Has anyone trained with something like this before? Any input on these besides looking a little toolish in the pool?
I’m anxiously waiting to read about them in the “Strange Denizens of the Pool” thread.
I saw them on the Xterra site the other day for the first time. First thing I thought was doesn’t Roka have something similiar, except shorts length instead of capri length?
Will the added heat/warmth/etc. melt cellulite off my thighs???
Triathletes are idiots who will spend their money on absolutely anything.
You don’t want to buy a pair of buoyant pants for 20x the cost of a pull buoy?
Agreed wearing these in the pool seems ridiculous…
But! I think in open water swimming/racing they can be great.
DeSoto has been making something very similar for years–their “Speedtube” pants.
http://www.desotosport.com/category/speed
Although they work best for warm water and for someone who doesn’t want to wear the full suit/sleeves.
They are indeed great for giving your hips a little float and good position in the water.
I’ve been training with them lake/ocean swimming and racing here in San Diego for the last 5 years.
just keep them away from your lap swims at the local pool!
“Speedtube”
Just caused me to laugh out loud in cubicle-land.
Sweet. IF the pool is a little cold in the winter, now I can pee and stay warm with my Lava Pants on.
If I use the Lava Pants and a pool bouy, will my head be, like, a foot under the water?
before Speedtube by DeSoto, a wet suit company called Aleeda iirc made them. At least 20 years ago.
If they were so great I’m pretty sure they would have really caught on in the last 20 years
Good point!
I know i’m not the norm in this case… I overheat pretty easily and actually enjoy the feeling of the water as I swim!
And, I’m trunking it when I surf all summer too.
I still think given the individual and climate, they can very useful when open water swimming/training.
Although $200 is steep!.. I say take an old wetsuit and DIY.
Ive actually heard of Aleeda, theyre up the coast in OC I believe. Do they still make that product?
It was Wavelength wetsuits…90% sure.
I haven’t worn them. And here’s my review. Hope it helps. http://tricoachmartin.blogspot.com/2013/08/product-review-lava-pants-xterras-half.html
I think they’re great for one reason really and that was swims in the midwest during the summer. You would have a ton of races that would claim the water was 77.9999999, and wearing a full wetsuit was a disaster. You’d still get the majority of the benefit but not have to worry about overheating.
I think they’re great for one reason really and that was swims in the midwest during the summer. You would have a ton of races that would claim the water was 77.9999999, and wearing a full wetsuit was a disaster. You’d still get the majority of the benefit but not have to worry about overheating.
I have tested a pair, and I believe to make the best out of them training in the pool you should use paddles to get the upper wetsuit resistance feel. I am starting to get tempted to try them in an actual race. Has anyone done this using roka sim’ or deSoto bottoms with success? As for the price / product issue, it is something more marketed to those folk who like to pay high entry fee for a brand name race ha ha. Some tri clubs have an offer of them going for 75$
Used them in a race you mean?
yes in a race, where you have used a full suit before - has it improved your time?
Can you post a link to get the $75 price?
Can you post a link to get the $75 price?
deal expired
.
Old thread I know - but there was a chick who was using these in the swim leg at Oceanside (one of the pros, no idea who). I was kind of surprised.
Adding to my surprise: My wife bought me a pair (unbeknownst to me) the day before at the expo. It was a sample pair for like 80% off or something.
So I will be using them next week at the Fearless Super Sprint. We’ll see how that goes.
I haven’t worn them. And here’s my review. Hope it helps. http://tricoachmartin.blogspot.com/...ts-xterras-half.html
“. The Xterra solution? Replace the pull buoy with something else that provides artificial floatation to the lower half of your body. Perfect! Just like a pull buoy. Well, no not exactly, you now have a “natural range of motion”. Which means you are free again to split your legs and do that inefficient wide scissor kick triathletes a particularly prone to. …”
Rubbish, I am superb at splitting my legs with a pull bouy as are most of the people I swim with. Don’t doubt our talents.