to buy, or not to buy
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jhudalla posted 16 weeks ago.
I have the full, and though I don't have any experience w/ the sleeveless, I don't have any complaints about it.
Weary is the path that does not challenge.
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kylie posted 16 weeks ago.
I have heard good things about renting them. If I'd known those options when I got mine, I would have looked into it more. Although having one, it is nice knowing it is always there and that I am familiar with the fit and feeling. But as a downside if you change size you have to redo the whole process of getting one.
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trigirltina2 posted 16 weeks ago.
+1 Kylie Rent just give yourself time to get use to the suit.
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go 'gate 2006 posted 16 weeks ago.
+1
I used wetsuitrental.com and was very pleased. they did a good job of sending me a suit to fit me.
- AT
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TriSooner posted 16 weeks ago.
Lonestar in November? I live in Dallas and have a full. If you buy, go with the full. May as well take advantage of every bit of neoprene.
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jperubog posted 16 weeks ago.
another +1 on wetsuitrental.com, excellent service, I think they have an option to buy if you really like the suit also, so you may get a bargain on a used suit.
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jtrimom posted 16 weeks ago.
TriSooner wrote:
Lonestar in November? I live in Dallas and have a full. If you buy, go with the full. May as well take advantage of every bit of neoprene.
Ironstar in November in Conroe and Lonestar in Galveston in March; Have you used your full much in Texas races?
Sounds like renting with an option to buy will be the way to go, at least for this coming year- thanks
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Member
195 days
zagfan posted 16 weeks ago.
+1 wetsuitrental.com, $40 for one week rental, I paid an additional $22 and they shipped it to me over three weeks out from my race. I tried buying the suit (they give you $40 credit towards it) but I couldn't buy the one the rented to me b/c of stock level. Instead they gave me a $62 credit and told me I could pick another suit anytime this summer. Very nice people, although very hard to get a hold of over the phone (they only have one line).
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RunMDC posted 16 weeks ago.
If you are renting for $50 or $60 each time and do it twice in a year thats half the price of a new one. Plus if you do not have one how are you going to practice transitions. Getting out of a wetsuit (especially a full) is not a pretty sight.
I live in Austin and use my suit at two races a year but I think it was a smart buy because when I travel (which I hope to do more next season) I will have it and I know it fits, I know how to get in/out of it, and I can pactice with it at the lake whenever I want.
I also justify the buy because using it at two to three races a year it will probably last several years. Thats less than the cost of renting twice a year for 3 years or more.
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196 days
jtrimom posted 16 weeks ago.
you have a point, RunMDC...hmm, to buy or not to buy? I would hate to rent 2x next year and then be in the same position next August...oh, the decisions!
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Rygy_Trigy posted 16 weeks ago.
I bought my wetsuit 2 years ago. I live in Houston as well. I have used it for Lonestar (2x) and Ironstar last year (water was very cold). I used it also in Twin Lakes (HWY 6) for my open water training up until May this year (was training for IM Brazil at the end of the month). Also, if you plan on doing Cap Tex Tri (Austin), Towne Lake is pretty cold and usually wetsuit legal. I have gotten a lot of value out of my wetsuit vs. renting. Plus, usually when you have something (and it is expensive) you use it. It kept me going to Twin Lakes in early spring.
See you in Conroe! Doing CL in a couple of weeks? How about the Tri/Roadie Time Trial?
Good luck!
600
Member
196 days
jtrimom posted 16 weeks ago.
Rygy_Trigy wrote:
I bought my wetsuit 2 years ago. I live in Houston as well. I have used it for Lonestar (2x) and Ironstar last year (water was very cold). I used it also in Twin Lakes (HWY 6) for my open water training up until May this year (was training for IM Brazil at the end of the month). Also, if you plan on doing Cap Tex Tri (Austin), Towne Lake is pretty cold and usually wetsuit legal. I have gotten a lot of value out of my wetsuit vs. renting. Plus, usually when you have something (and it is expensive) you use it. It kept me going to Twin Lakes in early spring.See you in Conroe! Doing CL in a couple of weeks? How about the Tri/Roadie Time Trial?
Good luck!
I am not doing CL b/c I am doing Summertime Blues in Freeport the following week...Are you doing Cinco Ranch in Katy? that's in Sept.
I haven't done any time trials- when is that one?
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brittda posted 16 weeks ago.
I rented for my first IM. Then went back to my tri shop and bought my sleeveless (which I love,and would not personally own a full) used. They sell the current season suits at a huge reduction. Funny thing....the suit I bought was the same one I rented and they had just pulled it out brand new for me to rent at the time. Bought it a week later :)
Many places have rent to buy deals ie if you decide to buy one, you don't pay the rental.
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120 days
Trilosopher posted 16 weeks ago.
Another thing to take into consideration, unless water temperature is the main issue, is how effective the wetsuit is for you. Swimming's my weakness and the wetsuit makes one heck of a diference for me, and was worth every penny. Some better swimmers I know say they don't get such an improvement, especially keeping in mind the extra time and effort spent in T1 getting the thing off. I'm gonna go ahead and give a +1 to renting; better to spend $40 than $200 (or more) to find out you don't want/need it.
I am waffling now, if I should buy a wetsuit. I live in Houston, and am not likely to travel for any races for at least 2 years, if not longer. I will be doing a HIM in November, which may or may not be a wetsuit swim (depending on our crazy fall weather which could be in the 90's or in the 50s- but I won't know till the day before) and then possibly another HIM in March, which will probably be a wetsuit swim b/c it was this past year. Then anytime in between those months, it is very unlikely to need a wetsuit around here...and if I invest (for the future, when I can travel for races), should I get the sleeveless one or the full one?