Wetsuit questions and recommendations?

[KnottedYet]

I use a sleeveless kayaking wetsuit; padded butt and all!

Nice wetsuit for paddling and goofing around in the water, very very easy to get on and off. I knew this suit from using it for other activities. My swimming skills s*ck, so a draggy wetsuit wasn't going to hurt me at all.

And it only cost $105.

(mind you, when I say my swimming s*cks, I really honestly mean that. I doggie paddle and sidestroke. Took me nearly half an hour to swim 750 m.)

I got my suit from the shop that I'd rented the same kind from before. I second the idea of renting a suit if you can. Rent one for a week, train in it, try another one the next week, and so on. Kind of fun, and you'll quickly figure out what you do and don't like in a suit.

[roadie gal]

3+ on renting a suit first.

In addition to the suits that KSH mentioned Promotion makes a good, middle of the road suit for less than most of the others. They're at www.wetsuit.com. I'm a C+ - B- (on an A-F scale) swimmer and I've been very happy with my suit. The Promotion people are also very good about exchanges or returns if the suit isn't right for you.