wetsuit 101...Yelp!

I tried several different brands on that my friends had before I spent the money.  In my opinion it all depends on if you are comfortable.  All the brands fit me different.  I'm not a veteran but maybe that little advice will help.

IF you can, go to a local store that sells the brand you are interested in, and try some on. If that's not an option, go to a reputable online store and ask a bunch of questions. I had it narrowed down to 5 different brands/models and called trisports.com. I talked to a knowlegable guy there who was familiar with how the suits fit, and, after having me tell him my measurements, was able to steer me towards a good fit. I ordered two different suits, tried them on, and the one fit like a glove and the other was too small, so I sent it back for a full refund. They give you 30 days a 1 swim to try it out. All of the major brands (Quintana Roo, Zoot, DeSoto, 2XU, BlueSeventy, Synergy) have websites...Spend an hour or two going to their sites and doing a little research. The best suits have selective buoyancy...that is they are more buoyant on the back and butt and chest and more flexible (and less buoyant) in the sleeves. Sleeveless are more for warmer water swims. The better suits have an area along the forearm that is supposed to catch water better than a bare arm and make you faster.