“Even though my weight (133 lbs) and height (5' 9.5")qualify me, according to the size chart, for the next smaller size, the WML is REALLY snug. My arms are pretty slender, but the arms of the WML are very skinny! The narrow shoulders smush my small chest and restrict my movements, but once I start swimming, it's comfortable. Taking it off is difficult, as it's hard to peel off the bottom half of the legs. I think the 2 layers of rubber rub against each other. The ankles are very narrow. I wear a rashguard underneath it to facilitate removing the top half. This thermal design keeps me warm for 2 hours plus these days, in Maui's winter ocean. My older Blue70 thermal suit wore out in numerous places around the waist and hips and permitted water to enter that way. I was NOT pleased with its short life span (I wear it about 6 months of the year; after 12 months of use, it had numerous perforations and frayed areas. Sitting down on lava rocks as I prepare to enter the water was no doubt one of the causes. But as I mentioned before, I like this company's vibes!”
So glad to hear you love our wetsuits, we love hearing from happy customers! I'd like to bring up two things though from your review. First - the tightness in your shoulders / chest can likely be relieved through ensuring the suit is really adjusted well, please review our fit video here: https://www.blueseventy.com/pages/wetsuit-fitting-tips. There is also a video that goes over getting out of the wetsuit, it's usually pretty quick to peel it off inside out, and the inside is much less prone to damage than the outside of the suit.
Second, from the photo you shared of snorkeling in your suit I can explain the fast wear of the wetsuit around your "waist and hips" - that would be caused by your weight belt. The other perforations you mention are also likely due to how you are using the suit for snorkeling, sitting on lava rock to enter the water, etc. You are free to use the wetsuit however you choose, but please keep in mind that our wetsuits are designed for swimming specifically and designed to be fast in the water. This makes them more fragile than a diving or surfing style wetsuit because we use smoothskin neoprene, where as those suits would use neoprene that is lined both on the inside and outside. The smoothskin has no liner on the outside which is what make it faster in the water but it also makes it susceptible to rubbing and tearing. Please keep in mind, that using the wetsuit as you have been, with the weight belt, is outside the intended us and outside the warranty coverage.
“This is the most comfortable and warmest wetsuit I have ever had -- I have tried many given that I have cold-induced hives and am prone to hypothermia. For the first time I am no longer spending half my ocean swim wondering how I will cope with the cold and can be present and enjoy it. My bad shoulder which acts up with most wetsuits, has been fine with this one given the aerodynamic design.”
