Hi all, so I’ve signed up for IM Cozumel, this is a no wetsuit race, I’ve only ever done events in colder climates and love to keep things as simple as possible so:
What are the best tri suits on the market currently that you could swim / bike / run in?
All you need is for it not to balloon open and catch water when you swim, which if it’s the right size it won’t.
I use a 2 piece 2xU suit for IM since I know I’m going to need to take a toilet break at some point so I don’t want to be faffing with a 1 piece.
My understanding is that some really great bike/run suits (esp. ones with ventilated mesh backs) are kinda awful to swim in as that mesh will add drag … then open pockets etc. start to make a measurable difference.
Something like the Kiwami Amphibian (http://www.kiwamitri.com/tokyo-amphibian-trisuit-p/tok.htm) appears at least to be designed to swim in but … how does that compare vs. others (are there any others???)
I have had some great experiences in non-wetsuit, hot weather races using my De Soto Forza trisuit. De Soto uses a combination Liftfoil (hydrophobic material that is very fast in the water) and Skincooler materials to make this suit work great across all three disciplines of a triathlon. The suit performs excellent in hot weather as the wet Skincooler material will continue to keep you cool after you come out of the water.
If you were doing anything less than an IM distance, I would recommend their ITU suit which is all Liftfoil, but I find that the Skincooler material has more benefits over longer distance races.
You can check out both suits here.
What are you currently using? If you already have a suit or two piece that you like, you might consider getting a swim skin suit to give you that extra edge.
Thanks for the recommendation! Currently using a cheap Orca sleeveless one that’s been … fine, had it for years and forgotten the specific model, feel ready for an upgrade and really just don’t want the hassle of one more piece of gear if I can possibly avoid it!
Can’t go wrong with Kiwami. I know JR used the Amphibian for many of his wins, but most don’t like the no pockets. The Spider line is phenomenal, and you will really appreciate the external compression during the later stages of the race. They make sleeved or no sleeve, so pick your favorite…
Um, thanks … can I take it from your sig that you represent them in some way though? Care to recommend another brand as well ? 
Um, thanks … can I take it from your sig that you represent them in some way though? Care to recommend another brand as well ?
Why would anyone recommend a brand of tri suit that is slower and less comfortable?
Well I love Kiwami, but I think you can go wrong on long distance depending on which suit you choose. I wanted to love the LD1 but it suffers badly from “balloon chest†which will slow you down in water and bike—maybe not on everyone but it did for me (larger chest). I love the WS1 for short course. If it were me (and I debated going to Cozumel so I had this discussion in my head), ibplanned to wear my Kiwanis WS1 trsisuit essentially as a swimskin and have a long sleeve tri suit under it (I can’t fit in their Spider LD Aero but that would be another good option for most people unless it also suffers from balloon neck which I don’t know because I never actually used it in training
or race).
But there are some Kiwami options to consider. De Soto has some nice options as does Roka and you can always go custom. I am currently using Ownway Apparel and really like it-comfort level, in my opinion, far exceeds the above bugger name brands (but you do have a much longer wait).
Um, thanks … can I take it from your sig that you represent them in some way though? Care to recommend another brand as well ?
Yes I do some work on occasion with Kiwami. During that time I have had a number of the other brands come through as they do custom printing on suits people send in. Many athletes need additional logos or want logos on plain suits. I also use Kiwami in racing and training as stated and have for many years. I’ve been happy with their quality, durability, performance and lightness of materials as well as their constant push to improve. It is a true choice and based on the many brands that I have felt and seen I’m quite happy with that. They offer a number of options as to suit but as another poster has said, the original Amphibian was used as a swimskin by many pros in Kona for a long time. As a result I would not recommend another brand but could give you some second choices. For myself I prefer to stay with my top choice when economically possible.
You want simple? Two piece tri suit. Swim in shorts only. In T1, grab top that is fully unzipped, step into it like you are putting shorts on and pull it up and on, zip and go. Works great and is fast. Don’t put the top on over your head as your wet body will not let you pull it down easily.
One piece suits…tough to find anything that does not open at the neck when swimming but if you are bound and determined to do one piece, then you need one that does not have a big neck opening…zips high up and close around neck.
