I know there are many of you out there with strong feelings against technical suits. While I respect your opinions, I am wanting to try a technical suit for the SCY 2011 state/national meets. What I am looking for here are suggestions, tips, and/or recommendations from people who are using technical suits as to what I should be looking for - other than "FINA approved". If you have any advice for someone looking to buy her first technical suit, please let me know. If it makes a difference, I am focusing on mainly freestyle and fly.
Thanks!
I wore the TYR Fusion 2 for this LCM zones this summer. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on a suit, and I really wanted to try a more "technical" suit. I had previously worn a Speedo FSII recordbreaker.
I found that the Fusion 2 was really easy to get on and off for a kneeskin. The material had more give to it than what I expected from a tech suit. I got the same size as my training suit. The only problems (other than trying to figure out how to go to the bathroom once I got it on, and that is just because of it being a kneeskin) was that I didn't think that it had a lot of support up top. It was tight around my knees, but I got used to it. Also, the stitching started coming undone along one of the arm holes. I think that the quality has something to do with it, but if you are looking for an "entry-level" suit, this is probably your best bet. I will probably wear it again. I can't speak to how it will hold up over a season, as I only wore it for 1 day of a 2-day meet.
I had seen the Fusion 2 on swimoutlet.com and it appealed to me because of the price (especially since this is my first tech suit), but quite frankly the price looked too good to be true and I was questioning its quality. Have you had good luck with it? And, thanks for the other advice.
I bought the Fusion 2 this summer after trying the Speedo Aquablade on, and it gave me flabby bulges where there were none originally! I then decided I really needed a kneeskin. For the price I am happy with it, although I have had some stitching come loose, probably 4th time out. Also I'm not at my swimming peak right now so couldn't justifly spending big $$.
My previous tech suit experience was one of the older Speedo fastskins with full legs and zipper. For me I tend to find Speedo a better fit, and the Fastskin is way better IMO than the TYR, but I reckon a lot of it is down to the extra coverage. The Fusion does do the job of keeping my hips high in the water though.
As for sizing, I wear 34 endurance, 32 lycra and bought 30 Fusion, although I could have probably gone down to a 28.
I know there are many of you out there with strong feelings against technical suits. While I respect your opinions, I am wanting to try a technical suit for the SCY 2011 state/national meets. What I am looking for here are suggestions, tips, and/or recommendations from people who are using technical suits as to what I should be looking for - other than "FINA approved". If you have any advice for someone looking to buy her first technical suit, please let me know. If it makes a difference, I am focusing on mainly freestyle and fly.
Thanks!
If price is an issue, then go with the earlier models/least expensive suits with the best fit for you. When in doubt on size, pick the one that you think will feel the least distracting when you have to wear it for hours and sit in it all damp. Keep in mind you can probably take it off your shoulders, but you probably will be wearing it on the bottom for the duration of your meets.
As a FIRST time buyer/user, I also recommend earlier model suits within each brand because they will be most familiar in feel as suits you are already used to. The technology aspect of the suit won't matter so much in a first time user - because you simply have to get used to swimming in a suit that goes to the knees, and also learning through trial & error on fit and feel.
A first suit is only that; you should expect to buy more in the future. At which point the first suit becomes your backup suit, and so on. So I wouldn't approach it like there is one Right Answer, simply the first one that you buy, and you always can try a different suit the next time.
Dpending on your relationship with teammates, you can also borrow someone's suit!
I do not recommend the BlueSeventy for a first time buyer. I love mine, but I think there are better all-purpose fit and feel suits. It has an extremely small rear end and small chest for the same size as Speedo, so unless you are very fit and have the body line, then this suit is NOT for you!
I recommend the Speedo FSPRo over the LZR Elite for a first time buyer. The Pro is more identifiable in the material feel, and for a first time user, I think there is very little difference in the tech aspect. In particular, I think the no-seam aspect of the latest models can be quite distracting - so for that reason and because the FSPRo fits just as well as the Elite - I would recommend the FSPRo over anything else for the first time buyer.
I'm swimming through rotator cuff tears and looking for a full length (with arms) compression suit for training purposes. Does anyone know who may be clearing out the banned tech suits and/or have any recommendations. I've searched without luck through Google.
Swim Outlet has this one available, but only in a small. www.swimoutlet.com/.../14441.htm While they may not have your size, they perhaps could tell you where to try? Good luck in your search and sorry about your injury.
Thanks....I saw that one. My thinking was that the sleeves would help stabilize the shoulder during practice. I'm still striking out...it looks like they simply pulled the banned suits from the market.
Ebay? I've not looked but there might be a few suppliers trying to shift end of lines, or swimmers that have once or twice-worn suits that they're trying to get a few $$ back?
