Full-sleeve or Sleeveless Wetsuit?

Your biggest decision when shopping for your first triathlon wetsuit is whether you want a full-sleeve or sleeveless suit. Several things differentiate the two styles, but the fundamental trade-off is between speed and freedom of movement.

Full sleeve suits are faster, plain and simple. They create less surface friction with the water and are more buoyant than sleeveless suits, which improves your body position by keeping your hips high in the water. But these benefits aren't without cost.

The arms of a full-sleeve suit create resistance that you feel in your triceps and shoulders. Swimming in a sleeveless suit feels unrestricted but isn't quite as fast.

source: Triathlete_Magazine_May2011