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SECOND
SKIN
There are a lot of tri suits on the market.
The right one can make all the difference
in a race. But so can the wrong one
What to look for in a tri suit:
» COMFORT: Almost all tri suits feature a thin chamois that adds
comfort on the bike while allowing you to run with ease. Check
that the chamois is comfortable when you’re on the bike and
when running. Rubber grippers on the legs stop the suit riding
up. Women triathletes must decide whether you want a suit
that features a built-in bra. This might sound useful but can
sometimes be an annoying addition, especially if it doesn’t
provide adequate support, with the result that you end up
wearing your own sports bra underneath. Flatlocked seams
will prevent chafing.
» FIT: The suit should fit like a second skin but not restrict
your movement in any way. Check that it isn’t too tight
across the chest or under the arms. Some suits –
especially women’s – have narrow straps across the back
that might chafe, so jump around in it to make sure you
have a full range of movement.
» FABRIC: A quick-drying, lightweight fabric is
essential. More expensive tri suits are often coated
with a hydrophobic layer that repels water for extrafast drying after the swim. Some suits also feature
different fabrics in different areas of the suit – for
example breathable mesh panels for better ventilation.
» DURABILITY: You’ll want your tri suit to perform well
every time you wear it, so look for a well-made, durable
suit that you can wear both training and racing.
» ONE PIECE OR TWO? If you’re completing
anything longer than an Olympic-distance triathlon,
it’s worth considering wearing a two-piece tri suit.
This will allow you to answer the call of nature
without taking ages to strip off, and means you
could also mix and match tops and bottoms if
you think, say, you’ll need more padding on
a long bike leg. »
Symbols denote whether a men’s or
women’s tri suit was tested. Almost
all brands offer suits for both sexes
JULY 2010 TRIATHLE TE’S WORLD
65
Pearl Izumi Men’s Elite Speedsuit £167.99
This is a quality suit. It felt light and
breathed very well, even when it was
wet. It features Pearl Izumi’s Direct-Vent
panels and they’re effective. The
comfortable chamois also performs well
when wet and the suit dries quickly. The
suit stood up well to some long swims
under a wetsuit in open water and also
in the pool, and it felt light on the run.
It has two generous pockets on the
rear, which could hold several gels or
bars, making this a good choice for
anything above sprint distance.
Importantly, the pockets did not produce
any drag in the water. The leg grippers
did a fine job on the bike and run, but I
the suit was tight across the chest. If
you’re buying
online you
HOW IT RATED
might consider
Comfort
8
a bigger size
Fit
7
than you’d
Fabric
9
normally choose.
Overall, this is a
Performance
10
top-end suit and
Value
8
it shows. – Kev
OVERALL
42
Grimmett
Info: www.pearlizumi.com
TRIATHLE TESWORLD.CO.UK JULY 2010
This was the most comfortable tri
suit I’ve worn. It offered plenty of
freedom of movement and the leg
grippers kept the hems where they
should be. The padding was adequate for
short-distance racing and the doublelayered chest area was compressive
and offered sufficient support.
I did find the suit a little short – I
prefer a little more coverage – and I
needed help to be zipped into the suit.
The handy pull cord made it easy to
unzip, but it actually came down of its
own accord during a swim.
The suit’s fabric was thin and dried
quickly, though it was still too
transparent for my liking when
wet. Overall,
this is
HOW IT RATED
a good
Comfort
9
suit that
Fit
7
performed
Fabric
7
well in all
three
Performance
8
disciplines.
Value
7
– Anne
OVERALL
38
Pritchard
Fabric
6
Performance
7
Value
OVERALL
7
35
This is an ideal tri suit for shorter
triathlons. It was snug but still
comfortable, and it provided especially
good support in my hamstrings and
quads. The leg grippers worked well,
though I did feel them pulling on my
hairy legs. The suit’s flex panels added
to the comfort and flexibility, and
gave the suit some style – this is an
impressively sleek-looking outfit.
