Q. for the Ladies - Wetsuit for Athenas?

I would like to hear some answers on this as well.

I personally have height in addition to weight, so I'm probably looking at a men's suite no matter what I do, but it would be nice to know if anyone is aware of anything out there...

Good for Mrs. M!  I am also an Athena and have to say it'll depend on what size Athena.  I wear a BlueSeventy sleeveless Reaction size WLA (Women's Large Athena?) size.  When I bought mine it was the largest size they had.  I am over the top weight limit by 20# and I feel like its a perfect fit.  I also have an older Ironman full-sleeve suit in the same size.  The newer one looks like it has more curves and feels like a better fit - I think they changed the design slightly.

I haven't tried any other brands so I can't really comment on them, but I would suggest having her try on different brands and sizes if at all possible.  My local choices were limited to Ironman/BlueSeventy when I bought mine so I didn't have that option.

Best of luck to her and congrats for tackling the HIM swim!

My training buddy and I are both athenas--

She is 5'11 and about 185- curvy but carries most of her weight in her torso. She uses her husband's Orca men's medium, and her only complaint about the way it constricts her chest/breathing. She is looking for her own now- in a women's athena size.

I am 5'8" and 150. (No real curves to speak of, but I will say that with all this training, my red bike has actualy grown from a 52 to a 54. :angry: ) I bought a used QR men's medium-short. Fitted but comfortable and it got the job done.

Only having that and my friend's Orca to compare against, (both men's suits) I know I'm not really any help.  As a beginner, I just wasn't ready to part with the cash for a new women's suit when I saw so many used men's suits on ebay for half the price, and in sizes comparable to women's athena sizes (in height and weight).

Yeah, I read the height-weight range like the old pantyhose sizes - they fit best for those in the middle of both ranges, but carefully consider size if you're at the upper or lower extreme for both height and weight.  That being said, for my wetsuit size, I'm right in the middle of the height range but 20# higher than the highest weight listed for that size.  I would not have purchased it this size if I went strictly by the ranges.  Try them on if at all possible.  You can always cut the length off the legs. 

Also, there are two-piece options.  I have hard-to-fit friends who love the Promotion brand.

LOL - I thought that too - why would ChrisM want a women's athena suit, I was asking myself?  Perhaps he feels that a women's suit will slip through the water more aerodynamically?

Then I read the thread and felt relieved that he had not gone off the deep end...

I like my QR suit.  But it's the only one I've had.  I swam in another suit once, but I can't remember the name.  Perhaps it was the Ironman suit?

When I went to buy a suit, I went to Sports Basement and tried on a couple of suits and talked with their wetsuit specialist (yes, they had someone trained to help you buy a suit).

I have to admit that I did not buy my suit there, but that's only because I had a rental voucher for a women's only place in town. 

Best place for women's wetsuits I think is Promotion Wetsuits they carry up to size 18 and they run large.  I think they fit women that have curves well.

If you check out website and sizing they go more by bust than weight. I know I weighed more than the amount in the chart and mine was probably a little large when I got it. We used to get BT discount with them not sure if we do any more. They are great if you call and talk with them...best to have your height (dah...already know that) and bust measurement so they can assist you. Often they will suggest sending two, letting you try them both on at home and having you mail the one that doesn't fit the best back.

http://www.wetsuit.com/

I need a new one as mine is too big now. Anyone intersted in a size 14 full and I thave a 14 or 12 short sleeveless as well.

I have a BlueSeventy Reaction wetsuit, just like c_cic.. and when I bought mine, I was just under 190 pounds.  I figured I'd need a WLA (womens' large athena) size, but to my surprise, I fit into a womens' large just fine. 

I tried on a few other brands - Nineteen and Orca - and they definitely didn't allow for my curves.  Having an hourglass figure isn't always a blessing!  I found that BlueSeventy is much more..... generous, in that manner.  Definitely worth a try!

I agree with Kathy.  I just bought a ProMotion sleeveless powerglide.  I am athena and they were great.  I called them and they took the time to ask me a lot of questions to ensure that I was getting the right suit.  Their only concern was whether I needed a regular lenght or a short.  I am 5'5", high end for the short, low end for the regular.

After getting it, it was a little long in the legs but the fit was spot on!  I am waiting or my short to arrive.  I really liked the fact that they took the time to talk to me before taking my money.

Oh yeah, if you tell them you are a BT member you get a 15% discount

www.wetsuit.com

Don't buy Orca if it says Orca on it. I'm very sensitive about my weight as I've been working on it for the past year and a half and I would be very self conscious in an Orca suit.

Just sayin'.

I once read a quote from someone here  "I got out of the water on the beach and everyone was trying to push me back out to sea - maybe I shouldn't have "orca" written on me".....

I have a promotion.   It runs kinda "true to dress size" -ish and seems bigger through the hips in a size 12 (maybe 14)  than it should be.....   they help you out ok on the phone.    I had to ignore the weight as it had no application to me.