Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves

Forum guidelines BT super discount
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves Rss Feed  
Moderators: k9car363, alicefoeller Reply
2011-09-19 8:00 AM

User image

Regular
106
100
Annapolis
Subject: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves

The current water temp is 68* and my first race is 18 days away.

I have experience in wetsuits from diving, and I'm getting ready to make my Trisuit purchase, I can get a Quintana Roo sleeveless for $129 or a Orca with sleeves for $200 (which is really $100 out of pocket, because I have $100 in living social discounts at the store)

I'm just getting into the sport but fully expect to be "bitten" by the bug. I'm not sure if going all in on the sleeves is the right choice.

Thoughts?

 

2011-09-19 8:10 AM
in reply to: #3691745

User image

Expert
859
5001001001002525
Perth, Australia
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
Sleeves - look at all the pros, they all have suits with sleeves - they wouldn't if it didn't give you the max advantage
2011-09-19 8:13 AM
in reply to: #3691745

New user
5

Coronado
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves

I live in SoCal and originally bought a sleeveless for events in the San Diego Bay.  My first event happened to be in the ocean and it was freezing.  I got a full wetsuit the next day and have been wearing it ever since.  This weekend the bay water was mid 60s for the San Diego Tri Classic and I wore the full, did not get too hot and felt good coming out of the water.  If you are going to buy just one and plan on swimming in different temps then i would go for the full.  If it gets too warm then you can probably go without a wetsuit all together.

The sleeveless does give you better range of motion but for me it isn't better than being warm.

-Jake

2011-09-19 8:19 AM
in reply to: #3691745

User image

Elite
7783
50002000500100100252525
PEI, Canada
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
Sleeves.  I don't feel restricted in the shoulder area with mine at all once I put it on right and I've never felt overheated, even in water near the cutoff temp (mind you I haven't done a longer race like HIM or IM at a temp like that).
2011-09-19 9:38 AM
in reply to: #3691745

User image

Pro
6011
50001000
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
Sleeves.  They're faster, plus, I look at it like this:  If it's cold enough that I need a wetsuit, I want sleeves.  If it's warm enough that I wouldn't be cold in a sleeveless, then I can HTFU and only wear tri shorts and a tri top.
2011-09-19 3:59 PM
in reply to: #3691908

Veteran
303
100100100
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
I live and race in Texas.  I got a sleeveless.  My key races are HIM Galveston, HIM Austin, IM Texas and a few races within a 3 hour drive from where I live.  It is unlikely that I will need sleeves anytime soon.  My practice open water swims occur in a lake that is 63ish degrees in March and I don't need sleeves then.  Colder water?  Yeah, I'll need sleeves.

2011-09-19 3:59 PM
in reply to: #3691745

User image

Elite
3498
20001000100100100100252525
Laguna Beach
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
Sleeves- always.
2011-09-20 6:49 AM
in reply to: #3691745

Master
10208
50005000100100
Northern IL
Subject: RE: Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves
Generally go with Sleeves, as long as it fits.  I had too much trouble finding one that did, so went sleeveless.  I'll still recommend people try to get sleeves, unless it's going to be a major budget issue or they're having a lot of trouble finding one that fits.
New Thread
General Discussion Triathlon Talk » Wetsuit - Sleeves or No Sleeves Rss Feed