tri-suit

GROUPTEST
CONSTRUCTION
Often a mixture of elastane
and polyester and should
offer breathability, UV
protection and minimal
seam rub. Can also contain
a hydrophobic coating.
SEAMS
Should be smooth and
cause minimal irritation
throughout the race,
especially if you’re going
long distance.
JARGON
BUSTER
ZIPPER
Choices include
front or back zip,
with front offering
ventilation and
back increased
hydrodynamics.
CHAMOIS
The pad in the seat of
the tri-suit. Should be
quick-drying and offer
plenty of padding and
comfort, especially for
long-distance athletes.
HYDROPHOBIC
A slippery coating that
repels water on the swim
and/or dries quickly once
you’re on the bike leg.
ITU RACING
The International
Triathlon Union circuit of
elite relay, sprint and
Olympic-distance racing.
ITU athletes are likely to
crave a fast suit for
non-wetsuit swims.
LEG GRIPPERS
Brands opt for
silicone, rubber
or tight hems
here to stop the
legs riding up.
TRI-SUITS
What’s that coming over the hill? It’s the UK tri season, and for it you’ll need a
tri-suit to fit your every race-day need. Matt Baird zips up nine of 2014’s best...
FLOW IMAGES
U
nlike our two previous issue’s
grouptests of aerobars and race
wheels, a tri-suit won’t make you
much faster on race day. But – as the only kit
that’s with you every stoke, pedal rotation and
stride of the way – a poorly chosen tri-suit
could cost you minutes or worse, with fit and
specification both major concerns when
choosing your suit. Like wetsuits, trying
before you buy is nigh-on mandatory, so take
a pair of Speedos or swimsuit to your local tri
shop and slip into a host of suits.
Every triathlete¬– be it a sprint-distance
novice, a grizzled member of the longdistance fraternity, a top age-grouper looking
for pure speed – will have different demands
when choosing a tri-suit, so ask yourself a
number of key questions first. Do you need
pockets for nutrition or tools? A front or back
zipper? A dense chamois for comfort or a
slither of a pad? Are you racing pool-based
events, non-wetsuit races abroad or spending
your time submerged in the North Sea with a
wetsuit on top?
Aesthetics was given a more serious
consideration throughout this grouptest than,
say, baselayers. Slipping into your tri-suit on
race morning should make you feel like you
can take on the world, not worry about how
Jane or Jonny from accounts will react when
they see your race pic the next day.
With all these questions in mind, here we
slip on nine of this season’s best to help pick
your suit for the season ahead.
A lot of the suits here come in women’s cuts,
but we’ll be testing a host of female-specific
tri-suits in next issue’s Test Centre pages.
HOW WE TESTED
Each suit was machine washed straight out of
the box to remove any starchiness that can affect
new garments, before being tried on for looks.
An extended test period followed that involved a
series of race-like swim, bike and run bricks that
included a set pool swim, a road or turbo bike
and a road or trail run, with the long-distance
suits given extra time in the saddle and on the
trails. We noted the performance of the chamois,
the drying properties and added features like
pockets, zips and leg grippers before trying each
suit under our wetsuit to check for any rubbing.
Value was a consideration but, as a decent
suit can last a number of seasons, picking the
right suit was more important than pennysaving. Finally, and to the delight of our energy
company, we washed the suits a further number
of times to check for any durability concerns.
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TEST CENTRE
GROUPTEST
THE ZIP
CODE
FORWARD
THINKING
Don’t fall foul of British
Triathlon’s rule number
22.5 on tri-suits...
What will the tri-suit of
the future look like?
Hydrophobic coating, silicone
leg grippers, ColdBlack
reflection technology and
high-density chamois…
tri-suits have come a long
way since running in a pair
of Speedos and vest was
deemed enough by the likes
of Mark Allen. With all this tech
on show, what will the tri-suit
of the future look like?
We’ve all been there. It’s the
last leg of a sticky summer
race and the tri-suit is
unzipped down the front
for some much-needed
ventilation. Little do many of
us realise (including a host of
tri-suit designers we spoke to,
with one calling it “confusing
and over-zealous”), but this
action could see you receiving
a warning from a marshall or
even a disqualification from
the race organisers.
