Wetsuits (ARGH)

I know this is like a FAQ around here, but I really want to have a sleeveless suit and am tempted to try it for colder water sprint distance and up to maybe 1 mile or so swims (longer in warm water). I'm willing to spend up to around $250. Maybe more, but I didn't pay more than that for my fullsuit though it was secondhand (from someone on TE! woo).

My fullsuit is a 2005 ironman (now blue seventy) stealth. Can't remember if that's their base model or what. It fits just fine, too long in the legs, nice around the shoulders, tight around my hips and ginormous thighs - size medium.

Now, if I go look at the size charts, I should be a size large, even in the blue seventy. I weigh 150-155 lbs, I am 5'4". The medium says 5'3-5'9" and 123-141lbs. So, my gut says when I look at everyone else's size charts, I should be a medium/medium short (hallelujah for SHORT sizes), but the size chart tells me I should be a large. The cutoff between medium and large is around 140lbs for all of them and I am not 140 lbs. ;) The only one I come close to is Orca, whose medium goes up to 147lbs, but starts at 5'5", so I think it'll be long on my short legs.

Right now I'm looking at the xterra Vortex 3 (who I blame for starting this - a 50% off coupon makes a $300 suit $150 shipped - the deal is also no sales tax through August 15th), the zoot fuzion SL (comes in SHORT size!!, $220-240), the orca equip ($220, looks like it's a little shorter), and anything from blue seventy (since I know their size M fits me - though is long). Looks like the QR Ultrajohn is $199, which is a good price, too. TE has the blue seventy and the zoot (for good prices), but not the Zoot in the medium-short size (only in the regular medium size). I'm assuming the choice to carry those two was a good one, since I trust their judgment.

My local shop didn't have any sleeveless suits, so I'm left to shopping online. If anyone has experience dealing with official or other retailers that were very good about sizing and returns, that feedback would also be helpful.

I got the Zoot Fuzion last year from REI with my 20% off coupon. I got the large and it still fits fine, even though I'm a bit smaller. It is a little long for me and I'm just under 5'5".

Veronica

The QR I just bought is a large and I am 5'2" 145#. My instinct is to go by weight over height when I order stuff. Tight on my calves and thighs. But really sexy.

A couple of years back I had a good experience with Trisports.com. I basically bought and returned around 6 wetsuits.