What’s the best tri-short available in the market today? Looking for something for short and long distances, as well as pool/lake/ocean swims. I’m looking for a do it all short. Something that won’t take my skin and keep it as its race souvenir…
As for the loss of skin - is salt water just that hard on skin? Lost alot on my neck @ Oceanside from wetsuit rub, never happened before in lake swims… Oceanside was my first ocean swim.
Wow, why not ask something easy like which bike is best? As with everything, there are several very good products from several different manufacturers. The trick is to find the one that works with you the best. Go try on a bunch of them, it’s the only way to truly say.
Personally, my two favorites are the Descente C6, and the DeSoto Forza with pockets, both seen below.
Descente C6 …DeSoto Forza
Yes, salt water is much more abrasive than fresh water. Use lots of BodyGlide on the wetsuit seams, and on your neck.
As for shorts, it depends what you want:
Pockets? Compression? Minimal Chamois for the run? Lots of Chamois for the bike?
With a bit more info, I’m sure the gang here at ST can help you.
Alternately, you can email Emilio over at DeSoto. Sure he’ll recommend a DeSoto product, but there is a good range, it’s all top notch, reasonably priced stuff, and they stand behind it…hard to go wrong with them.
oomph! shorts rock
I just ordered a pair of Desoto’s for the 3rd year in a row. I could have paid 120.00 for the 2XU’s that everyone is wearing but for 1/2 the price Desotos have been VERY comfortable and put together well in my opinion.
Go to a good dealer - pull out 6 pairs of shorts. Do NOT look at the brand or label. Try them all on and pick the ones most comfortable. I did that and ended up buying the least expensive of the bunch. So, i paid $40 for tri short - my Pearl Azumis were $120. A year later i have 4 pairs of tri shorts (same brand) and i’ve never had a problem. Just start with quality stuff.
Desoto Forza 4 pocket. I have tried Pearl Izumi, Orca, TYR, Craft and others I forgot. For my body style and size these fit and feel the best.
I used to own a running store and bought (for the store and for myself) tri-shorts from the following:
hind
de soto
pearl izumi
zoot
descente
polo RLX
in sport
mizuno
voler
sugoi
louis garneau
speedo
tyr
orca
It’s similar to footwear (and bikes) in that you gotta get what fits, but I never had anyone return DeSoto product due to quality issues and I can’t say the same about the other manufacturers. I used a Power Tri-Suit at IMF a few years back and can honestly say that the hamstring support made a big difference on the second loop of the run.
I’ve tried a few, but Jaggad fits me the best.
THe Grip Removable Chamois works well and makes the bike a little more comfortable.
Skinfit. If it weren’t for Skinfit, I wouldn’t be racing IMs - not sure if I could take the chafing, even with chamois cream. My second choice behind them are Zoot Elite and DeSoto, but they aren’t even that close in quality. Skinfit’s material is MUCH stretchier and therefore just conforms to your body better (doesn’t gap and chafe). They also make a legitimate “small” size. I’m 5.5", 138 pound in race shape, with a 28 waist and most US manufacturers small is too big on me. Go to a European race and you’ll see a ton of Skinfit clothing, but for some reason they haven’t found a US distributor that’s been able to capture market share for them.
I’m on my second season with my two pair of DeSoto Forza’s. Very well-made with thicker material that a lot of the brands out there.
On the rash thing, as someone said, you need to use lots of lube like Bodyglide on your neck for long swims.
x2
Don’t forget to give us a look 
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I use the DeSoto 400 mile short
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Second the oomph (top of the line tri short)
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Agreed, Oomph! compression shorts.
Thanks all for the good info. I know Desoto and Izumi from their cycling lines. I have to buy most of my gear by internet as I have nothing too near me that sells tri-gear. It doesn’t aford me the ability to try alot on.
That said - in my tri shorts I want something without much chamois (I could actually ride without one), that is tight - compression is good, and doesn’t gap out when wet so things go bouncing around and getting scratched up… I’ve heard of the Desoto 100 mile (or something like that) but also hear it’s relatively see through?
Thus the question. I knew I’d get the it’s different for everyone - but when you see a common thread, like Desoto, or Oomph, i’ll order a pair and try em’ out…
Thanks again.
Oomph! lava compression. Super Nice pad… I have enough pair that I train in them all the time. They are the most comfortable tri short I have ever ridden in.
I have to recommend trying the orca 226 tri shorts. They fit me perfectly with just enough compression and right amount of padding - I don’t notice its there on the run. Plus the material feels fast if I was to do a swim where wetsuits weren’t allowed.
Eric,
I’ll chime in for DeSoto. I have biked over 100,000 miles in DeSoto tri shorts and have never had a problem - they don’t even rip when I wreck.
Friday I road 120 miles in the rain - no problems. The pad is nice and thin. Today ran two hours in them, and again no issues.
They have always been my race shorts even when I have had other sponsors/suppliers. My only problem is my wife doesn’t understand why I have so many in inventory. They also can be used as great support underwear, which is sometimes important at my age.
Best wishes,
david