Sleeves or No?

[KSH]

On the other hand, I found full sleeved suits claustrophobic. So I wear a sleeveless.

See, I can't breathe when I have mine on, and it seems to me that it comes from the chest portion of the wetsuit.

When I get into the water the wetsuit tightens around my chest and I feel like I can't breathe.

The sleeves don't have anything to do for me when it comes to feeling like I'm being squeezed to death.

[jesvetmed]

Thanks everyone! Good to hear differing views. Sounds like I better go somewhere and try a bunch on, or at least guarantee the ability to return!

[KnottedYet]

i did Seattle Danskin in my $105 wetsuit without sleeves. I was fine and dandy for my open-water training in Lake Washington, the lake the race is in (began swimming in May). My friend did the training and the race without any wetsuit at all.

During Danskin itself I was quite warm. I like that my arms were free and didn't mind that the lower neck of my wetsuit (kayaking suit) scooped a little water. It was a worthwhile trade off to me not to have anything around my neck.

Try out some suits. I had an idea of the types of suits I like from scuba diving and kayaking and wearing wetsuits for shore work.

Mine is not the most efficient racing suit in the world, but it makes me happy, and that's all I really care about.

It's like bikes, try lots!

[Grog]

There is a probably a place near you where you can rent triathlon (not diving) wet suits. Rent a few and try them out!!

[Wahine]

I live in the PNW and I would say that there are a lot of factors in play. If you plan on training in open water before mid June, I would recommend a full sleeved suit. If you're only going to open water in late June through the end of the season, you could get a sleeveless. That's what I wear. But I bought mine many years ago when the technology wasn't as good and having sleeves meant giving up flexibility. So I put up with being cold a lot of the time. Now the quality of the neoprene is better and having sleeves doesn't limit reach. There is the increased cost with a sleeved suit and the clausterphobia factor that someone else mentioned.

I will second looking into Promotion. they have very good prices, the suit quality is excellent. And if you really can't decide, they have a sleevless that will take a long sleeved top. It would work well for training in the colder temps but I don't think that I would race in it.

http://www.wetsuit.com/

Their shop is here in the Gorge and I am familiar with the owners and a lot of athletes that use their suits. It's not a tough trip from Seattle if you want to come down here and check it out.

[jesvetmed]

Thanks a lot! Wahine: Promotion is topping my list just because it does look like I can get a lot of suit for a lot smaller price. Teigyr also recommended them; she has one and seems to really like it. Didn't know they were in the gorge... I'm actually heading that way early in April to visit friends in Vancouver. Maybe I'll make her go shopping with me (not usually the kind of shopping she would enjoy, but I won't tell her WHAT we're shopping for till we arrive!). Thanks for the heads up!
Jes

[knapplaura]

I am also about to buy a new wetsuit. I was seriously considering the DeSoto. KSH, why did you not like it?

I checked the Promotion site, interesting! Which model do folks have?

Does anyone have the 2XU suit? Triathlete Magazine really like it.

thanks,
Laura