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Orca Breathe arrival and Trubridge Videos - update
- Thread starterOrca_Wetsuits
- Start date
Thread Status: Hello
, There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.
Thank you for the fast reply so I can order the suit now just need to pick which one to go for lol 
Posted via Mobile Device
Just go to orca-breathe-fullsleeve-mens at Orca and there is a little tab called "size chart"
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
Just go to orca-breathe-fullsleeve-mens at Orca and there is a little tab called "size chart"
Posted via Mobile Device
Posted via Mobile Device
My recommendation is that if you fall between two sizes go for the smaller of the two. The material is extremely flexible, and it may be slightly more difficult to get on (make sure you pull with hands not fingernails), but tightness will make it warmer and add more compression (which increases hydrodynamics and bloodshift).
I use these suits to train in water down to 22ºC, and I am VERY susceptible to cold. In the pool I use an Orca Free for longer swims and hypoxic tables, and I could be in all day and not get cold. The difference between the little water that sloshes into and around most standard cheaper brand suits, and the snugly watertight fit of an Orca suit is night and day.
I use these suits to train in water down to 22ºC, and I am VERY susceptible to cold. In the pool I use an Orca Free for longer swims and hypoxic tables, and I could be in all day and not get cold. The difference between the little water that sloshes into and around most standard cheaper brand suits, and the snugly watertight fit of an Orca suit is night and day.
Susceptible to the cold? Last time I dove with you was in 14-15 degree water and you were only wearing a top! Admittedly not by design, but I was bloody impressed. Especially as you don't have any natural insulation...
My experience is the same as Will's though. A size smaller is better than a size too big. I've got the breathe, which is perfect buoyancy in the pool for me. I'm certainly not going to get cold in the pool and I suspect I'd be using it for deep diving when the water is 22-27 degrees.
My experience is the same as Will's though. A size smaller is better than a size too big. I've got the breathe, which is perfect buoyancy in the pool for me. I'm certainly not going to get cold in the pool and I suspect I'd be using it for deep diving when the water is 22-27 degrees.
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I just received my Breathe, only 2 days after ordering it. The quality appears to be good, but the first thing I noticed is that the size 6 that I ordered is visibly smaller than the Equip size 6 that I already had. I assumed that since the neoprene is thinner it should be more flexible, and tried it on.
This is the tightest wetsuit I have ever squeezed into. With my wife's help, I was able to zip it up (or down in this case). There is a reverse zipper on this suit, which you have to put together at the top, then pull it down. Think of it like a zipper on your jacket, but upside down. There is no way that I would have been able to attach the zipper and pull it down myself. We had to do a lot of pulling and squeezing to accomplish this. There has to be a method of doing this by yourself that somebody can explain to me, because I can't figure it out. It may just be because it's new to me.
There is one other thing - the bib on the inside of the suit that you pull over your head was a really tight fit. I had to stretch it quite a bit to get it over my head. Once in place, it felt like it was choking me to some extent. I would also be concerned about tearing this at some point.
Strangely enough, the Breathe is clearly smaller than the Equip that I have in the same size. Even the Equip is a challenge to put on, but once in the water it feels fine. This suit might just be too small for me. If this is normal, I will deal with it and figure it out, but I would appreciate a little guidance.
Here is a picture of the two suits side by side. Obviously, the Breathe is on the left. Please excuse the minor home improvement going on.
This is the tightest wetsuit I have ever squeezed into. With my wife's help, I was able to zip it up (or down in this case). There is a reverse zipper on this suit, which you have to put together at the top, then pull it down. Think of it like a zipper on your jacket, but upside down. There is no way that I would have been able to attach the zipper and pull it down myself. We had to do a lot of pulling and squeezing to accomplish this. There has to be a method of doing this by yourself that somebody can explain to me, because I can't figure it out. It may just be because it's new to me.
There is one other thing - the bib on the inside of the suit that you pull over your head was a really tight fit. I had to stretch it quite a bit to get it over my head. Once in place, it felt like it was choking me to some extent. I would also be concerned about tearing this at some point.
Strangely enough, the Breathe is clearly smaller than the Equip that I have in the same size. Even the Equip is a challenge to put on, but once in the water it feels fine. This suit might just be too small for me. If this is normal, I will deal with it and figure it out, but I would appreciate a little guidance.
