What brand do you prefer for your tri gear ? And who do you buy it from?

luckily you are in an area where you can try a lot of stuff on before you buy.

any wetsuit will work, the tri one will be faster, but other will keep you just as warm.

tri suit wise, i prefer by a long shot 2xu. very comfortable, very well thought out suits.

any of the bigger brands though assuming you like/they fit will work.

desoto
louis garneu
zoot (another fav)
2xu (my choice by far)
champion systems
specalized.

Really the key is to try it on to see if it fits you.  If you don't want to buy a wetsuit you can rent them as well. 

A brand that people need to take notice of is Descente. Everyone I know who uses it, loves it. I have a few of their cycling stuff and I love it. They don't really break the bank either.

Just bought my first Tri suit online from GearAndTraining.com.  I got one from 2xu... based on all the online reviews.  they had good prices and even called me when they ran into a problem (the one they said they had available online wasn't actually...but they had it in a different color).  Haven't received it yet but will let you know what I think when it gets here. 

like i said, make sure it fits first.

i could not get a good fit on most of their stuff.

good quality, and like you said those that use it love it.

I found different brands of tri clothes fit very differently... and since you are looking for something form fitting that won't bind or chafe you want it to fit right around the neck, armholes etc.  Best bet is to go to some stores and try on every different brand you can find to find the best fit for you. 

Tri wetsuits are made to give you warmth and flexibility for your arms/shoulders to be able to swim, not sure 'regular' wetsuits would work so well.  Again I'd suggest trying on different brands of wetsuits to find the one that fits you best.. since your tri is not until Oct. you may be able to find one on 'end of season' sales soon for a good price.

2xu, Orca

Anywhere 2nd hand cheap off the internet.  

You can get a wetsuit for less than $300. But maybe not less than $200. :D

But you can rent them for much less. That lets you try different brands. But it limits how much you can practice ahead of time.

I have two suits. I started out with an Orca Sonar sized WM and liked it so much that when it no longer fit me, I got another one. Both times I bought an older year model and was able to get a steep discount. I think I paid $260 both times.

Edited by MacMadame 2009-08-16 1:27 AM

Trizone in Long Beach is a tiny place, but they carry quite a few different wetsuits.  I went there and tried on around 6 or 7 different suits before settling on one.  You can look them up online trizone.com.  Also, like other people have said you can rent a wetsuit.  Not a bad idea for your first race.  I think this is a better option than going with a "regular" wetsuit.  The key with the tri wetsuits is that the material around the arms is a bit different and it helps with mobility of your arms.

A trisuit can be a bit pricey too.  I just bought a pair of Pearl izumi tri shorts (LOVE them) and put my wetsuit on over them and my running bra.  Once out of the water I stripped off my wetsuit and threw on a loose fitting Nike running top over my bra and off I went. 

Good luck!

My 2 cents: I wouldn't order off the internet unless you know what size you take for that particular manufacturer. Wetsuits need to fit properly. When I bought my wetsuit, if I had gone by the online charts it would have been too large. Normally I think it's fine to order tri gear online but you should try a wetsuit first and get a tri specific one otherwise a surfing wetsuit is not made for a swimming motion and arms will be constrained.

I like Louis Garneau stuff, from the LBS or online.

If you look hard enough on eBay, you can find a great deal. I got my Synergy for 200 or less (can't remember now), but when in doubt just rent one.

While I agree with making sure whatever you buy fits, I second the Descente recommendation. I got one of their tri-tops a few weeks ago from Bonktown, and while the sizing is a little dodgy (I got a L and it was ridiculously tight, but I got a replacement XL and sold the L to a friend for what I paid instead of dealing with returning it to Bonktown) the quality of the top is great.

I'm a Zoot girl. Quality clothes that look pretty snappy, too.

Something you might want to consider is just starting with a pair of tri shorts - they will be cheaper than a one-piece suit and you can mix and match tops if you decide you like triathlons. Like someone said earlier, a wicking sports bra works just fine for a top - throw on a tech shirt after the swim if you want.

2nd this, try it out first before you jump into a one piece.

I loves me some 2XU trisuits. For wetsuits, I switched from a Blue Seventy to an Xterra and love it.

I also like Louis Garneau Trisuits, but I think 2XU still wins by a hair because of the chamois.

Nice thing about Xterra is the 30-day fit guarantee...

I have 2XU wetsuit and tri shorts/tops. I continue to buy 2XU bc i love them!

I think this is one of the best options you can get, regardless of location:

XTERRA wetsuits.
Vector model, sleeved or sleeveless.

There's almost always a sale going on, and you can get the sleeved for $200, and the sleeveless for $150 (I use this). They're 100% legit, top notch, and most triathletes here in SoCal use these at our local swims (nearly half of the suits are Xterras.) 

GREAT 30-day satisfaction guarantee. If you don't like it or it doesn't fit, send it back for a full refund. That's better than any store-fitting will EVER offer - if it chafes, squeezes, etc. in open water, send it right back. With this guarantee on such a low-priced wetsuit, you really cannot go wrong.

I should have went this route initially - I actually tested out 3 wetsuits in a well-regarded tri-store here in LA, but I was somehow still fitted for a wetsuit that was a size too small, and really hurt my swim performance due the restriction. I went Xterra and haven't looked back.  

ZOOT. I am sponsored by them and if you purchase off their website, you can use the code TEAMFRIEND for an additional 20% off at checkout.

How does one pronounce 2xu?  Is it "Two X U" or does the X sound like a Z and it sounds like "2zoo"??

I believe it's actually "2 times U."

1. What brand works for you is pretty individual. I am a fan of sugoi, but I have stuff that runs the gamut. Basically, I buy what fits my butt and my budget.

2. If you want a wetsuit, you can either look into renting one or buy one that doesn't cost $300. There are plenty available. QR suits can often be found at closeout for around $120-150. Promotion also has a good value. Or, you can always shop ebay (assuming you know what size).