Technical Suit Suggestions?

My new jammers just came in for my race this weekend. I got a pair of speedo endurance. Nothing special but they are tighter than the isports I wear for practice. Feel like the compress much better than others did originally. If I meet my goals this weekend ill move up to a basic technical for state in April.

The article was helpful, I enjoyed both male & female reviews. BUT - I would like to see some reviews of the mid-range and/or "entry level" tech suits as well. I can't fathom paying $250+ for a swimsuit I'm only going to wear a few times, even if it is nationals! I would like to consider the ones at/around the $200 level, but want the most bang for my buck. Sadly, I'm not able to really get much quality review on the suits at those levels outside of the obligatory - daughter wore it & got a PR, great! - that I think most of these suits would be able to provide simply due to the compression fit & tapered status of the swimmer. Thoughts?

My rationale for buying tech suits these days is that I buy one for spring Nats and then wear it to all meets for the next 12 months till the next Nats, when I get a new suit, and repeat the process. That way I get a brand new suit for Nats and then get a still pretty good suit for the next 12 meets or so before I replace it. For example, I'm planning on replacing my FSII jammers from last year's spring Nats with an Arena Powerskin Carbon Pro for Nats in May. By the time I make the switch, I'll have gotten 10 meets out of the FSII. At $105 for the suit, that comes out to $10.50 per wear. I'll take that. Even at $350 or $400 for the PCP (depending on which model I get), spread out over the 12-13 meets I plan to do between this spring Nats and the next one, that comes out to ~$30 per wear. Given how much I spend on food and beverages on a given weekend (as an example to compare costs), I think that is an absolutely reasonable price per wear!

I bought my first tech suit last summer before going to Summer Nats. I got the Finals X-Cellertator. It came down to a choice between that or the TYR Fusion. I didn't want to spend a lot on it as it was my first time purchasing a tech suit and it was my first meet... EVER. The reason I went with the Finals suit over the TYR was both for the fit and the durability. I love the suit I picked! From the reviews, I determined the TYR would be a bit too long for me as I'm rather short (only 5'2") and several people complained that it went past their knees on the average height bodies. I also read that the Finals suit was more durable. I've had NO problems with my suit. No rips, no tears, no drag, no holding water.. I'm completely happy with it and would definitely buy one again (though I'd also really like to try some of the pricier ones :)).

2012 was a good year for tech suits. Saving up for another TYR AP12 for August

Anyone had any luck with the Nike Hydra suits? I own a couple of the original Hydras. I really like them, have used them for several swims and they are still going strong. Great material and fit!

How does the sizing run on the Hydra? It looks like it uses the same size numbers as their regular suits so did you just go down 1-2 for it? I went down one size in the Hydra.

I own a couple of the original Hydras. I really like them, have used them for several swims and they are still going strong. Great material and fit! How does the sizing run on the Hydra? It looks like it uses the same size numbers as their regular suits so did you just go down 1-2 for it?

On the subject of cheaper women's tech suits, for what it's worth: I feel like it does pull some things in and compress a bit, but not as much as I gather a fancier tech suit would. I did the same last year, where I found an old Speedo Aquablade kneeskin on ebay for about $50. My first knee-length 'tech' suit and I thought it was fine. I gather lower-end tech suits like the Xcellerator, Fusion, and the Yingfa kneeskins are in the same realm. Later on I was able to score a Nike Hydra 1 kneeskin also on eBay for ~$80. At that point that particular model was a few years old or something, and its original retail was $275 I think. COMPLETE TOTAL difference compared to the Aquablade. It even ended up being a size or two larger that what would have been ideal, but I STILL felt that it had a far better cut and a ton more compression than the Aquablade. It felt totally awesome in the water, way less water retention....a HUGE difference in my opinion. I recall thinking to myself, "so THIS is what a REAL tech suit feels like!" after diving into the water for warm up lol. But I have to admit, while it definitely felt superior I can't say it it had a huge affect on my times ;) So if you don't want to break the bank, I would advise tracking down late-model/discontinued higher-end tech suits. While the technology isn't the current-best-on-the-market, you will still get the techy-ness but without the crazy costs. I know metroswimshop has lots of the late-model Nike Hydras and Swifts for ~$150 or so. Check eBay too, you can find great deals there as well. I am curious about the $120 Arena kneeskin......

On the subject of cheaper women's tech suits, for what it's worth: I started swimming again in August of this year and have done six meets in that time. In December (after I'd done three meets) I bought my first racing suit - the Tyr Fusion 2 kneeskin. I'm not sure I'd really call it a tech suit, but the price was right and I wanted to see how the kneeskin style felt. I was worried about the leg length on it since I'd heard it ran long and I am 5'5" but it's fine on me (though I am a bit short-waisted). I probably should have gone one more size down (I went down one from my practice suit size). I have swum faster in it, but I'm also in better shape and these were my first meets in better pools with automatic timing. I feel like it does pull some things in and compress a bit, but not as much as I gather a fancier tech suit would. However, I think it's definitely a faster suit than a polyester practice suit. I know one forumite whose name escapes me at this moment told me that she prefers the low-end Arena kneeskin (about $120 if I recall correctly) to the Fusion.