It didn’t retain too much water when
it was wet, so it felt great to jump onto
the bike after the swim – the suit was
damp but not dripping wet. It scored high
on breathability, too, and its many
pockets would make it ideal for long
runs. However, I think it would
benefit from
better padding
HOW IT RATED
in the backside
Comfort
9
area for longer
Fit
8
rides. All in
Fabric
9
all, this is
a light, flexible,
Performance
7
breathable and
Value
8
good-looking suit.
OVERALL
41
– James Fricker
This suit felt like a second skin and was
very flexible, but there were some
things I was less happy with.
It felt a little restrictive, particularly
across the chest and shoulders. It
featured leg grippers to prevent it from
riding up but during the run it did feel as
if the suit was riding up between my
legs – the chamois caused some
discomfort and needed to be pulled
down occasionally. On the plus side,
the fabric was very lightweight and
repelled water well. The suit dried
quickly once out of the water. It features
knit fabric with more stretch on the
rear area for better fit and comfort. It’s
a well-made suit.
The seams
were tripleHOW IT RATED
stitched and
Comfort
6
pretty sturdy,
Fit
7
so I think
Fabric
9
it would
perform well if
Performance
8
you used it on a
Value
7
regular basis. –
OVERALL
37
Andy Dixon
Info: www.orca.com
Zoot Ultra Race Suit, £85
The Santini tri suit felt generally
comfortable and the leg grippers –
which had rubber woven into them
– did their job well, but the chamois
was a little thick for a tri suit; it was
about right for the bike but less
comfortable on a run. The suit did
not restrict my movements but
the elastic around my arms was
too tight for my liking. That said,
this is a durable suit. I wore it in
training and in a race and felt it
performed reasonably well in both
environments. It has two deep rear
pockets, which I found ideal for storing
energy gels. Both wet and dry this
is not as light as other suits I’ve worn
but it repelled
water well and
HOW IT RATED
dried quickly.
Comfort
8
It is certainly a
Fit
6
resilient suit
Fabric
but in fit and
comfort it let
Performance
me down
Value
a little.
OVERALL
– Clive Lemmon
Info: www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk
Orca RS1 Race Suit, £125
Info: www.desotosport.co.uk
Santini Tri Iron GTR Skinsuit, £89.99
The first thing I noticed was that this suit
felt a little too big for me, though it was
the size I’d normally wear. Having said
that, I found it very comfortable in the water,
with no drag that I noticed. And
I did like the design: the padding was a
major bonus. The problems began
when I came out of the water. First, the
suit did not dry well and I found the rear
gel pocket noticeably heavy, having been
wet. A friend who tried the suit found the
same problem and she also had marks on
her shoulder and under her arm after
swimming. This could lead to friction-burn
problems in a longer race, so I think this is
best suited to sprint or Olympic distance.
The other problem was that the
suit was, well,
transparent.
HOW IT RATED
Nothing was
Comfort
9
left to the
Fit
6
imagination.
66
De Soto Forza 2010 Tri Suit, £140
Info: www.craft.se
Spiuk Women’s Anatomic, £59.99
I think a much
darker colour
would be
better. – Alexia
Hamilton-Morris
Info: www.spiuk.co.uk
Craft Elite Tri Suit, £80
8
8
6
36
At first I was concerned that the seams
on the back of the suit would cause
chafing. However, my worries were
unfounded and there is also a liner to
prevent the main T-junction of seams
coming in contact with the skin. The suit
was snug but not at all restrictive. I’m
accustomed to wearing compression
bra tops and I found the additional
support from this suit’s built-in bra
worked fine; this might not be the case
for those requiring more support. The
zip on the outer layer of the front of the
suit caused a little chafing on the collarbone
on a two-hour ride. I did not get the
chance to test the suit in a pool, but
I cycled in a downpour and it dried
quickly. This
feels like a
HOW IT RATED
high-end suit,
Comfort
7
with nice
Fit
8
details, such as
Fabric
the breathable
mesh at the
Performance
back and the
Value
zip-up bra.
OVERALL
– Catherine Lee
Info: www.djmproducts.co.uk
9
9
9
42
Name: Cath Pye
Age: 34
What do you love about tri?
