Cold water swim, best wetsuit

I don't know that there is a "best" wetsuit, but everyone has their preference.

My guess is that "best" can be best described as the one that fits right and gets the job done for the least amount of money.

All that being what it is, I have an Xterra Vector Pro and have absolutely nothing bad to say about it. It's great.  It fits well, it keeps me warm, it is easy to put on and take off in transition, it has excellent buoyancy and the shoulders move well.  Add in the massive discount you get using the 'BT' coupon code and they are crazy affordable, too.  The price was really my main determiner.  I didn't want a used suit - just a personal thing for me (that whole "someone else has likely peed in that suit" thing) - and most other brand's new suits were much more expensive.  For the price on a new suit, I didn't think I could beat it.

The thickness is regulated by USAT not to exceed 5mm!

I love my 2 piece DeSoto wet suit, as it allows me to wear top and bottom for cold water.

I can even get different tops or can go without the top or without the pants, hence allowing a ton of options.

unlike diving wetsuits, you don't buy swimming wetsuits in different thicknesses.

Low 60's isn't too bad.  Any full sleeve should be good.

I bought an Orca S2 for me an one for my GF last year an we r both very happy with them.

I hooked up another lady friend of ours with a new on-sale S2 and she is thrilled with the suit and the $139. price.

Hope this helps.

The thicker the suit, the more buoyancy and the greater the insulation factor, but also the stiffer the material.

Many suits make use of a combination of thicknesses, like 5mm in the chest, abdomen, and upper legs areas to help plane you out on the water, but then they'll use a thinner 3mm in the shoulders and arms for greater mobility.

DeSoto offer the top with 5mm and 3mm arms.

The thiner the material the colder it is, but more movement you have.

My arms in the 5mm get quite warm.

My wife in the 3mm arms are comfy.

guess I was just wrong.  perhaps I should have said "most companies" don't sell suits in different thicknesses for the purpose of varying the amount of warmth. 

DeSoto is somewhat unique with their two piece wetsuit with the option for two different thickness tops. 

so- I guess there are some options that I didn't know about.  But- it's not like diving where you buy a suit based on it's thickness for a particular temperature. 

People seem to really love their DeSoto two piece suits.  I guess they're especially helpful if you are an 'irregular' sized person as you could buy the top and bottom in different sizes?

I've always wondered if they are any more annoying to deal with in T1?  Normally I unzip and pull the arms out when exiting the water.  Then run to T1 with the top around my waist and only have the legs to pull off when I get to my bike.  Seems that dealing with a separate piece on top might be a bit more cumbersome- but having never used one, I don't really know.  Something to think about tho'.

Agreed, 60's isnt hateful. Not to try to one up you but IM California Oceanside last year was low 50's in the water.  Yes its cold but you'll be ok.  It will hit you at first but you'll get used to it once you get moving.