Ban the tech suits?

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? No, it's not on the table.

I voted yes, but I'll continue to wear them as long as rules allow. Ditto for me. I just think they are a needless complication and serve no real purpose, possibly other than to convince ourselves we are faster than were really are. But I'm too much of a competitor to potentially put myself at a disadvantage and I suspect this is a common feeling.

I have yet to try one of the fastest suits, i.e., a B70 (which sounds like it has some "closed cell" foam properties, which makes it float a bit, a la a wet suit-lite), but I have swum in Aquablades, FS1s, a FSPro that got stolen after the first day, and most recently a Tyr Aquapel. The latter is actually really cheap now, on sale for less than $60, and I must say I like it as much as the old Aquablade from yesteryear, which I profoundly wish they still made. Anyhow, it seems to me that what these suits do, especially for us blubberous hirsute types who have no interest in either shaving or full-body Brazilians, is not so much as take seconds off your times as they take years off your life. When I first donned that Aquablade 8 years ago, then age 48, I did a time in the 100 freestyle I hadn't swum since my late 30s. The next year, I swam the same time in the 200 that I did in highschool. In a sport like masters swimming, which gives at least the illusion of increased longevity through physical fitness, these suits are an illusionist's best friend. It is for this reason that this self-deluder LOVES them. PS I am glad to hear that Jim Clemmons loves his B70. Jim, you can beat me, I am quite sure, if you were wearing oversized bermuda shorts and an LL Bean goose down vest. But knowing you had a superior suit on this SCM season allows me to put an asterisk beside my own swims. Three or four suit generations from now, when I can afford a remaindered B70 at www.lightlyusedspeedsuits.com, most likely one that has been touched by the previous owner's "boys" and thus dirt cheap for those of us who can stomach such a thing, well, all I can say at this point, Mr. Clemmons, is.... Watch out!

I think you are wrong.

But I'm too much of a competitor to potentially put myself at a disadvantage and I suspect this is a common feeling. Even if it was like - "I won't if you won't" - and you show up on the blocks and you're not but they are. Bummer.

I have yet to try one of the fastest suits, i.e., a B70 (which sounds like it has some "closed cell" foam properties, which makes it float a bit, a la a wet suit-lite), but I have swum in Aquablades, FS1s, a FSPro that got stolen after the first day, and most recently a Tyr Aquapel. It doesn't float. Really. I tried the float test - put a couple of small rocks in it and it sank straight to the bottom. Right now. :D Seriously, it doesn't float.

I don't truly care, provided people don't say it's "man" vs the water or "how fast the "human body" can go" because it's really not. It is "man and quasi-buoyancy aid" or "human body encased in repellent suit." Just like the ludicrous cycling and speedskating helmets. It's still (wo)man going through the water. Suits don't swim your race for you. And they don't do the training that goes into the racing.

It doesn't float. Really. I tried the float test - put a couple of small rocks in it and it sank straight to the bottom. Right now. :D Seriously, it doesn't float. Take it dry and drop it in the water.Also it traps air next to your skin so it makes you more buoyant.It is true if you put it underwater and wring it out,it sinks.

I think the value of these suits depends on the wearer. If you compete in situations where the best times are often determined by split seconds and are working towards a professional swimming career or have the benefit of endorsements ... then sure go for it, the advantage makes sense. Otherwise I can't really understand the cost benefit of them. Why not just swim fast in a reasonably fast suit, enjoy your races and have fun with that money saved. I'll vote: No,they are the greatest thing since sliced bread

Hey The Fortress You're missing my point. Fastest will still be the fastest. So ceteris paribus it is just a waste of $ and efort to delude people into thinking they are faster than they are sans suits. Are you doing a Dolphin 2 imitation here? lol Nope, don't agree, I still think it's (wo)man vs the water. No one's ever swum naked. Tech suits have always been around. It's still (wo)man trying to go through the water as fast as possible. I frankly don't care if I ever have another official race time without a technical suit. I race tech clad and fast (or at least attempt to), and have no interest in doing otherwise. I don't feel less of a swimmer if my bare legs aren't showing and see no reason whatsoever to race that way. But to each his own, as I've always said. Some like feel; I like speed.