What does everyone look for in a Tri Suit

Triathlon Forum
1

I would love to know
Sleeves vs Sleeveless
Aero fabric
Pockets on the legs, in the suit, or on the back
Colours?
Patterns?
Max prices?

Also Calf sleeves

2
  • Sleeves. I’m from New Zealand and am scared enough of the sun as it is. Also aero savings
  • Yes
  • Definitely pockets, prefer them to be on the back
  • My wife is retiring my 2XU suit because it’s boring and she can’t find me easily on course. So now I’m rocking a funky De Soto one.
  • See above
  • I’m willing to pay a bit for comfort and style. I paid $325USD for the De Soto and recently dropped another $225 for a Wyn Republic suit with Braden Currie’s design.
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3

I look for a top-end sleeved suit that fits me well. No/minimal seams, no pockets. Prefer darker colors but not a big deal to me. Calf sleeves similar thought process. Fit is paramount, otherwise looking for high quality.

4

Sleeved for sure and aero fabric is a bonus. I love pockets, leg pockets are great, vertical rear pockets are great also. I don’t like the horizontal pockets that are on some suits, I’ve lost things using those. I look for bright colors, longer legs (some legs are quite short and I chafe). I bought several suits last year, Fusion, Wyn, 2XU, Zoot… definitely like the Fusion the most and Wyn a close second but the Wyn was super expensive here in Canada.

5

General question regarding tri-suits: do the one with vertical pockets (thighs and back) really act as parachutes for a non wetsuit swim?

6

I’ve felt it with back pockets that are less tight to the body. It’s less noticeable with better brands whose pocket openings are tighter.

7

Look at the seams around the pad – seams coming together near the crotch are bad and while likely be felt on long distance rides.
Look at the seams around the leg - seams on the back side of the leg (behind the knee) are going to ride up and down into the soft tissue behind your knee and feel terrible.

Other than that, obviously price is a big thing.

Definitely get sleeves, and you want them to fit well and not be super wrinkly when you get into aero position.

I need to have some kind of pockets but most have that. I’ve had them with leg pockets and I feel like I can never find them while running.

I would prefer one that checks all those boxes and makes for easy toilet trips, but it seems the most aero suits make toilet breaks pretty difficult. I’ll take aero gains over toilet since I’m not frequently using the toilet, but if I were I’d make sure I had one that I could make pit stops in.

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8

“Fit is paramount”

This is my concern. I’ve not purchased a high-dollar suit because I’m worried about dropping $300 for a suit only to find it doesn’t fit well.

How do folks solve this problem?

9

Are you all scared of buying littler known brands?
Or are you open to options?

10

Don’t buy it unless you can return it. Find out if you can use it, as some might let you. I used a Roka tri suit years ago, and had a rash on my skin in a few places after using it. No idea if the rash was related to the suit, water, heat rash, etc, but I very rarely get a rash, so I returned it since it was still in the window and didn’t want to risk it being an issue.

Assuming you don’t have a local store or event vendor to try them on… check the website policies and worst case try amazon. Look at some of the most expensive trisuits on Amazon and buy and try those. Amazon Prime you can in theory get away with using it and returning it if you have any issues. But I wouldn’t abuse that policy just because you technically can.

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11

Thanks. I didn’t know there were some vendors who would let you actually use it once to see how it fit. I once purchased a high $ cycle bib because my son-in-law recommended it. I’m a shirts guy, and the one time I used the bib they pulled on my repaired clavicle (which was no fun). I contacted them to return it and they no, because I wore it once. This was two days after I received it,

12

I do sprints, and non wetsuit swims. dont need or want pockets, prefer sleeveless, also some interesting colors/patterns on the torso.

13

Ask and you shall receive:

Llewellyn asked:

Sleeves vs Sleeveless - I’ve only tested 1 person where sleeveless was faster. That was Heather Wurtele the year she placed 3rd at 70.3 Worlds.

Aero fabric - fabric and how it is placed can make a difference. The fastest fabric placed wrong is not fast in suit design…ask me how I know :frowning:

Pockets on the legs, in the suit, or on the back - The very first suit I designed gel pockets on the back of the thighs. 0 drag penalty fully loaded with 2-3 gels per pocket. I think this is personal preference. I like 1 or 2 well designed pockets

Also Calf sleeves - very individualistic. Great for some so so for some and not good. The same calf sleeve on person A can be fast then on person B cost them time.

Bottom line: If you’re not going to test then buy what you like the most

Hope that helps

14

How do you test kits (or anything for that matter)? Do you just ride a consistent loop/distance at a consistent output and look at the time difference? How do you account for variables such as wind, air temp, humidity, etc from one set to the next?

I’m genuinely curious with this question. Living in a northern plains state these things are all over the place (wind mostly) and I’m trying to see how it’s possible to account for those variables when we’re talking what can be some very small differences.

I know a wind tunnel is the answer, but assuming that’s not possible/practical, what is the recommended protocol?

Also, regarding calf sleeves, is there one that tends to test well on most people?

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15

How does testing all these different options practically work? Do you provide test kits or is the person being tested meant to bring everything he wants to test. Seems like it may be extremely expensive to determine the optimal “kit” for each person … yet some call it free speed :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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16

Comfort is #1 for me. I hate kits that have a seem in my crotch. It get really irritating on the saddle. Same with the top. Nice soft fabric that breathes.

Sleeved for me. I’ve had sleeveless cause some chafing on my arm pits, but haven’t on any sleeved I’ve tried.

I like the one piece kits that have a separate top that opens. Easier to take a whizz.

I assume that there is something to the aero features since there is data behind it so I’d look for the ridged or textured sleeves at a minum (assuming the kit fits well).

The pad on the new Zoot team kits is great. Not it love with their fabrics though. I find them a bit thick.

Fwiw I’ve found Giordana and Ale make great kits.

17

I used to do a lot of wind tunnel testing, but now I do way more aero sensor testing outside.

With the aero sensor I’m taking into account everything that is happening and giving you a CdA for the runs.

I’ve not seen one calf sleeve do better than another enough to say this is the calf sleeve to get.

If you want to come to Tucson March 20-23, Marcag and I are doing some joint aero testing.

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18

I do have some current demo suits that people can test. Ideally though if you want to test it, bring it. Leave the tags on.

It can be expensive, yet if you are careful you can return some of what you test. The rest you can sell. You may lose some money yet on the other side of that coin, you’re set for 2 seasons of racing.

19

Dang it!!! I’m actually in PHX next week for work. Have a MTB trip planned to Sedona. Had I not, and we’re there longer, I’d maybe take you up on it.

20

When I ordered the pro series suit I initially purchased the suit through the US store for $300 USD ($470 AUD). I immediately cancelled and ordered it through the AU store for $228 USD ($360 AUD). Price difference is nuts.