Looking to pickup either a trisuit or speedsuit for the upcoming season.
Anyone have any experience with any of the major brands (i.e. 2XU, Pearl Izumi, Zoot or DeSoto) regarding fit, feel, comfort and durability? Any recommendations?
I was looking at either the DeSoto Forza Trisuit or the Liftfoil Speedsuit; or possibly the new Pearl Izumi PRO Speedsuit?
I have two that I love. The DeSoto Liftfoil, and the Speedo FSII if you can find one. Both tested well in the pool on my boat anchor of a body, and both give great compression while on the bike and run, and I just love the way that makes me feel. Who knows if it really helps other than the placebo effect. The Speedo I use for olys and halfs because it feels cooler, the DeSoto for sprints because it tested just a touch faster in the water for no wetsuit swims (but it comes in any color as long as you choose black).
Seth
I’ve got the De Soto Forza suit, and I love it. It’s really comfortable, and the compression in the legs is great.
I use a Zoot Sports Ultra Racesuit and I love it. From the Holster Pockets to the comfy pad and compression on the legs, it is hands down my most favorite race day outfit. You can find them on eBay for a great price. I just bought a new 2009 one last week on eBay for a great price. I don’t think you could go wrong with Zoot stuff.
I raced last year in a 2XU elite suit, the materials and build quality are great. It’s very nice, but on hot runs (85+) the top almost feels like I wrapped my chest in Saran Wrap - it’s very clingy and does not feel like it “breathes”…thankfully the zipper is in front though. I primarily do wetsuit-illegal sprints, so the suit starts out fully wet on the bike and never dries, maybe it’s not so bad if it stays dry under a wetsuit? The suit is great in the water and on the bike, but I can’t imagine running 13.1 in it.
I have used a few. Blue Seventy is nice, and I have one for sale, used once. 2XU I did not like at all, as very expensive, and the material fell apart. The legs and hips are very baggy and no support. Orca was way too baggy for me as well, as I’m pretty thin. DeSoto is very nice, and Emilio is great for support. I would look at Kiwami, though…As with a wetsuit, try them on, as they all fit differently.
*Looking to pickup either a trisuit or speedsuit for the upcoming season. *
Well I think you need to clarify exactly what you need the new suit for as they’re vastly different items serving different purposes…
I race in the DeSoto Forza and love it. A very durable suit (the top actually wears out first), and the “V” cut where the top and shorts meet means unrestricted breathing. It has wider shoulders, which I prefer to the “tank top” designs of some suits.
I have 2 race suits, one with pockets and one w/o; depending on if it’s going under a wetsuit.
If you’re on a budget, I found a screaming deal ($30) in on the Hind Kona Suit (http://www.become.com/hind-kona?&qet ). Not quite as nice as the Desoto, but a very solid suit.
The new DeSoto ITU suit is easily the nicest of their suits. It’s the best combination of the liftfoil and the forza. Really a fantastic suit.
Personally, I’m biased towards Kiwami. I don’t think there is anything out there that is it’s equal as an all around trisuit.
If you don’t mind a couple of questions… I’m mainly going to race around Oly distance this season with possibly a few sprints or 70.3’s.
What do you prefer about the DeSoto ITU to the DeSoto Forza (I like the idea off a front zip)?
What Kiwami suit do you like? I assume this will be distance dependent…
Thanks very much
Have you tried Zerod ?
www.zerod.eu
'Tis as nice as Kiwami I think. Also the current olympic champion trisuit (after only 1.5 years existence for the company).
I like back zips myself. Just so you know, nobody watching wants to see your chest. 
I wear the amphibian for all my races. Pads are unnecessary if you have a good saddle. At least, that’s what I’ve found.
If I was to buy one suit, it’d be the amphibian. Or, you like desoto, the ITU suit.
The Kiwami suits look like they are fairly well constructed? How durable are they and do they wear well?
I had an issue with a 2XU suit which wore very bad after wearing it for just one 70.3 race.
Still digging my Desoto LiftFoil.
I like back zips myself. Just so you know, nobody watching wants to see your chest.
I wear the amphibian for all my races. Pads are unnecessary if you have a good saddle. At least, that’s what I’ve found.
If I was to buy one suit, it’d be the amphibian. Or, you like desoto, the ITU suit.
IMO the back zips suck (not to mention that the ITU now feels it should tell us where our clothes can zip). All the pros running with the back zips undone look like a bunch of wives who are frantically looking for their husband to zip them up. I’ll take chest zip any time.
Kiwami suits are extremely well made. They are all made in the EU, and, as with DeSoto, which is all made in the US, the quality difference shows. The Amphibian suits do stretch out some, such that if you want the absolute fastest suit for a non-wetsuit swim the lifespan is probably only a few races. But I’m talking about caring about a couple of a seconds per 1500m sort of difference. I raced in my Amphibian probably 10 times and it still fits very well. I have a newer one I’d use for non-wetsuit swims, but I actually prefer my “broken in” one for wetsuit swims as it is a bit more comfortable on the bike and run. The non-Amphibian fabric suits last much longer; the Amphibian fabric is just very, very lightweight. Then again, it also dries in about 30 seconds, which makes is really nice in both cold and hot weather. Being dry beats being wet in cold weather, and having fabric that dries quickly is going to be cooler than fabric that retains moisture.
If you’re looking for just a trisuit, meaning instead of a top and shorts, my favorite is LG (louis garneau) - but make sure you go with the shark (top of the line). The chamois is far more comfortable and the fabric is even slicker in the water. The leg "grippers will never leave a mark or ride up your leg. They also make a speedsuit that I haven’t tried.