u/Additional_Ad_9492

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for advice on my first triathlon wetsuit. I’ve only been swimming for about a year and I’ve never swum in the ocean yet. I’m planning to do a few IRONMAN 70.3 races, starting with the first one in October in Cascais, Portugal, so I expect colder open water.

Some context:

• Height/weight: 1.80 m / 88 kg — around 5'11" / 194 lb
• Body type: bulky/muscular build, with a few extra kilos
• Pool pace: around 2:10/100 m in the 1900m distance
• I think my legs may sink a bit
• Main priorities: maximum buoyancy/confidence, comfort/flexibility, but still something reasonably fast
• Budget: ideally up to €450
• I tried the Zone3 Vision Terraprene/B-Prene in size L and the fit seemed OK, but I haven’t been able to try the others

Suits I’m considering:

• Orca Athlex Float V2: https://www.orca.com/en-pt/athlex-float-men-triathlon-wetsuit
• Zone3 Vision / B-Prene Vision: https://zone3.com/en-eu/products/mens-b-prene-vision-wetsuit
• Zone3 Advance: https://zone3.com/en-eu/products/mens-advance-wetsuit-2021
• Orca Athlex Flow V2, only if I can find it around budget: https://www.orca.com/en-gb/athlex-flow-men-triathlon-wetsuit

For someone in my situation — beginner open-water swimmer, aiming for 70.3 distance, wanting confidence and buoyancy more than pure race performance, which one would you recommend?

Also, for those with a similar height/weight/build, how did you find the sizing and shoulder comfort in these suits?

Thank you all!