“It’s going to get even more
technical,” says Huub’s Dean
Jackson. “And it’s going to go
beyond the typical needs of
breathability and lightweight
fabrics to combine the
benefits of swim skins with
tri-suits to deliver the fastest
swim suit that’ll still perform
on the bike and the run.”
Here’s British Triathlon’s rule
22.5 in full...
‘Competitors must be
adequately clothed at
all times, the minimum
being a one- or two-piece
non-transparent swimsuit,
together with a cycling or
running top, if appropriate,
with a gap no greater than
10cm (4in). All competitors
must ensure their upper
body (especially the chest
area) is clothed during
the cycling and running
sections of the event.
Front fastening tops and
tri-suits must be fully
fastened at all times’
Previously the ruling applied
to revealing nipples, but was
updated in 2013 so all tri-suits
had to be fully zipped up.
Whether adhered to or not,
it applies to all Home Nationpermitted events who follow
British Triathlon’s rules.
Not all organisers follow the
rule, with Ironman events in
the UK having an additional
set of rules that competitors
are asked to adhere to, and
this doesn’t include rule 22.5.
So we’d heartedly advise
checking with the event
organisers before racing
(or even before you
buy your suit) if you
plan to unzip, as it
could be the most
depressing and
avoidable DSQ
you’re ever
likely to face.
TYR
COMPETITOR
PEARL IZUMI
SELECT
ARENA LONG
DISTANCE
2XU G:2
COMPRESSION
ZONE3
ACTIVATE
BLUESEVENTY
TX2000
Californian collective Tyr have
fine recent form in the tri-suit
market, having kitted Chrissie
Wellington for multiple Ironman
World Champs. While our aims
are less lofty, the Competitor
oozes top-end spec and style.
Noticeably tighter than most of
the suits here, the stealth-like
black panels also provide
compression properties aimed
at a faster recovery and proved
quick-drying when exiting the
pool for the bike. The benefits
of the Tyr really kicked-in on
two wheels, with the beaded
grippers subtly keeping the legs
in place and the ridged ‘amp
pad’ providing both comfort and
breathability for the crotch area.
The chamois was trouble-free
on the run, too, with the fabric
keeping temperatures low. Our
only qualm was the uncovered
side pockets, barely big enough
for a few Jelly Babies and not
ideal if you’re intent on reducing
hydrodynamics in the pool.
Tyr’s fellow Pacific-straddlers,
Japan’s Pearl Izumi, also offer
plenty of aesthetic appeal with
their fiery red Select suit but at a
more appetising price. Spec
includes a sealed back envelope
pocket that’s great for pool/
non-wetsuit swims (but will only
hold a small gel) and beaded
grippers that covertly keep the
legs in place. The compressive
fit is excellent and the Select’s
fleece chamois is adequate for
Olympic-distance voyages, but
we’d want more padding for
going long. The torso and back
panels are impressive for both
ventilation and flexibility on the
bike, which left us with high run
hopes. Sadly two problems
arose on the 10k leg, with the
abrasive inner-seams running
directly over our nipples and
causing severe irritation. It’s a
wholly avoidable design problem
that won’t ease with time, which
is a shame as this suit could’ve
been a contender.
Arena have plenty of history in
tri and their recent return has
certainly not gone unnoticed,
with last issue’s Carbon-Pro
tri-suit the most expensive we’ve
ever seen at £300. Despite the
back zipper for swim speed,
the Long Distance is aimed at
exactly that, with a perforated
chamois providing plenty of
breathability and two side
pockets with room for a couple
of gels. On the bike and run the
suit was barely noticeable. But,
oddly given the contrasting
target audiences, the suit it has
the most in common with is the
ZeroD overleaf, with that back
zip complemented by an ultra
lightweight fabric and this
grouptest’s second-quickest
drying honours. One thing to
note is the huge lime green side
panels were deeply unflattering
for anyone lacking the flat
midriff of a Kienle or Carfrae,
with our own love handles being
illuminated like Blackpool Tower.
