I am in the market for a new speedsuit. The one I’ve been using is a proto-type Nike from a few years ago and is about done. I like the PointZero3 but am open to others. Does anyone have anything to offer about cost/performance/durability? Any sales out there right now?
Send me $299 and I’ll send you a $5 razor to shave your face and the hair off your toes as that’s roughly the benefit you’ll receive in the swim from a speedsuit.
Why are triathletes spending so much $$$ to save what would be AT MOST .25sec per 100m? 10-15 second savings for a 1/2 Ironman - am I the only person still living in reality?
The Xterra Velocity line are very fast speedsuits that can be had for a steal if you dig around for discount codes. Offers are often sent out to USAT members, advertised in various tri mags, etc.
I like my Sailfish Furious. In my first race using it (Disney 1/2), I swam a bit faster than my friend who usually kicks my butt in the water. Very satisfied. Not well known in the US, but very popular in europe. Contact chris@sailfish.com if interested.
Bought the Xterra Velocity…wow. I definitely notice a difference and the fit is perfect. Turq…thanks!!!
The difference is significantly more than 0.25 per 100m, especially for a weaker swimmer. Paul Biederman was arguably saving nearly a second per 50m (he set a 7 second PR for the 400 free). Weaker swimmers will receive more benefit than stronger swimmers but even allowing no extra benefit for weaker swimmers you’re still looking at saving ~30 seconds over an olympic course PLUS you’ll finish feeling fresher. Extrapolate that to an IM and I think that you’re comfortably talking about minutes.
Note: I’m not associated with any manufacturer or the industry but I’ve done a lot of swimming.
Just bought Xterra Velocity ++, have not tested yet, but Xterra customer service is awesome, their knowledge of the product great, price is wright. I did put the suit on and it fits perfect. Give it shot.
If this were the case, you would be seeing significant time drops in IM swims and the fact is, you’re not.
You also can’t compare a pool swimmer to a triathlete as the pool swimmer has these things tight as all hell. There are basically zero gaps anywhere in the thing, it’s uncomfortably tight, often taking a couple people to get the athlete in the thing.
Conversely, sit on the wall as the athletes enter the water in Kona and you’ll see these things fitting as loose as a traditional speedo w/ singlet popping out.
If you think athletes are saving MINUTES off an IM swim w/ one of these suits, then they’re marking has worked flawlessly.
The difference is significantly more than 0.25 per 100m, especially for a weaker swimmer. Paul Biederman was arguably saving nearly a second per 50m (he set a 7 second PR for the 400 free). Weaker swimmers will receive more benefit than stronger swimmers but even allowing no extra benefit for weaker swimmers you’re still looking at saving ~30 seconds over an olympic course PLUS you’ll finish feeling fresher. **Extrapolate that to an IM and I think that you’re comfortably talking about minutes. **
Note: I’m not associated with any manufacturer or the industry but I’ve done a lot of swimming.
while youre probably right about the time saving in that sense, i think most people who have increased drag wearing a traditional tri short/top that without it.
its easier to jump out of a speed suit than it is to put on a tri top wet. the time savings from a speed suit seem much more realistic than a lot of the aero bs.
Have you swum in a speed suit? I have. And they’re being banned from pool swimming for a reason.
If triathletes are wearing them as loose as a speedo then they are buying the wrong size and yeah, they won’t work as effectively (I think a lot of the benefit comes from the tightness streamlining you and holding your core together). Triathletes obviously can’t wear suits as tight as swimmers but they can still wear them plenty tight and they come off fine.
I have one, a Blue Seventy Point Zero 3. Unless conditions are ideal (like as in a swimming pool) it makes very little difference. Unless you have money to burn, most people should work on perfecting their stroke.