Hey guys! So I am new to the Tri world and have been looking to invest in a quality tri suit. Seeing as the prices are pretty high, I want to make sure I got the right one. I have seen threads on people talking about different brands (roka, zoot, etc) but havent given much reason/proof to why they are better. If I have missed a thread that dives more into the tech of every brand then I’m sorry for creating a new one!
Quite honestly I am a nerd at heart and am really interested in the technology that goes into each suit that really gives it the competitive advantage!
Thanks ahead of time and I am excited to be apart of this awesome community!
There is generally an annual trisuit thread, but I don’t recall seeing a 2020 thread. 90% of it comes down to fit. All of the major brands will be good suits (Desoto, kiwami, LG, etc). So, which one fits best? You want no wrinkles after swimming for 30-90 minutes. That means pretty tight when dry in a store. If it feels good dry, it will be baggy after swimming. Ask me how I know.
Beyond that it comes down to aero. Guessing at that is a crap shoot unless you test. If you decide to test… Find the platypus thread here. Just search “platypus” by RChung. You’ll find it… Then start reading. It’s a deep rabbit hole. Get your geek on.
Appreciate it! With all of this extra time a nerdy rabbit hole is exactly what I need.
Or do two extra trainer rides in that time and that additional strength will more than offset any aero disadvantage.
But it really is about comfort and perhaps storage too. I saved a combined 6mins over my previous t1 and t2 times over previous races due to a change to a suit (desoto forza with 5 pockets) compared to the time I was losing putting on a layer with pockets in to store food. Only an issue for full ironman, but don’t discount this as a factor. Not as geeky as the aero stuff, but probably more tangible.
I have tried most of the major Trisuits, the notable exception being ROKA. Other than that, I would say the new Kiwami Spider 2 Aero is by far the best. As stated, fit is huge, and the Kiwami has an amazing about of stretch, allowing it to fit snug and comfortable on a large range of body shapes. I am small in the waist and hips, but large shoulders, arms, chest and legs- and this is the only suit or even separate piece with absolutely no wrinkles. I did a swim test, Trisuit vs speedo only, and to my surprise I was as fast in the Trisuit as without (I am a 1:20 ish per 100 yard swimmer). This is a good indication that the suit is staying snug, and not creating additional drag in the water, and should perform at least as well in the wind. It has a huge amount of storage, which I was concerned about and don’t need, but the swim test indicated they stay flat against the body and don’t create any drag. I have raced a 1/2 Marathon at 0 degrees centigrade (32 F) and then a 70.3 starting at 1 pm at constant temps at 32-33 c (92 + F) with 75-80% humidity, and the suit was very comfortable for both races, so body heat regulation is very good. The best feature is how well the full zip top is designed. Super easy to get off and pull down quickly, if needed Definitely worth a look
I had the Spider LD aero suit (not the gen2) and it was blazing fucking hot. The fabric wasn’t nearly as breathable as other suits I’ve used from LG or Desoto.
I had the Spider LD aero suit (not the gen2) and it was blazing fucking hot. The fabric wasn’t nearly as breathable as other suits I’ve used from LG or Desoto.
Did something change from the 1 to the 2?
Yes.
More stretchy material in the shoulders/upper back area. Added a back pocket, different material to prevent zipper chafing, made the material under the armpits & down the sides the same as on the back.
I’ve never felt hot in either the Gen1 or Gen2 suits even racing in 90+F & 90+ humidity or racing in just over 101F temps but low humidity. Of course heat management can vary greatly from individual to individual.
Appreciate it! With all of this extra time a nerdy rabbit hole is exactly what I need.
Or do two extra trainer rides in that time and that additional strength will more than offset any aero disadvantage.
But it really is about comfort and perhaps storage too. I saved a combined 6mins over my previous t1 and t2 times over previous races due to a change to a suit (desoto forza with 5 pockets) compared to the time I was losing putting on a layer with pockets in to store food. Only an issue for full ironman, but don’t discount this as a factor. Not as geeky as the aero stuff, but probably more tangible.
Haha Touche on that one. So it seems like the number of pockets really make a difference.
I am the same as far as build. I will definitely look at these suits! I’m located in Denver but do a lot of training in the Austin area so heat and humidity definitely play a part. I’m having a hard time finding designs that I like with most brands but I think thats just me being picky at this point… lol
I’m a big fan of the Xterra suits, although they do only last about a season with multi-weekly summer swimming. They are reasonably priced, fit well and come with a glue for sealing up small holes should they appear. Not a bad return policy as well as an FYI if the sizing is incorrect.
For aero, look for ribbed/textured fabric on the arm/shoulders.
Get one with a fill zip (easier entry/exit/pitstops).
Weight is a consideration. Running is a W/kg sport, and an extra pound of water/sweat in the suit will cost you time. Dan did some testing on various suits’ weight when saturated, and IIRC Kwaimi did quite well.
I started with a sleeved Zoot and found it to be really good for shorter stuff. Only thing I didn’t like was how hard it was to get off and back on if you need a port a potty in a full distance race. Tried Roka, which solves that problem with a nice zip system, but didn’t care for the material. Got a DeSoto Flisuit. Favorite material, fit, easy to relieve yourself in a hurry, and extra pockets that really come in handy. More expensive than the others, but would have saved a lot if I had just bought this one first…
I agree that at least version 1 of LD1 was warm ( I think blazing is a bit exaggerated!) I still use WS1 for very short sprints but avoid Kiwami for anything else.
To OP, I would suggest custom for what you are looking for. My personal experience is terms of quality is that quality is superior to the brands you typically think of/named. A suit can only be so “cool†but the material matters and I’ve tried all the major brands you and others have mentioned, and my custom suit is just better quality/more comfy and cooler.
I wore it a few times and I was blazing hot in it. It wasn’t hyperbole. I was much more comfortable in the same conditions in other suits. The material seemed thicker and was certainly less breathable. I race and train almost entirely in hot and humid conditions. I have suits from LG, PI, Desoto, Fusion, Castelli, and Kiwami. It was by far the worst when it came to warmth. So much so that I never wore it again and sold it. It’s a nice quality suit and was probably wonderful in 75 degree weather.
The Pearl Izumi Octane was by far the best suit for me in hot conditions. It was like wearing a second skin. Amazing that way. But it had its negatives. The pad was horrible, the zipper was horrible, and I felt the seams too much.
What metric are you trying to measure? All suits have the plus and minuses in different areas. Example: a very fast bike suit may not be that great on the run. Do you want pockets or not? Are you racing in hot locations or not? Is full zip important or not?
On that note, anytime your kg’s in the above equation is higher than it needs to be you’re going to have more difficulty shedding heat.
Any suit will be hotter if you’re carrying around kg’s.
Becoming more lean/reducing excess body fat is a vital step in heat management.
The Pearl Izumi Octane was by far the best suit for me in hot conditions. It was like wearing a second skin. Amazing that way. But it had its negatives. The pad was horrible, the zipper was horrible, and I felt the seams too much.
Which version? I had two in the 2013-2015ish era that I would agree with that assessment. I kept them around for trainer duties and am even wearing one now. The updated Octane tri suit last year was an improvement in fit and two of the areas you mentioned above. The 2019 pad was similar, but it’s one I like. It looks like they have a 2020 update with half sizes as well. Super cool colors.
Definitely worth a look