Bargain Hunting

I love a good bargain.  I will almost never pay full price for anything.  I say 'almost' because it isn't healthy to deal in absolutes.  Never say never, and all that.  Keep in mind, though, that it is only a bargain if it is something you have been seeking for a while and actually need.  95% off of something you will never use is really spending 100% too much.

I need a triathlon wet suit for my race coming up in August.

I swam the 600m sprint triathlon without one, but felt that 1.2 miles of open water swim in a half-Ironman calls for the added buoyancy and protection of a wet suit.  Unfortunately, triathlon wet suits are not cheap.  At least, not as cheap as a regular run of the mill water sports wet suit.  Those aren't really cheap, either.  Triathlon wet suits are designed for swimming, not playing.  They are thinner and more flexible in the shoulders for arm rotation and in the ankles for speedy exits from the suit during transitions.  They conform to the thickness ratings set forth by USA Triathlon, the governing body that oversees sanctioned races.  Some regular sport wet suits are too thick.  Triathlon is not a cheap sport, and the wet suit is the second most expensive piece of equipment, next to the bike.  So, I've had it in the back of my mind that I need to acquire one.  I haven't been looking, just mulling it over.

And then I got the e-mail.

There is a triathlon store in Lehi (one town over).  A store dedicated to one obscure sport is pretty rare.  I'm on their mailing list and received a notification that they are closing their brick and mortar stores and going online only.  As a result, all inventory in the store had to go and was being sold off at 60% off.  I just had to go and check it out.

I FOUND A WET SUIT!!!  It is a Zoot Fuzion, which means pretty much nothing to you, I am sure, but I am very satisfied that I got a $300 suit for only $128 (post tax)!  It isn't really in the budget for this month, even at that price, but it is highly unlikely that I will find a better price between now and the race.  The cheapest discount I can find for the same suit online puts it at the $150-$210 range (pre tax), so I really did find a deep bargain this time.

I snapped it up a week ago.  I am very happy, glad, excited, et cetera!   Bill suggested I take it out to the lake and try it out right away.  I think I'll wait for the lake to thaw out, thanks.  It's not a dry suit, after all.  It is rated for 50-80 degree water, not frozen arctic water!  I will make sure it gets plenty of use this summer, though!