Cooling, comfortable and
compressive. They may be
known for supplying the Aussie
ITU speedster Emma Snowsill,
but the G:2 from 2XU instantly
sweeps the long-distance
honours in this test. The three
open-ended yet sizeable rear
pockets will stash your nutrition
for race day and bike/run bricks,
while the fleece chamois was
comfy. As ever, the compression
benefits were hard to exactly
quantify although we did feel an
improvement in our run posture
due to the tight fit. While the
brand’s ICE X2 fabric kept us
cool on harder efforts on the
turbo. On the downside, it’s the
highest-priced suit on test, the
slowest to dry and the great
swathe of grey, sorry, charcoal,
on the groin area isn’t ideal, with
a damp patch of water, sweat or
worse being clearly visible while
we were on the bike or run. For
this reason, we’d definitely opt
for the striking all-black version.
British triathletes Zone3 have
garnered much acclaim on these
pages since their inception in
2007, with our high hopes for the
Activate continuing when we
whipped it out of the box to
reveal a striking suit with a
favourable price tag. The single,
covered rear pocket has been
cleverly designed to hold any
sized energy gel and the silicone
leg grippers are efficient at
holding the suit in place.
Measuring at 17cm wide, the
marginally ridged pad is the
biggest on test and provides
plenty of bottom coverage on
the bike, but once on the run our
gait became more John Wayne
than Michael Johnson. Which is
a shame, as the fine stitching is
irritation-free, the fit is snug but
not restrictive and an internal
patch is a neat touch that
successfully thwarts any
irritation from the zipper. At just
£59, it’s definitely one worth
trying on for yourself.
The TX2000 from New
Zealand’s swim specialists has
been our choice of suit for a few
seasons and, like that favourite
armchair, it’s reliable, durable
and has offered decent padding
for the time we’ve spent sitting
down. But, with eight other suits
vying for the dubious honour, will
it continue to grace our bottom
in 2014? The duo of covered side
pockets are pool swim-friendly,
suitable for a small gel and are
convenient to reach on the bike
and run. The quick-drying,
lightweight and ridged chamois
provides plenty of bottom
coverage for sojourns on the
bike and the beaded leg grippers
successfully keep the suit in
place. The heat ray reflecting
ColdBlack fabric is adept at
managing temperature control,
too. It may lack the style and
excitement of the Tyr, but the
TX2000 successfully and
understatedly gets the job
done time and time again.
£119.99
www.tyr.com
£69.99
www.madison.co.uk
£110.00
arenainternational.com
£138.00
www.2xushop.co.uk
£59.00
www.racezone3.com
£100.00
www.blueseventy.co.uk
VERDICT
VERDICT
VERDICT
VERDICT
VERDICT
VERDICT
Top-class suit offering comfort and
compression. Highly recommended
Vying for the highest honours
until a couple of sore points
Not a looker but overall a strong
return to triathlon for Arena
Takes the long-distance honours
with its comfort and pockets
Good value and plenty of neat spec,
but questions over pad sizing
Unshowy but will always impress.
The Matt Damon of tri-suits
93 %
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BEST
BUY
BEST
ON TEST
MAY 2014
81 %
84 %
87 %
83 %
Huub are exploring a twopronged approach to tri-suit
design, with suits boasting
aerodynamics with a heat
trade-off, or heat release
suits with an aerodynamic
disadvantage. Jackson also
believes the compression
angle will develop further, with
“fabrics working in panelling
to deliver varying degrees
of compression through a
mixture of fabric modulus.”
Zone3’s James Lock states
that “suits will become more
about aerodynamics rather
than hydrodynamics. It’ll all
be about trying to save time
on the bike and the run, with
dimple, golf ball-like fabrics
and bonded seams more
prevalent.” Sadly, Lock sees
custom suits – where athletes
can pick their type of pockets,
composition of chamois
and inclusion of leg grippers
– as being too prohibitively
expensive for the major
brands to fully explore.
86 %
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TEST CENTRE
OVERALL
VERDICT
In a stellar field, which
of these tri-suits will top
the 220 podium?
