Xterra wetsuits - Vortex vs. Vector Pro?

Full suit, definitely!

As for the model, I've had the Vortex for 3 years now and it's great!  I tried on the Vector Pro but couldn't justify the extra money.  I haven't had any real troubles with the flexibility, just make sure you pull up the sleeves far enough to allow your arms to extend comfortably above your head during the swim.

P.S. Like others mentioned, the customer service at Xterra is really top notch!

I got the Full Sleeve Vector Pro three years ago ago. I think it had a higher quality material in the solders for more flexibility, additional panels in the legs for improved body position in the water and addition grip panels on the fore arms for pulling through the water. 

I got the full sleeve because I wanted to be faster (full sleeve should be faster than sleeveless).  I was on the boarder to two sized and went with the smaller of the two because I was advised that tighter was what more experienced swimmer went for again for more speed.  My was really hard to get on.  When I got in the water is expanded so I though the size was okay but I couldn't restreatch the sholders when I was in the water so I often felt like I was pulling medicine bands with every arm stroke in the water.  I was about 15 sec/100 yds faster in the wet suit so I didn't worry about the stretch in the Sholders in the wet suit I just adapter and was happy.  

Last fall I left my wetsuit at home (rushed packing).  I planed to do the swim in my speedo jammer shorts but the guy next to my on the T1 told me that he was borrowing a friends Freak of Nature Wetsuit and I could borrow his Vortex if I wanted it.  I took him up on the offer.  It was a size larger and sleeveless.  I had a great swim and loved how easy the wet suit wet on and off.  So...I got a new wet suit to get a size larger. Price for the Sleeveless Vengeance and the Sleeved Vortex were about the same, so I opted to go for the Sleeveless Vengeance.  I figured that would be a better addition to the sleeved Vector Pro than a Sleeved Vortex.  I like the sleeved wetsuit better in the water, but I like the sleeveless better in Transitions.  I have both so I can choose which to wear.  I have been sticking with the larger sized suit though.  I am haven't to back to back swims, but think I am with in 1-2 sec/100 yrd the same speed in either suit.

Note: if you are like all the rest of us your first wet suit will just teach you what you like and in a few years you will get a new one.  So...shop wisely so that you can either put all you money into getting the one you want the first time or so that you can some money back to get something else in a few years.  :-)

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I have never needed a wet suit for warmth.  I can swim in 65-70 deg water without any problem.  Lower than that the long sleeve wet suit is nice but your face still stings so you just have to accept that the water is cold and that you are fine with that.  I have run in as cold as 5 deg F and that was the same thing.  Your face still stings but your can do the triple layer of running tights/tops and be fine with everything else.   The purpose of the wet suit is speed.  The buoyancy of the wet suit holds you higher in the water improving your body position. They slick surfaced reduce drag through the water, and some of grip panels on the fore arms, etc to help you get a hold on the water.   If you can't swim in the water without a wet suit, then you shouldn't be swimming in the water with one.  You wet suit should be for speed.   The Full sleeve will give you more covered area which is faster.  The the sleeveless Vengeance has more buoyancy in the legs than the Vortex does so it will put your legs up higher in  the water, especially if you have the sleeveless,   Some people can get used the the sleeves though and it effects there stoke.  In that case the sleeveless is a better option.