Open Water Swimming

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LindsD Jul 2021 10:26pm, 26 Jul 2021 48,689 posts	0 LindsD Thanks for sharing that AC Glad he was OK
The Great Raemondo Jul 2021 2:29pm, 27 Jul 2021 8,072 posts	0 The Great Raemondo Wotcha swim fans - I'm thinking new sleeveless wetsuit for a half iron in early September and could use some advice - ashamed to admit I completely tore my old faithful dhb hydron attempting to put it on a few weeks ago. It had a few little knicks in the surface but I suspect the catastrophic failure down one side was more to do with the extra insulation I'm carrying these days than just age and neglect of the neoprene Leading contenders within budget are a fairly plain looking Orca RS1, a slightly flasher Arena Triathlon, or an inbetweeny Zone 3 with apparently no specific name. In both the orca and the zone3 it seems like I'd need a large as they define sizes by height, bust, and weight (and despite being S in height I'm definitely L in weight), whereas Arena list hip rather than weight as the extra factor and I think I'm closer to an M... Can anyone say if Arena really does run a bit bigger? Or have an orca or Zone3 that you could measure? Ta.
EvilPixie Jul 2021 2:30pm, 27 Jul 2021 26,790 posts	0 EvilPixie I have an orca full suit and was told DEF go by weight - not sure that helps!
The Great Raemondo Jul 2021 2:35pm, 27 Jul 2021 8,073 posts	0 The Great Raemondo It just seems a bit mad that they, apart from Arena, don't give a hip measurement... What if I'm beyond averagely dense (hush, ankhers)?
Angus Clydesdale Jul 2021 7:41pm, 28 Jul 2021 22,989 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale Bwah-ha-haar
Angus Clydesdale Jul 2021 7:55pm, 28 Jul 2021 22,990 posts	0 Angus Clydesdale Srsly, industry has worked on weight for years. Being a front-row forward that also swims, I always go on weight (and often end up taking the scissors to the extremities of the suit limbs). But also, possibly crucially, I'm not a girl...
The Great Raemondo Jul 2021 8:40pm, 28 Jul 2021 8,074 posts	0 The Great Raemondo There are certain downsides to being a front row forward of the girlie persuasion. I ordered the orca. I have sharp scissors, I'm sure I can make adjustments.
FRU (KeepTheFaith) Jul 2021 7:23pm, 29 Jul 2021 12,830 posts	0 FRU (KeepTheFaith) Those of you getting wetsuits can I ask what type of swimming you do Is it mainly long swims Do you breast stroke or front crawl I’m interested only because I dodged the whole wetsuit debate as I just got too confused and then found my swim style and never got one But I’m interested to know all views
The Great Raemondo Jul 2021 7:29pm, 29 Jul 2021 8,076 posts	0 The Great Raemondo For me, I usually only bother for distances over 1k (or if it's really cold), and prefer a sleeveless one as I have fairly chunky arms and fear a full sleeve would be uncomfortably restrictive. I swim mostly front crawl.
LazyDaisy Jul 2021 8:34pm, 29 Jul 2021 33,884 posts	0 LazyDaisy I find my wetsuit (a bottom of the range Orca) too restrictive for more than a few strokes of breaststroke.