying the other out for the same distance/intensity. I could immediately feel the difference: the advanced model was more 'alive' (i.e. it allowed me to move/roll with the water movement more freely) and there was less resistance around the shoulders. It was also much more close fitting than my old suit, but this is probably just because I lost weight since I bought the old one 3 years ago.

 

The difference was tangible enough that I bought the advanced model and raced with it. No regrets. Terry's statement above about confidence is correct in my case: I liked being more 'one' with the water's movement more than being propped up as much as possible by the entry level suit, and this is only because I have enough confidence in my swimming capabilities.

+1 here.  Same experience and funny enough also bought the Xterra suit.  Really enjoy mine

[Selous Scout (aka LegTrap)]

There is a new wetsuit available ie Blu Motion,it is excellent and cheaper than the more established names.

[Rocket-Boy]

There is a new wetsuit available ie Blu Motion,it is excellent and cheaper than the more established names.

Fairly entry level suits those. Seems their model is bäsed more around renting than selling.

[Oxter]

There is a new wetsuit available ie Blu Motion,it is excellent and cheaper than the more established names.

 

I bought that suit for my GF, I tried it but I just did not feel comfortable in it and that is what is most important.  She loves the suit though