In the last year of competing in triathlons I managed to wear my jammer from swim-season for the swim, then put on a pair of biking shorts for the bike, and leave those on for the run. I have heard but not experienced that the cushion in a tri-suit is found a little bit less of than in a regular pair of cycling shorts. Running in the bike shorts was not too uncomfortable but it did feel weird. Is there anybody that has ran in a tri-suit or have any oppinions on the comfortability in running w/ one???
Where did you change out of your jammers and into your bike shorts? Inside the transition area? Unless you’re doing an IM event it’s almost unheard of to do this.
The best thing you can say about any running clothing is that you don’t “notice” it while running. I’ve never noticed any trisuit during the run.
My trisuit pad is plenty for me but I don’t race anything longer than Oly and the occasional half IM.
Well in the sprint tri’s that I’ve competed in I wore the jammer and then slipped on the shorts over and ran w/ the 2 layers. So you say, someone can’t really tell the difference whether their running in a tri-suit or a rather swim jammer? And now reallizing that the suit is probably some tight on the upper body. Would that actually feel uncomfortable or just different to run in?
The tri-suits are designed for running in. I have worn a pair of cycle shorts over top of the trisuit for the 2 iron-disatnce events I have done then remove just the cycle shorts when it comes to bike/run transition.
But next weekend I am doing an olympic distance tri, so I will wear a pair of swim togs(padded under the trisuits for the whole event(no cycle shorts).
On the clothing link of my site you will find some great deals on trisuits.
Alright, now I’ve got a better understanding and perspective on how I view the latest technology : ) Just looking at a picture of a tri-suit at a popular website/store, it always seemed to look like very thin wetsuit material - making it look uncomfortable comparable to riding and running in a wetsuit. Haha
Thanks a lot! I looked at your website, and the suits look a lot better than any other image of a t-suit at a big online tri store. I’ll definitely look into your rack!
Another thought that just came ran through my head.
Do these tri-suits have any different outcome swimming w/ just the t-suit than wearing a jammer? I would imagine so, but would not realize the different benefits between a tri-suit, wetsuit or going bare…
Another thought that just came ran through my head.
Do these tri-suits have any different outcome swimming w/ just the t-suit than wearing a jammer? I would imagine so, but would not realize the different benefits between a tri-suit, wetsuit or going bare…
It doesn’t matter, youre splitting hairs that don’t need to be split. the difference between a trisuit and jammers is smaller then grabing water while on the bike. It just doesn’t matter.
I’ll take your word for it. Since I’ve never really seen a t-suit up close I wouldn’t know how loose the material would be if so. But I now know it’s swimable.
Are all trisuits designed for swimming in without a wetsuit?
The answer is that some trisuits are designed more for this purpose than others. The top pros in ITU are using suits which quite often don’t have pockets such as the orca killer tri-suit and most of the Kiwami brands. These are both pretty expensive though.
I have only done two non-wetsuit swim triathlons, but if I do again I won’t wear a tri-suit with big pockets in the back or sides.
The orca race tri-suits have a flap over the pockets on the back and the orca 226-distance trisuits have special aqua pockets so both those are good for swimming in.
The higher end swim tri-suits also claim the material they are made out of is faster in the water.
Would you ever wear a tri suit underneat a wetsuit? I’m thinking a tri suit will be more aero on the bike than tri shorts and top and potentially quite comfortable in the run. However, if it’s a wetsuit swim, would you still wear this tri suit underneath the wet suit?
“I’m thinking a tri suit will be more aero on the bike than tri shorts and top and potentially quite comfortable in the run.”
The differnce in aerodynamics of a two peice tri shorts and top versus a trisuit will be negligible if they are tight fitting.
You can wear whatever you feel like under your wetsuit and it makes very little difference. In long distance triathlons I choose to wear a trisuit, but will also wear cycle shorts over top and will wear all this in the swim.
Am not sure why trisuits have become so synonymous with triathlon but I prefer them. It seems ITU have pretty much taken the line to make trisuits compulsory; maybe because it covers more skin. It is a big change from 20years ago when many did the run in nothing but their speedo’s ; but now most race directors have banned that because they/some in the public see it as nudity.
The tri-suits are designed for running in.
Designed by someone who hates runners, I think.
Depends on the suit. I had a zoot (from triathlonshots, actually) last year that was comfortable, but it had some weird reaction and got screwed up with dye or something the second race I did in it. Zoot replaced it, and the new suit is comfortable for the swim, but too tight across the diaphragm area for comfortable running.
I was speaking more from a perspective of someone who hates tight fitting clothing of any kind on the run. No matter how well designed, it can never give you the range of motion that you get from shorts and a singlet. This does not seem to bother any of my friends who do triathlons (in fact they seem to prefer it) but it drives me crazy.
My tri shorts feel completely comfortable during the swimming (just like jammers) and completely comfortable during the bike (just like cycling shorts) and completely comfortable during the run (just like running in jammers I suppose).
As for the top, I’ve raced with and without. However, this year I’ll be racing exclusively with the tri top. I’ve got one that fits properly and that’s the key. It won’t slow me down in the swim anywhere near as much as it will speed me up through transition. It’s also as comfortable to run in as a running singlet.
