Blueseventy

Helix Full Wetsuit - Women's

If you're thinking about buying the Blueseventy Helix Women's Wetsuit, you're probably wondering if you can place in the top ten at next year's Ironman, not what it might be like to train for your first triathlon. In case the price hasn't made it clear enough, we'll say that the Helix is the top-of-the-line wetsuit for serious triathletes who are looking for every advantage. It's assumed that expert triathletes have already mastered their swimming technique, so the Helix doesn't waste too much time on enhancing proprioception (the exceptions are the ultra-thin Honeycomb Aqua Feel forearm panels, which are designed to increase awareness of arm positioning, in turn boosting power, enhancing technique, and reducing injury risk). Instead, the Helix focuses on buoyancy and flexibility, the characteristics most important to top-quality athletes.

To that end, Blueseventy employed thinner Yamamoto neoprene on the arms and lower legs, in addition to thin and seamless Torsional Stretch Technology panels on the deltoids. This provides unparalleled mobility in the water, along with the shoulder freedom that's essential for powerful strokes. Medium-thickness Body Fit Panels allow for unrestricted core rotation for increased power and buoyancy, while the split VO2 chest panel is anatomically matched to the lungs, providing maximum stretch during respiration while maximizing buoyancy.

Ah, the "B" word. Buoyancy is perhaps the most important wetsuit feature for top-of-the-line athletes, as it reduces the percentage of your body that's actually moving through the water, in turn minimizing drag and maximizing efficiency. The Helix is built on a 5-5-4 pattern, concentrating buoyancy around the hips, lower torso, and upper hamstrings, which helps you achieve an efficient and powerful "downhill" swimming position, so you can focus on propelling yourself forward and not on raising yourself up and out of the water. This will save you time and keep you fresher, so you can fully appreciate the easy removal encouraged by the thin Quick Exit legs, flared ankle, and comfortable reverse zipper when you're powering out of the water and getting ready to jump on your bike and crush the next stage.