The big investment or toe in the water;

A wetsuit is a significant investment; especially when you consider that you'll probably only use it half a dozen times a year. Like all such investments it's sometimes hard to justify spending more than a bare minimum but it's definitely worth it. The more expensive the suit the more flexible it will be and, generally, the better it will fit. Not all wetsuit makers use the same body proportions so do not rely on the fact that two different makes describe a size as Medium - they may be wildly different in fit. Do get advice on the fit of the suit and do be prepared to try on several, and allow time for this. Once bought and worn it's unlikely that the shop will be willing to take it back if you decide that it is the If you are outside of the 'norms' in terms of body size or shape you can opt for a made to measure suit. Getting a made to measure suit means that you can, within the limits laid down by the different associations, choose your suit to match your swimming style. If you have a good leg kick you'll need less rubber on the legs, if you have a lousy leg kick and get cold very quickly then you might go for thicker rubber and a thermal lining. The elite, who can literally win or lose a race in transition, might go for special panels so that the suit slides off easier or different zipper configurations. You can also opt for different suit types such as sleeveless or even a shorty but you need to be pretty tough and a good swimmer to get by in one of these in most of the British waters.

A great alternate is simply renting the suits from TriSuitHire and when you totally happy with the suit you can ask to purchase the same brand and we can order the suits especially for you.

For the majority of triathletes reading this, however, an off the peg suit will be more than adequate and they now come in such a range of sizes that it will be hard not to find one to fit.