Here is a picture of the two suits side by side. Obviously, the Breathe is on the left. Please excuse the minor home improvement going on.
I also received my suit yesterday and had try it out immideately.
I´m 193 cm and 81 kg and ordered a size 9. Earlier I had a RS1 size 8 that felt a bit small so I decided to go a size bigger. After all the 9 is better suited for a 193 cm person according to the size chart also.
The size was thight but good. No way too tight compared to the RS1 or Speedo LZR. I didn´t either have a feeling of the collar chocking me. I think the length of the suit is really important to get right with the breath. Othervise the pull-over collar will be to "short" and choke you a bit.
I´m really satisfied with the suits fit so far. Have to see how it holds together with some use.
I´m 193 cm and 81 kg and ordered a size 9. Earlier I had a RS1 size 8 that felt a bit small so I decided to go a size bigger. After all the 9 is better suited for a 193 cm person according to the size chart also.
The size was thight but good. No way too tight compared to the RS1 or Speedo LZR. I didn´t either have a feeling of the collar chocking me. I think the length of the suit is really important to get right with the breath. Othervise the pull-over collar will be to "short" and choke you a bit.
I´m really satisfied with the suits fit so far. Have to see how it holds together with some use.
Hi there!
I recieved the Breath wetsuit and tried it rigth away. It fits me perfectly. It's just a fantastic equipment! I slide like a fish, never feel this speed before. This allow me to save a lot of energy and increase my PB. Concerning the warmth, it's exactly what i need. I can stay 2h in DNF without get cold in a 27C water, before i was shaking like a leaf after 15 min!!! The neck closing is great and no water is entering inside. And all this for a reasonable price! Awsome, fuckin great job ORCA!!! Thanks!!!
Awsome! Fuckin great job ORCA!!!! Thanks!!!
Posted via Mobile Device
I recieved the Breath wetsuit and tried it rigth away. It fits me perfectly. It's just a fantastic equipment! I slide like a fish, never feel this speed before. This allow me to save a lot of energy and increase my PB. Concerning the warmth, it's exactly what i need. I can stay 2h in DNF without get cold in a 27C water, before i was shaking like a leaf after 15 min!!! The neck closing is great and no water is entering inside. And all this for a reasonable price! Awsome, fuckin great job ORCA!!! Thanks!!!
Awsome! Fuckin great job ORCA!!!! Thanks!!!
Posted via Mobile Device
Info about the sizing
Hi guys - glad to hear a lot of you are enjoying the Breathe. I checked with our production team about sizing and any discrepancy between the Free/Breathe and our triathlon wetsuits. It sounds like based on feedback from Will and our endeavours to reduce water entering the suit, the sizing is slightly different:
"Yes we did reduce the size a bit mainly around the back panel as this is where for a freedive position our suits seemed to be too large as the suit would gape letting water in."
Obviously you should wear the wetsuit as tight as possible, but just be aware if you have an Orca tri wetsuit and are ordering a free dive specific one, there may be a small difference in the size.
Hi guys - glad to hear a lot of you are enjoying the Breathe. I checked with our production team about sizing and any discrepancy between the Free/Breathe and our triathlon wetsuits. It sounds like based on feedback from Will and our endeavours to reduce water entering the suit, the sizing is slightly different:
"Yes we did reduce the size a bit mainly around the back panel as this is where for a freedive position our suits seemed to be too large as the suit would gape letting water in."
Obviously you should wear the wetsuit as tight as possible, but just be aware if you have an Orca tri wetsuit and are ordering a free dive specific one, there may be a small difference in the size.
defo snug fit !!! got my breath yesterday I'm not sure how high up me legs this is meant to go but it seems really high also as said in orcas video a tight fit round the groin area is super important plus I'm hoping it stretches abit in time of use and its hot i was sweating after 30 seconds of having it on lol
Well, as a big fan of Orca I can add 2 cents about sizing.