“After becoming injured
running marathons, I took up
triathlon in 2008 as a way to
keep fit while my knee
recovered. I was attracted
to the fun and fitness that
are integral to the three
sports. I enjoy the challenge
of racing but triathlon also
gives me the opportunity to
set new personal goals –
although that never includes
finishing anywhere near the
front. I think maybe I’ll be
more suited to 70.3 or
Ironman as I don’t do any of the disciplines very fast.”
Proudest triathlon moment
“My whole family cheering me on at the Tatton Park
Triathlon a couple of years ago. The fact that they had all
made it to the start and finish was a new record in being
organised for them!”
What do you look for in triathlon kit?
“I like my kit to look good and withstand the rigours of
training and racing to make it worth the investment.”
JULY 2010 TRIATHLE TE’S WORLD
67
TriGirl Yvonne, £109
2XU Elite Tri Suit, £115
This suit was very comfortable and
only slightly restrictive when
swimming. Otherwise, I had no problems
with comfort; the suit is well cut and there
are no unnecessary seams or stitching. I’ve
found other tri suits to be rather tight in
the chest and this was not the case
with the TriGirl. I found the chamois
comfortable on the bike and the run.
There is an additional bra top to wear
separately under the suit. It’s a useful
addition as the suit itself is not tight or
supportive enough on its own. The bra top
provided the necessary support but you
might need to wear your own if you
have a larger bust size. This was the
lightest suit I’ve worn. It’s
not much
heavier
HOW IT RATED
when you
Comfort
8
come out of
Fit
7
the water,
Fabric
7
although it
took longer to
Performance
7
dry than I had
Value
8
expected.
OVERALL
37
– Cath Pye
Info: www.trigirl.co.uk
TRIATHLE TESWORLD.CO.UK JULY 2010
BEST
BUY
9
Performance
9
Value
OVERALL
8
43
I’m 5’9” and so I found this suit a little
uncomfortable. The leg grippers
caught me high on the thigh, where
they were extremely tight. I do not
recommend this suit for someone of
my height, though a shorter person
might find it comfortable. Also,
the bra area was not very well
supported and with a 34C chest
this was not comfortable and I did
not feel adequately supported. On
the plus side, the suit did not chafe, felt
light and repelled water well. However,
the top was transparent when dry and
more so when wet, so I would have to
wear a something underneath, which
defeats the purpose. The suit did not
feel durable
enough to
HOW IT RATED
stand up to
Comfort
4
regular
Fit
6
training use.
Fabric
I see it as
a racing
Performance
suit only.
Value
– Cynthia
OVERALL
Rowand
Info: www.saucony.co.uk
Speedo Women’s LZR Racer Tri Pro
Singlet, £65, and Shorts, £70
The shorts in this extremely
lightweight suit feature a more
substantial chamois than you might
expect. Silicon leg grippers prevent the
suit from riding up and there’s a built-in
bra at the front, although most
women would still need to wear
a sports bra under this. The suit
is made from an almost sheer,
quick-drying fabric. It features a
hydrophobic coating to repel water,
which means it dries really quickly.
There are mesh panels in the back to
enhance flexibility and breathability.
The suit performed well in all
three triathlon disciplines. It isn’t
cheap,
but it’s
HOW IT RATED
good value
Comfort
9
compared
Fit
9
with other
Fabric
10
suits in
this price
Performance
9
bracket.
Value
8
– Marie
OVERALL
45
Richardson
Info: www.speedo.co.uk
Sweaty Betty Triathlon Suit, £89
5
6
5
26
PHOTOS: MARCO CRISARI
Fabric
I loved the feel of this tri suit; it was
incredibly comfortable and light. There
are no leg grippers on the shorts, but they
never budged. I certainly put the suit
through its paces, using it all day on the
UKIM 70.3 familiarisation camp. The fit was
perfect. The suit features compression
sections and the result is that the suit
feels like a second skin. On a 17-mile
run I did not use any lubrication and
there was no chafing at all. On the cycle
the chamois did its job. There was one
minor issue: the zip rubbed against me in
its highest position The suit wicked
moisture well and it dried very quickly.
