My first wetsuit, which I bought from Runner’s Edge in Farmingdale, Long Island, was a TYR Hurricane Category 5 wetsuit in black and red. (See story on buying a wetsuit.) As I wore it, I felt it was restricting. So I wanted to try out a TYR Hurricane Cat 5 sleeveless wetsuit.
I’ve been having some issues in the open water. I’m not sure why. My friend thought it could be because I feel restricted in the long sleeve wetsuit. My coach agreed. So I was excited when the wetsuit arrived at my house.
When I opened the box, and it’s packed extremely well, the one thing that struck me was the color. I love the color blue and that soothing color appears as accents on the outside of the suit. It also appears on the lining. It’s really hot!
The fit is true to size. I originally bought a M/L and it was way too big. The medium is a perfect fit for me. (Make sure to measure your body and then look at the handy chart on the website before ordering.)
It also comes with a carry bag, which I find quite useful.
The other thing I love is that when I’m swimming in the open water, I feel like I’m higher on the water and actually glide through the water. (I thought without the sleeves, I would be less buoyant but that’s not the case at all.)
The first time I wore the suit, I didn’t wear protection against chafing and boy I had chafing! But once I sprayed on the Tri Spray, the burning stopped. I definitely would recommend putting something on your arms and your inner arms to protect against chafing and there are lots of good products out there for that.
I also noticed the Cat 5 was a little easier to get on then the full wetsuit. But to me the most noticeable difference was the freedom and flexibility I had in the water. I felt free to move my arms! That definitely put me at a better comfort level and once I started to go, I felt like I could continue to glide through the water for hours!
I love TYR products and I especially love the TYR Cat 5 Sleeveless wetsuit! I plan on wearing this wetsuit for all of my upcoming races.
There’s a lot of useful info that I found about the suit on the website including:
The All New Women’s Category 5 Sleeveless Wetsuit utilizes a slew of advance features to provide unrivaled comfort, optimum stability, crazy speed and energy efficiency in the water. Designed for elite triathletes, the HCSVF6A showcases 100% Yamamoto 39 CellNano SCS Coated Neoprene exterior to provide unsurpassed buoyancy in the water and now boasts some of the same cutting-edge features as the world-renowned Freak of Nature wetsuit.
Showcasing Free R.O.M. (Range of Motion) Zones for comfort, the HCSVF6A CAT 5 women’s wetsuit eliminates constriction, allowing the swimmer to achieve a long reach without placing strain on the shoulder. Engineered for triathletes, Quick Release Ankle Cuffs allow for quick and effortless removal during T1 and strategic Speed Wrap Paneling placed throughout the leg, chest and core give you the feeling of a second skin, while maximizing body position and minimizing drag.
Elevation panels in the chest, core, obliques, buttocks and thighs elevate the swimmer’s position in the water, ensuring optimal body positioning, buoyancy and speed, while muscle groups are specifically targeted for core stabilization and long-term preservation of core strength. Alpha Catch Panels are strategically engineered on the forearm to allow for a maximized catch-and-release stroke. An insulated, thinner layer lies underneath to allow a feel for the water.
Antimicrobial lining provides superior odor protection and long lasting freshness.
The TYR Cat 5 Hurricane is a little pricey at $499.99 retail but I think it’s worth the price. (And what isn’t pricey in this sport anyway?) You can buy it at TriSports here.