First wetsuit I got was Orca RS1 size 8. It was perfect, after a while I got Orca Alpha size 8 and I was disappointed because it was significantly bigger than same size RS1. Water was going inside and I didn't like it, it was simply too big. When Orca Free showed up, based on previous experience I have ordered size 7 advised by Will Trubridge. I'm 188cm, 82kg,109cm chest, first time I spent 15minutes while put it on and was already sweeting. However the fit was great, wih time it was getting only better and better and now I can say it was best decision ever. I have done all my deep dives with it last summer in Egypt and it've worked great, no water going inside. I believe Breathe is just refreshed copy of ORCA FREE so it should work the same, sizes should be also the same. I remember before OT I was 45minutes in water (Platform in Sharm is far away from shore), and 30 minutes was just relaxing and breathing. I didn't get cold at all, water 28-29 degrees. Tied fit it's a great attribute of that freediving wetsuits and don't worry if it's like this on the beginnig, it's ultimate choice if You want to compete.
cheers,
Matt Malina
First wetsuit I got was Orca RS1 size 8. It was perfect, after a while I got Orca Alpha size 8 and I was disappointed because it was significantly bigger than same size RS1. Water was going inside and I didn't like it, it was simply too big. When Orca Free showed up, based on previous experience I have ordered size 7 advised by Will Trubridge. I'm 188cm, 82kg,109cm chest, first time I spent 15minutes while put it on and was already sweeting. However the fit was great, wih time it was getting only better and better and now I can say it was best decision ever. I have done all my deep dives with it last summer in Egypt and it've worked great, no water going inside. I believe Breathe is just refreshed copy of ORCA FREE so it should work the same, sizes should be also the same. I remember before OT I was 45minutes in water (Platform in Sharm is far away from shore), and 30 minutes was just relaxing and breathing. I didn't get cold at all, water 28-29 degrees. Tied fit it's a great attribute of that freediving wetsuits and don't worry if it's like this on the beginnig, it's ultimate choice if You want to compete.
cheers,
Matt Malina
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It appears that you are close in physical size, but 2 suit sizes apart, which is suprising. Jouskari - have you tried the suit in the water yet?
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Re: Matt's comments about the Breathe and Free
Hey Matt - just wanted to clarify about the Breathe and Free. The Breathe is definitely not a refresh of the Free, they are quite different wetsuits. The Free was the first model to come out, based off the Alpha tri wetsuit and incorporating free dive specific features. The Breathe is a lower cost option and is based off the RS1 Fullskn/Equip Lite with the free dive specific features.
Helping people with sizing is the one of the biggest challenges with wetsuits. In an ideal world you could go to a store and try on a couple of sizes, with the help of an experienced retailer. Obviously that isn't the case most of the time, and with people buying online. As noted in my earlier post, based on the info I got from our production team re: the changes to the fit of the free dive wetsuits, assume they will be a smaller fit than any existing tri wetsuit you have.
Hey Matt - just wanted to clarify about the Breathe and Free. The Breathe is definitely not a refresh of the Free, they are quite different wetsuits. The Free was the first model to come out, based off the Alpha tri wetsuit and incorporating free dive specific features. The Breathe is a lower cost option and is based off the RS1 Fullskn/Equip Lite with the free dive specific features.
Helping people with sizing is the one of the biggest challenges with wetsuits. In an ideal world you could go to a store and try on a couple of sizes, with the help of an experienced retailer. Obviously that isn't the case most of the time, and with people buying online. As noted in my earlier post, based on the info I got from our production team re: the changes to the fit of the free dive wetsuits, assume they will be a smaller fit than any existing tri wetsuit you have.
I simplify it saying "refreshed copy", but frankly said there is not much difference.
I can see only 2 MAIN differences between Orca Free and Breathe.
1st - thickness on shoulders and arms is 1mm instead of 2mm in FREE
2st - different kind of seams - Breathe has flat lock stitched seams and FREE has glued and stitched panel joins.
There are more details but this two are most important.
I would say it's a huge advantage of Orca Breathe, cause it's Orca Free quality for half the money :blackeye It's definitely my next wetsuit
Matt
I can see only 2 MAIN differences between Orca Free and Breathe.
1st - thickness on shoulders and arms is 1mm instead of 2mm in FREE
2st - different kind of seams - Breathe has flat lock stitched seams and FREE has glued and stitched panel joins.
There are more details but this two are most important.
I would say it's a huge advantage of Orca Breathe, cause it's Orca Free quality for half the money :blackeye It's definitely my next wetsuit
Matt