Also – and not unimportant – this is a
good-looking suit. It is not cheap, but I
would be happy
to shell out for it.
HOW IT RATED
I think it is one
Comfort
9
of the best suits
Fit
10
I have worn;
Fabric
10
it gets the
combination
Performance
10
of features
Value
10
just right.
OVERALL
49
– Jamie Kinch
Info: www.fusionsportsuk.co.uk
Saucony Women’s Elite Speed Suit, £80
I found this an extremely comfortable
suit on an Olympic-distance triathlon,
a 100-mile sportive ride and a
90-minute pool swim. The chamois did
its job and did not absorb too much
water – always a bonus after the swim.
The suit also dried quickly, which has
been an issue for me with other suits.
It felt dry by the time I got on the bike.
The suit was a great fit, with plenty of
room around the shoulders. It was
compressive but not restrictive, though
I did feel the leg grippers were a little too
tight. The dark colour was suitably manly
and I also liked the mesh upper-body
coverage, which would definitely aid
cooling on warmer days. After three
washes the suit
looked as good as
HOW IT RATED
new. I would not
Comfort
8
hesitate to buy
Fit
9
this suit, but I
68
This suit was extremely
comfortable. It was perfect in
training and posed no problems when I
wore a t-shirt over the top for a training
run. I loved the very low back as this
ensured I was kept cool during the
run. The chamois was discreet but
effective. The suit felt good in the
pool and the leg grippers certainly
stopped the suit riding up. This felt
like a second skin but it was not
restrictive in any way and the straps
were sufficiently wide to prevent
chafing. The fabric is extremely light
when dry and quickly repels water.
This suit does not have a built-in bra,
which could be an issue for largerbreasted
women,
HOW IT RATED
as a bra
Comfort
10
could
Fit
10
not be
Fabric
9
covered
with the
Performance
10
low back.
Value
7
– Jane
OVERALL
46
Woodhead
Info: www.2xushop.co.uk
Sugoi Turbo Tri Suit, £75
would save it
for race days,
and train in
cheaper kit.
– Martin Pritchard
Info: www.sugoi.com
Fusion Multisport Suit, £110
The suit felt very good against the
skin. It moved well with my body
and didn’t restrict movement. It features
internal bust support to help keep the
breasts in place while you’re running
and cycling, but I’d recommend using
a sports bra to reduce chafing.
The grips on the hem stopped the
shorts from riding up and the locked
seams added to the sense of comfort.
It repelled water well in a light rain and
dried out quickly after a swim, though it felt
heavier while wet. I wore the suit several
times and it did not let me down; this
is a durable item that can be used for
both training and racing. It is excellent
value for money, although extra padding
in the rear
would be
HOW IT RATED
welcome. It
Comfort
9
does not have
Fit
10
a chamois so
Fabric
I think it is
best suited
Performance
to shorter races
Value
– Andreia
OVERALL
Rahman
Info: www.sweatybetty.com
10
9
9
47
Name: Cynthia Rowand
Age: 38
What do you love about tri?
“When I was single, younger
and had more time on my
hands I loved the thrill of
training for three disciplines –
each held different challenges.
Now I am married with two
small children, I’m focusing on
one discipline each year to see
how that improves my overall
sprint-distance performance.”
Proudest triathlon moment?
“My proudest triathlon moment happened last year. I had
given birth to my daughter Amelia in March and was
signed up to do a sprint triathlon in August. I decided to
focus on the swim and started dragging myself to the
pool at 6am so I could be back home before my husband
left for work. I improved my swim time by six minutes
and beat my time goal but, most importantly, for the first
time I truly enjoyed myself in a race.”
What do you look for in triathlon kit?
“Comfort and durability. Between race fees, my bike, and
kit, this sport can be expensive so I’m looking for kit
that’s going to last. I’m always on a quest to balance
value for money, durability and comfort.” N
JULY 2010 TRIATHLE TE’S WORLD
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