Ban the tech suits?

I am just back from the SPMA meet where all the top finisher were wearing the latest generation tech suits,mostly B-70s(or were named Jeff Commings.)I have here to for been in favor of the suits,but now I am not so sure.First,they eliminate the old bench marks.I went my fastest 100m BR in 5 yr in my LZR,but it was only .3 sec faster than I did untapered 5 wk earlier in my first swim in the LZR.So was my swim good or not,I'm not sure.Also,instead of focusing on technique or pace I found myself ruminating over aspects of the suits,how many more swims did the suit have,is it the right size,was the reason I didn't get better results from my B-70 because it was too big?etc.The B-70 has somewhat mitigated the "too expensive,not durable" problem,but for how long. Lets say a company comes up with a suit that is much faster,say 4 sec/100.Further that it is very expensive(say $1000) lasts 4 swims and is very hard to make so that quantities are always limited and the fastest way to get one is to bid up to $3000 on ebay. Now lets say your nemesis has one,or that getting one is your best chance to get TT or AA or a ZR or WR,or that your child is close to making JO cuts,or finally beating his/her nemesis etc. Is it worth it and where does it stop? Is this a masters question or general question about swimming? For myself, I am willing to pony up for a B70 every once in awhile, as I was ponying up for Pros. But, a key appeal of the B70 for me is durability. I'm not willing to pay the current cost of the LZR or some other exorbitant cost for an ultra suit used for only a few swims. If my nemeses can, and it's really that effective, I guess they'll beat me. I was thinking Gull was dead on with his prior comment that suit technology hadn't advanced much and then, presto, we've had long overdue advancement in the last couple years. Is there really any possibility that there is already new suit technology that could produce huge time drops? Or is this purely philosophical?

It' masters...leave it alone and Fort is correct...you can't put the genie back in the bottle. You also always have the "John Smith Option"...he has challenged a group of backstrokers to an old school 50 back next year (location to be determined)...the basics are: - $100 on the back of your block winner take all - Vintage speedo briefs...preferably the baby blue/white vertical stripe version - Toes over the lip start - No SDK's - John Naber style "bucket turns" - Compy goggles (Britt wants to go "older" school and not allow goggles at all Meet directors can have fun with this kind of stuff...although we didn't have much interest at ASU last month we offered a 4k event...I wasn't at Indy when Tim Garton won the 50m kick event but would enter one if offered again...the Aussie model of having 400's of back, *** and fly and an 800IM...why not an old school suit event?

It' masters...leave it alone and Fort is correct...you can't put the genie back in the bottle. You also always have the "John Smith Option"...he has challenged a group of backstrokers to an old school 50 back next year (location to be determined)...the basics are: - $100 on the back of your block winner take all - Vintage speedo briefs...preferably the baby blue/white vertical stripe version - Toes over the lip start - No SDK's - John Naber style "bucket turns" - Compy goggles (Britt wants to go "older" school and not allow goggles at all Meet directors can have fun with this kind of stuff...although we didn't have much interest at ASU last month we offered a 4k event...I wasn't at Indy when Tim Garton won the 50m kick event but would enter one if offered again...the Aussie model of having 400's of back, *** and fly and an 800IM...why not an old school suit event? I think it's a great idea. Having some old school or kicking races or other unconventional events would be fun. And masters meets should be fun, too, not just bearing down and gnashing your teeth over tenths of a second. Please, though, those among us that are blind need our goggles.

All I can say Allen is I like my B70 and I'm keeping it. 29 races in it and I'm still dropping time. :bliss:

...kicking races or other unconventional events would be fun. I think kicking races would not be fun, torture actually. I would prefer beer relays, where I would stand a fighting chance.

All I can say Allen is I like my B70 and I'm keeping it. 29 races in it and I'm still dropping time. :bliss: Me too! I was wondering when I read Allen's initial post ... what would most non-swimming spouses/significant others say about the LZR/ultra suit expense?

Me too! I was wondering when I read Allen's initial post ... what would most non-swimming spouses/significant others say about the LZR/ultra suit expense? Not much as long as there is quid pro quo

I voted yes, but I'll continue to wear them as long as rules allow.

I personally don't care for the tech suits, but I don't want to stop others from wearing them. If it helps draw more swimmers to USMS or it keeps existing masters swimmers active in the sport, then the the suits are a good thing. The tech suits also have to be great for vendors which hopefully allows them to support masters swimming. Tim

Has anyone seriously thought through or considered buying a swimskin (or even two) and swimming a local meet vs. traveling for a meet ie, banking your $500-$1200 trip cost and spending it on the suit instead? Is that a fair trade off?