Triathlon - Wetsuit question

Hey guys/gals, I am sure this info is posted somewhere and I did a quick search, but I want to get some fresh opinions.

Anyway, I'm a seasoned racer (marathon, bike races and duathlons) and just signed up for my first Tri. It's in mid-may in NY, and I'm sure the water will be cold. I have a wetsuit that I use for scuba diving, but I'm sure that won't work for a Tri (it's really think and 2-piece and not easy to get out of).
Does anyone have any advice on a good tri wetsuit? I'll need two (one for me, one for my g/f). We're not planning on a TON of tri's but we'll do a few per year. Basically, we don't need anything SUPER expensive, entry level that's easy to get out of will be just fine.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks

Dave

Blue Seventy, which used to be Ironman were pretty reasonable when I got mine. I used it for 2 years/30 races before I sold it. It didn't have a nick in it and was still as good as new.

www.Trisports.com

www.all3sports.com

I'm fairly partial to Orca but pretty much all the wetsuit/triathlon clothing companies have good entry level wetsuits that should be around or under $200 depending on if you want sleeveless or not. DeSoto is also good with their 2 piece wetsuits which let you mix and match if you have odd body sizing.

Keep an eye on eBay. I picked up a pristine QR longjohn for my wife for about half retail. Just have an idea about your size before you shop. If possible, try on a model from each manufacturer you are considering. Sizes are pretty consistent across lines from one manufacturer, but vary quite a bit between them.

Jim

The wetsuits I see priced on these tri-sites are so marked up and over priced it's insane. Buy an inexpensive surfing wetsuit. You can typically find good prices on leftovers right now. Check out stores such as swell.com or others by searching. You don't need to spend 400 bucks on a wet suit that does the same thing as a $100 one. Kinda the equivalent of a corvette vs. a ferrari.

http://www.swell.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4890&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C6%2C48%2C722&iProductID=4890

This is where I got mine.
www.wetsuit.com/

thanks everyone! very helpful

Anyone have any idea how warm or cold water in NYC area is around May? I'm thinkin it's got to be fairly cold. That's not too far off and I bet it's fidgid now.

The wetsuits I see priced on these tri-sites are so marked up and over priced it's insane. Buy an inexpensive surfing wetsuit. You can typically find good prices on leftovers right now. Check out stores such as swell.com or others by searching. You don't need to spend 400 bucks on a wet suit that does the same thing as a $100 one. Kinda the equivalent of a corvette vs. a ferrari.

http://www.swell.com/jump.jsp?itemID=4890&itemType=PRODUCT&path=1%2C2%2C6%2C48%2C722&iProductID=4890

Well, yes and no. There are a few key differences btw surfing and triathlon wetsuits (I have and use both). Current surf and swim/tri suits both have good flexibility in the arms/shoulders, but surf suits have additional materials in the torso and legs to reduce wear due to friction from the board. This adds weight and reduces floatation. Tri-suits are more flexible overall, and much more bouyant. They are also a lot easier to remove quickly (as in a transition).

I used my surfing short suit for my triathlon in June and it worked, but there is no comparison to a suit engineered for swimming in the water. That said, if you have access to a decent surfing wetsuit for $100 and no other option, it would be better than nothing for warmth.

Jim

I see Lamar Tri wetsuits on ebay for $75, plus $25 shipping. Are they any good?

thanks everyone! very helpful

Anyone have any idea how warm or cold water in NYC area is around May? I'm thinkin it's got to be fairly cold. That's not too far off and I bet it's fidgid now.

50 degrees or so is my guess. but the race directors should be able to give you data on the temperature during past years' races. also look for info at the manhattan island foundation's site (?), since they run a lot of open water races around here.

This is where I got mine.
www.wetsuit.com/

+1 for Pro Motion wetsuits (www.wetsuit.com)! I got the sleeveless Fluid Drive last summer for $169 http://www.wetsuit.com/store/detail.cfm?product_id=476 Great suit, great price & great service!