More testing with Speedo LZR fullsuit:
After testing it, I (just an average older freediver) and my buddy (competitive young freediver with maxs 180+ dnf and 200+ dyn) have the same opinion:
To us Orca is in
DNF better than LZR: Orca is easier to balance for DNF glide, it has (partly therefor) a longer glide, and strokes are more effective with Orca (e.g. it's panels...). But for somebody who absolutely wants to have free arms and shoulders in DNF, LZR may be good for DNF.
In
DYN it's a different case. Speedo LZR - as probably also other high performance swimming suits - is very good in DYN:
No balance problems with monofin (about 0,5-1 kg less weights than with Orca RS1, no need to use weight belt). (No balance problems with Orca either).
Glides are good.
It's easy to do body movements and streamlining (arms and shoulders are free).
No suit problems in high speed. I tested monofin sprint 25 s/50 m with a slow turn, means over 2 m/s speed if the turn is not included. It feels very good.
In DYN Orcas are good, too. It's not that big difference. Both suit are about equal in speed, I tested in DYN with normal competitive/training style, doublekick and glide:
- without suit (not litterally): 24 sec with 3,5 douplekicks (=7 kicks)
- Orca RS1: 22 sec with 2,5 doublekicks (5 kicks), and 20 sec with 3 doublekicks (6 kicks)
- Speedo LZR swimming fullsuit: 22 sec with 2,5 doublekicks (5 kicks) and 20 sec with 3 douplekicks (6 kicks).
If you want more speed in DYN, with LZR it's VERY easy to do these 1 sec faster. But I tried do it just the same way with all suits, so then there is not a difference to Orca in figures above (with my tests, including about 15-20 times/ suit).
If you like to keep shoulders and arms free, and like that suit must give you much freedom for body movements, a high tech swimsuit is a very good solution. LZR is a swimming suit, so it's not warm as Orca. Elios 1.5-2 mm is much warmer. Somebody want a warm suit, somebody want for dynamic (especially for training) a suit, which is not too warm. So it depends.
About sizing of LZR: as said earlier it's done for top swimmers and for their special shape of body. It is challencing to put on the lower part of suit from legs to waist, but the upper part is easy. There is room to get your lungs full and to pack. If you are short and not having a wide back and not a large breast/chest (I mean men primaly) LZR suit is maybe too long and the upper part not thight enough. For our competitive 183 cm tall freediver the right size seems to be ML. XL is really for a tall and big man (Mullins or something) if you want that the upper part is very thight, too. BTW, the waist was not a big problem to put on, altough my waist is in normal situation (not pulling it smaller) 15 cm bigger than in LZR tables...
So don't buy too big size! The right size is extremely thigt from the lower part when first time putting it on, but you can do it if you have good nerves and enough time
Be careful and check the video how to put it on.
Edit: Don't buy too short either! It hurts shoulders, not good for relaxing.
BTW:
LZR is very good in swimming, surprise
! I Broke the Record (of mine) with LZR in 25m swimming: 14.95 s
I was feeling like a rocket when I made the start jump into the water - just like Phelps said! - but not having that much rocket feeling anymore when I swam - but I don't blame the suit for that rofl
-----------------------------
Speedo LZR Racer New Elite Bodyskin no arms -suit and our other suit tester (a competitive freediver):
