Been racing in a B70 NeroTX. Six meets and twelve competition days. On the second day of the meet at Auburn, it started to show those white frayed thinning areas in the chest, crotch and back seam. So it's obviously on its way out.
I have taken good care of it. Always rinsing in clear water after each day, not taking it on and off too much, always hanging immediately to dry, never leaving wadded up in my swim bag.
Now that we've been racing in the new generation of suits since July, I was curious about other's experience with their suits. What brand are you wearing and how has it held up? Is my suit life typical or have your suits lasted longer?
This is such a qualitative discussion - how long a suit "lasts" depends on what you think that means - until it rips, starts to ripple from material stretch, see-throughness, etc.....
The main issue I see with attempting to give you ONE answer to your question is that there is VARIANCE among suits, even same brand same model. It is the luck of the draw if you blow out the seam on the first wearing, or if it lasts you as much as you have worn yours and beyond.
I currently have 5 kneeskins, Speedo FS Pro (1), Speedo LZR Elite (3), and 1 BS (latest model). They have ranged from 3 meets & a tear to a full season and going strong (albeit somewhat stretched out), and one with tags just ready to be worn!!!
My recommendation is to get multiple suits and rotate them. You don't wear the same pair of shoes everyday, right? So rotate at least 2 suits at a time.
I personally wear the "lastest" suits at every sanctioned meet. I see no reason to signal that I am not ready or waiting to wear a "faster" suit. You wait for the laundry spin cycle and checks to clear, but not for opportunities to swim fast at any meet! If you wait until you're ready, you'll never be ready.
And i'd like to head Dophin 2 off right now. I am a bit tired of hearing ad nauseum (sp) his well-known dislike of tech suits and the $$$ involved. The $$$ is unambiguous, you just have to budget your $$, and suits are something I think are worthwhile TO ME to spend lots of $$$ on.
I've had pretty much the same experience and definitely use the same approach -- I only wear "tech" suits at meets and rotate them.
Karlene, I don't think I'd expect these suits to last much more than 6 meets. As Chowmi points out, they may not be falling apart, but they will get very stretched out, especially if you're in them all day. I've got a LZR Elite (my preferred suit) that's lasted many meets, but I've also had a rip or tear on nails/pull buoy, etc. on day 1. Interestingly, and unlike the real tech suits, I've never had a total blowout in the kneeskins.
This is such a qualitative discussion - how long a suit "lasts" depends on what you think that means - until it rips, starts to ripple from material stretch, see-throughness, etc.....
The main issue I see with attempting to give you ONE answer to your question is that there is VARIANCE among suits, even same brand same model. It is the luck of the draw if you blow out the seam on the first wearing, or if it lasts you as much as you have worn yours and beyond.
I currently have 5 kneeskins, Speedo FS Pro (1), Speedo LZR Elite (3), and 1 BS (latest model). They have ranged from 3 meets & a tear to a full season and going strong (albeit somewhat stretched out), and one with tags just ready to be worn!!!
My recommendation is to get multiple suits and rotate them. You don't wear the same pair of shoes everyday, right? So rotate at least 2 suits at a time.
I personally wear the "lastest" suits at every sanctioned meet. I see no reason to signal that I am not ready or waiting to wear a "faster" suit. You wait for the laundry spin cycle and checks to clear, but not for opportunities to swim fast at any meet! If you wait until you're ready, you'll never be ready.
And i'd like to head Dophin 2 off right now. I am a bit tired of hearing ad nauseum (sp) his well-known dislike of tech suits and the $$$ involved. The $$$ is unambiguous, you just have to budget your $$, and suits are something I think are worthwhile TO ME to spend lots of $$$ on.
I've had pretty much the same experience and definitely use the same approach -- I only wear "tech" suits at meets and rotate them.
Karlene, I don't think I'd expect these suits to last much more than 6 meets. As Chowmi points out, they may not be falling apart, but they will get very stretched out, especially if you're in them all day. I've got a LZR Elite (my preferred suit) that's lasted many meets, but I've also had a rip or tear on nails/pull buoy, etc. on day 1. Interestingly, and unlike the real tech suits, I've never had a total blowout in the kneeskins.
