I took advantage of the current 60%-off coupon on xterra wetsuits and got myself a Vortex 3 for under $200. It seemed to fit pretty well on dry land, tight, but not too tight, no problem zipping it up, no baggy bits. However, today when I wore it in the water for the first time, I immediately got a load of water down the back of my neck, and when I tried to adjust it further, another load down my front. This is the first time I've ever worn a wetsuit, and I hoping I just didn't have it pulled up sufficiently around the neck. I'm going to try it again tomorrow, but in the meantime, if anybody has any advice, I'm eager to hear it.
Also, after my suit was thoroughly wetted inside (top half), I found it very difficult to adjust, so I ended up just taking it off and hanging it up to dry. Is it even possible to put on a wet wetsuit, i.e., should I have taken it off and then tried to put it on again?
So I tried it out again yesterday. Bending over and pulling up the belly fold helped a little I think. The material around my neck and shoulders was less tight, but it still leaked, only not as bad as before. I could feel the water on my chest and back and after 10 or 15 minutes, it hadn't really warmed up at all. I didn't feel at all confident that the wetsuit would keep me warm in really cold water. When I stood up to climb out of the lake, I could feel water trickling down my legs inside the suit. Not quite sure where to go from here. Some of you say it's supposed to leak; elsewhere, like the USMS wetsuit trials video, people said their suits don't leak at all around the neck (can't remember which brands). I read through the Xterra sizing information again, and I'm pretty sure I'm in the right size – the suit is tight, no gap in small of back, no wrinkles or folds. Perhaps it's just a matter of body shape? Might the suit perhaps conform better to my body shape after a few wearings? Anyone have any other ideas before I phone Xterra?
So I tried it out again yesterday. Bending over and pulling up the belly fold helped a little I think. The material around my neck and shoulders was less tight, but it still leaked, only not as bad as before. I could feel the water on my chest and back and after 10 or 15 minutes, it hadn't really warmed up at all. I didn't feel at all confident that the wetsuit would keep me warm in really cold water. When I stood up to climb out of the lake, I could feel water trickling down my legs inside the suit. Not quite sure where to go from here. Some of you say it's supposed to leak; elsewhere, like the USMS wetsuit trials video, people said their suits don't leak at all around the neck (can't remember which brands). I read through the Xterra sizing information again, and I'm pretty sure I'm in the right size – the suit is tight, no gap in small of back, no wrinkles or folds. Perhaps it's just a matter of body shape? Might the suit perhaps conform better to my body shape after a few wearings? Anyone have any other ideas before I phone Xterra?
