hate to ask. but need wetsuit guidance

#1- Make sure you're buying a Triathlon Specific wetsuit (there are other types of wetsuits for different activities)

#2-Regardless of how great a deal it is; If it doesn't fit-it's JUNK

#3- I'm a full wetsuit/full sleeve guy.  Sleeveless aren't as warm and (arguably) no faster than a full suit.

#4 - Google "Triathlon Wetsuit" AND Clearance.  You'll find some great deals on older models.  I'll bet you could find one for lesss than $150.00 shipped. 

I don't hink you'll find a 'bad' wetsuit these days.  I've been swimming the hell out of a 100.00 Profile Design Wahoo. 

(edited to give you #4)

I'm a huge fan of Desoto's two piece system.  That way you can mix and match top and bottom sizes (for example I use a size 5 bottom and size 4 top).  You can also get a sleeveless top and a full sleeve top so you can have the best of both worlds.

Is a wetsuit required for this particular race or is it just legal? What are the water temps? Might be worth holding off if you can do the swim without the suit.

If not then try posting a want to buy add here and at slowtwitch to see if you can pick up a good used suit on the cheap. I was going to suggest Xterra but looks like that won't work out for you.

Check out the shops local to you for year end closeout stuff. Try the bike shops and running shops as a lot of them have started to carry tri stuff. Being able to try on a specific brand before you order online is a nice benefit. I tried on an Orca suit at my local swim and run shop, figured out what size I needed then had them order me a higher end Orca, worked out great. 

Blue Seventy is another good brand for budget and high end wet suits, might do some searching for them. 

Try wetsuit.com.  Promotion brand was my 1st wetsuit and I called them and discussed sizing over the phone.  I made the measurements they needed, called back and they told me exactly what I needed.  They have a lot of options to get the suit that fits you right with MediumLarge, MLTall, MLShort ,Large, LargeShort, LargeTall... Here's the sizing and Customer Service page.  I'd still have that suit if I didn't accidently leave it in the car one day 2 years ago when it was 100F!

There use to be a 10% BT discount but not sure if that is still ongoing.  Can't hurt to ask if they still provide a discount to BT members.

+1 on ProMotion...very happy with the basic sleeveless I bought there and it was only like $150 shipped.

Good advice above.

Final advice for direct experience - the wetsuit should feel fairly comfortable the moment you put it on and mimic swimming. Yes, the compressive effect will make it feel a little harder to breath, but it should be really, really minor and something you can ignore very easily.

I went to an experienced trifitter at a trishop for my first wetsuit, and he insisted I was fitted correctly for a wetsuit that was sufficiently tight that if I held my arms over my head for more than 10 seconds, I started to really feel fatigue. And this was after he hiked it up maximally. 

Sure enough both in training and on race day, I was near-dying in the first 300m because my deltoids were so tired from fighting the wetsuit restriction. Took me 2 months to ditch that suit since the experienced fitter insisted he got it right.

I switched to a sleeveless, and I was instantly from dead last AG to decently in the middle, no more shoulder fatigue. I then bought a full-length suit that was restrictive, and had equally good results. Bottom line, if it's bothering you when you just put it on, seriously consider trying on a different size or model.

I saw the photo on Facebook of the 78.2 degrees at Hy Vee.  Bummed they dropped it to a Sprint, which was the right choice if you ask me and then the water temp INCREASES 2.2 degrees overnight..... WTF!!!  Oh well.  still had a great race!

Regarding the wetsuit dillema.  I bought a full sleeved Xterra suit about 4 years ago for the Okoboji Triathlon.  Every race that has been wet suit legal, i've worn that suit.  Xterra helped me fit it and I've been super happy ever since. 

Dude - stop the madness!  We live close....I have a Large Blue Seventy Reaction suit you are welcome to use for your race. I'm 6'2 and race at about 190-200 if that helps you with size.  You can get a good idea of how they feel, what you may want to look for differently, etc.  Hit me up on a PM and we can figure out how to get it to you for your race.  For what it's worth, we all wear Blue Seventy suits.  My kids have used theirs for 3 and 4 years respectively, an average of 4-6 races per year in them.......they are as good as new still.  If teenagers can't wreck them, they can't be wrecked.