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For sea swimming...
Just went to my local outdoorsy place and the nice lady told me that theirs aren't articulated enough in the upper body for swimming. There's some for about £180 on SportsPursuit, which seems pricey and I want it before I don't need it (if you see what I mean).
Suggestions?
cheap and cheerful - my wife picked up an orca from wiggle.
it good for an hour or so in the (fresh water) - after an hour it starts to rub the back of the neck - the cuffs etc.
but it was 100 quid which is cheap for a swimming wetsuit - certainly served its purpose to see if she would keep up the swimming.
The Zone3 Advance was winning all the entry-level swimming wetsuit awards a few years ago. I bought one last year but broke my neck a week later so haven't used it yet...
Got mine here;
http://www.thetristore.com/triathlon/wetsuits?sort=3
Great suggestions so far, cheers.
I've got some of this stuff for diving in warmer waters
http://fourthelement.com/technical/thermocline/
It's pretty good for diving, not sure what it would be like for swimming. Would you be better off with a triathlon one?
Quite a few places hire them out for triathlons, so you can sometimes find ex-rentals going pretty cheap. Worth a google maybe...
Alpkit do them. Probably good for the money.
As with any wetsuit, you need to try it on before buying. A suit may have the best reviews, be recommended by loads of people, but if it doesn't fit you then it will not perform properly.
To add to the above, swimming ability has an impact too. Different suits have different buoyancy distribution, e.g beginner suits often have more buoyancy in the legs than wetsuits aimed at more experienced swimmers.
Thanks for the advice fellas. Nowhere else local to try on. Woman in the shop said most people order online!
I'll try Wiggle I think as they are good with returns if the fit's not right.
Be very (VERY) careful not to dig a fingernail into the neoprene when trying it on. Swimming wetsuits can be super fragile (though happily, easily repaired)
Try the Foor Classic from triuk.com for £100. They also do cheap ex rental suits.
I've got the zone 3 advance as mentioned above, no complaints for the money. I can swim much faster than others in £500 BlueSeventy suits etc
But as mentioned above fit is more important, so the best suit is the suit is the one that fits you best
I've had a lot of kayak gear off of Lomo, and all of it has been excellent, and at half the price of equivalent stuff from more 'fashionable' companies.
Never had a wetsuit, so no idea if they are good for them, but their kayak neporene is really good, along with their semi-dry suits.
Give them a ring, and see how helpful they are:
http://www.ewetsuits.com/acatalog/wetsuits-1.html
Long John wetsuit...
I've got a 2XU T:2 that I've been happy with, and they're a fairly common find as ex-rental suits.
How big are you?
Have a virtually new BlueSeventy Fusion - worn once that is going on eBay at the weekend
Well, that didn't quite work out! Ordered from Wiggle going by size and weight and I could just get it on, but there was no way the zip was doing up at the back!
Guess I'm a Large/stocky size... hammyuk, can you email me pls?
I could just get it on, but there was no way the zip was doing up at the back!
Now you're sure it was a rear zip suit, right?
Well, it would have been even more difficult up the front! 😕
Madame had a made-to-measure Triathlon suit made for her by Snugg in the UK twenty years ago. She used it last week and it is still supple and snug. I'm a normal shape so use Aquaman but I've worn out three in the time Madame has had the Snugg.
Always wear a rash vest, it reduces friction and makes movement easier.
but there was no way the zip was doing up at the back!
That doesn't necessarily mean its the wrong fit
Were you trying to do it up yourself ??
I can't do my one up on my own.
Also .... it might need hydrating
When I haven't worn my for a while I throw it in the bath over night
??
Nah, it was definitely too small.
Another vote for the 2XU T2. I picked up an ex demo/hire one for about £75 a few years ago. Did the job the few times I used it!
Update!
Got a Zone3 Advance as CRC were selling them (who knew they did wetsuits?!).
Tried it out in the rough sea this evening-worked really well no chill. Except in my head, best get an 'at now 🙂
Only just seen this!
No worries - I doubt very much your's would fit me!