ZOOT
ULTRA TRI
ZEROD
OSUIT
£110.00
zootsports.com
£135.00
www.z3r0d.com
Hawaii-born, San Diego-based
Zoot have plenty of heritage in
tri, with ITU World Champ Javier
Gomez just one athlete to wear
their garb to glory since 1983.
They’re never one to shy away
from an aesthetic assault either,
and applaudably so, but we just
can’t warm to the ’80s aerobics
look of their Ultra Tri. The fit is
plush and the internal seams are
the best on test at minimising
chafing, while the ColdBlack
tech ensures you can wear black
without overheating on race day.
The fairly sizeable 13cm wide
fleece pad was also comfy and
quick-drying, but there are
better on test for breathability
and long-distance comfort.
Despite our fairly stocky thighs,
the lack of leg grippers proved
an issue on both bike and run,
with too much time spent
stopping them from riding up.
The zip also rubbed on our chest
and we would’ve appreciated a
buffer between metal and skin.
Like cheese at breakfast and
short working weeks, some
things sadly haven’t made the
journey across the Channel.
Another one to add to that list is
sizing, with the ultra-lightweight
oSUIT from Montpelier’s ZeroD
leaving our Barry White baritone
more akin to that of Kate Bush.
Once we were able to breathe
again, what became unavoidable
is that this is a suit that screams
speed. The back zip and lack of
pockets are primed for nonwetsuit swims. The hydrophobic
Water Wear Weapon fabric
magnificently repels water, while
the pad was lithe and barely
noticeable. If there was a
category of Best for ITU Racers
this would win hands down, and
it’s easy to see why half of the
ITU field (including our Brits)
are sporting this on race day.
For us mid- and back-pack
mortals looking for comfort
and convenience or going long,
we’d suggest looking elsewhere.
ED’S
CHOICE
FUSION
MULTISPORT
£115.00
multisportdistribution.co.uk
Rising Danish brand Fusion have
previous form on these pages,
with their World Cup suit
awarded an Ed’s Choice logo in
last year’s grouptest. The
Multisport suit is targeted at the
long-distance fraternity with four
open-ended pockets – each big
enough for a pasty let alone a
handful of gels – backed up with
a well-thought out touch of
internal padding to stop any
mid-race gel scratches. The back
zipper seen here (the Multisport
also comes with a front zip) lends
itself to the short-course crowd,
and while the fleece-lined
chamois is smooth we’d
definitely want more padding and
breathability for 90km middledistance bike legs and up. While
the colourscheme appeals to our
love of ’80s Danish football, the
mass of translucent white on the
front was so tight our belly hair
was clearly visible (steady now
ladies), leaving us looking more
Gruffalo than Gomez.
VERDICT
VERDICT
VERDICT
Fantastic materials let down by a
couple of missing features
A techy marvel for the cream of tri,
but not aimed at the completers
Good materials but a suit with
something of an identity crisis
77 %
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89 %
MAY 2014
78 %
As the high scores for this
grouptest testify, the material
composition, the quality of
stitching and the performance
of the pad of the tri-suits on
the market is now so high
that it’ll often come down
to personal preference as
to which suit you choose.
Padding, pockets and
temperature regulation are key
here, and it’s worth knowing
your race calendar before you
go shopping for elastane.
The choice here is huge,
with the ZeroD and 2XU
so different that they could
nearly be part of separate
grouptests, so we’ve broken
the results down into price
points, race distance and
overall categories.
For athletes gunning for
both age-group and elite
short-course honours, the
ZeroD is the clear victor, with
its hydrophobic materials a
landmark of tri-suit design.
Taking the long-distance
honours with ease were 2XU.
At the lower end of the price
scale, the Blueseventy,
Zone3 and Pearl Izumi
(ignoring those poorly placed
seams) all performed well,
with the Blueseventy the
most versatile suit on test for
triathletes who race a host of
different race distances.
No suit here exactly
matched our own racing
demands, with the
Blueseventy close in terms
of pockets and padding but
falling short on aesthetics.
You need a suit to have you
longing for race day, so taking
our overall honour of Best on
Test was the Tyr Competitor.
Combining style and
performance, it
excelled on the
bike and run.
Now, if only
we could
get those
pockets
bigger...