Sleeve or Sleeveless?

The purpose for wearing a wet suit it to make you faster.  If you get a good sleeved suit that fits well that is going to be your fastest option.  If you don't get a good fit then the sleeves could make it harder to swim.  I had one that was a bit too tight and it felt like I was pulling bungy cords with every stroke.  I was still 15 sec/100m faster with it on that without a wet suit but I borrowed a sleeveless at a race where I forget mine and left it at home.  It was a size bigger and git great so I got a new wetsuit in the larger size.  I didn't have a new wetsuit in the planned budget at the time so I went with the sleeveless option just because it was about half the cost of the sleeved suit.  So if you want to save money or don't have a good fir the sleeveless is better, but if you have a good suit that fits well the sleeved is going to be the best option.  My next wetsuit purchase is going to be the Full sleeved Kiwami Swift. With my race team discount code.  :-)

Steve,

I am impressed that you are the Snapple Team. I got in touch with Mindy last year trying to be considered for the team but she told me that they wouldn't be taking any new member last fall.  If I remember correctly Xterra is the Wetsuit sponsor for the Snapple Team.  Is that what you swim in?  Both the long sleeve (Medium Long) and the Short Sleeve (Large) that I own are Xterra.  I still look forward to a new long sleeve that fits me better that the Medium Long Xterra though. 

Ya...I did 55F water without any wetsuit at all every summer at scout camp growing up.  It was usually just a 100 meter swim test and and floating on my back for 60 seconds, but I did the BSA mile swim one year too.  After your body goes numb 55F is doable. We would swim in 55F just for fun some times.  I guess our idea of fun was a little bit on the thrill seaking side of things though.