How about a swim skin overtop the tri suit?? That is SOP for a fast non-wetsuit swim.
You want simple? Two piece tri suit. Swim in shorts only. In T1, grab top that is fully unzipped, step into it like you are putting shorts on and pull it up and on, zip and go. Works great and is fast. Don’t put the top on over your head as your wet body will not let you pull it down easily.
One piece suits…tough to find anything that does not open at the neck when swimming but if you are bound and determined to do one piece, then you need one that does not have a big neck opening…zips high up and close around neck.
How about a swim skin overtop the tri suit?? That is SOP for a fast non-wetsuit swim.
Thanks … maybe I’m asking too much to get a swim-skin-like tri suit! I can definitely see how adding more stuff could save time overall, really just the hassle (and to some extent, expense) of faffing around with yet more gear I’m trying to avoid.
I think you’d give up too much time swimming in shorts only. If I were doing Coz, I would do a Spider sleeveless as the run can be hot. It’s a good choice in the water as it repels water much like a swimskin (I’ve used it this way a few times for FOP AG swims) and will not get heavy late in the race. You could even use the model without pockets as I usually carry a race belt/gel/salt tab fanny pack type anyway on the run to be sure I have what I need. If you want sleeves, put on the Wings (Kiwami) or a similar top for both aero and sun protection. (I think Bad Williams is going this route). That way the run would not have the sleeves to retain extra heat and you have the best of both worlds. Granted I am only talking this brand as it is what I know very well and use.
If I were doing Coz, I would do a Spider sleeveless as the run can be hot.
Thanks for mentioning this … totally confused about net benefits of (short) sleeves in hot weather. I can see in the swim it would be near impossible for these to improve times due to shoulder restriction but on the bike they’d be more aero (in theory at least, right?) and they’d be sun protection throughout which has a hard to quantify benefit.
You mention taking sleeves off for the run … what’s the thinking there?
TBH the heat/humidity is a concern given lack of experience racing in that.
X2 on DeSoto Liftfoil-Worked for me at SOS.
You shooting for a podium? If not what do you wear in the pool when training? I swam in jammers when I raced Coz a few years ago. Quick change in T1 and off I went.
thanks for sharing your experience. always helpful.
now on the other hand, we have quite a few athletes who have tested swimming in the Spider LD1 or the Spider LDA with convincing performances. so in general, we do suggest swimming in those suits as they’re quite snug fitting and the fabric very water repellent.
in other words, we’re not sure that adding a swimskin on top of a trisuit is going to be efficient if you factor T1 time.
You shooting for a podium? If not what do you wear in the pool when training? I swam in jammers when I raced Coz a few years ago. Quick change in T1 and off I went.
I’ll prolly be top 10-20%ish … I get that transition times become vanishingly less important in long distance events … for me, personally, there’s just something … elegant(?) about having one suit for the whole day.
Um, thanks … can I take it from your sig that you represent them in some way though? Care to recommend another brand as well ?
I don’t represent them and have no personal or financial ties to the company other than I give them money and they give me quality gear. Did Cozumel years ago in the Kiwami Konami. Currently in the Spider LD Aero Trisuit. If I were racing Coz again, and I did not want to use a swim skin, I would probably race one of the Amphibian models. No, it doesn’t have pockets. No, you don’t need pockets for long course.
If I were doing Coz, I would do a Spider sleeveless as the run can be hot.
Thanks for mentioning this … totally confused about net benefits of (short) sleeves in hot weather. I can see in the swim it would be near impossible for these to improve times due to shoulder restriction but on the bike they’d be more aero (in theory at least, right?) and they’d be sun protection throughout which has a hard to quantify benefit.
You mention taking sleeves off for the run … what’s the thinking there?
TBH the heat/humidity is a concern given lack of experience racing in that.
When I said to take the sleeves off, I meant the Kiwami Wings top which I would use for the bike only, if at all. Many triathletes like to use a sleeved top as the (possible) aero benefits are important to them on the bike. The Kiwami materials are very light and really do not absorb water. When a top absorbs water, in addition to getting heavy and “droopy”, it also traps heat as the the water you sweat out is held close to the body acting as an insulator. As I said, I would make sure I’m sunscreen up but use a no sleeve suit for the entire race. Hope this helps…