Zone3 Aeroforce X II tri-suit review

The Tron-esque graphics might say otherwise, but there’s nothing retro about this techy follow-up to the Aeroforce X (reviewed here).

That landmark suit for the Surrey brand (who’d never before produced a truly top-end performance tri-suit), designed with input from aero specialists Aerocoach and Nopinz, boasted a duo of covered rear pockets and hydrophobic materials for slick swim action, dimpled sleeves and pinstripes for on-bike gains, and decent rear venting for the run leg.

Zone3 Aeroforce X II tri-suit review

What’s new?

Those features remain on the Aeroforce sequel, but what’s new, apart from those Casio digital watch graphics (which, as a child of the ‘80s, I really like), is the Speedscalez textured fabric on the legs.

This fabric has been designed by Nopinz to disrupt airflow (in a good way) and offer core support to the leg muscles.

Zone3 also touts the Aero Soft-Touch material on the front for speed gains, but it’s in the pool where I felt the most benefits here, evidently beading water throughout my swim sessions.

Visually, it looks stealthy and slick, but there’s also a navy version if you want something a touch lighter.

Fit and features

It’s not all positive, however. I’d prefer the frontal zip to break away fully at the bottom for added comfort and convenience on longer races (admittedly there’s an aero penalty here).

The zip guard is also pretty minimal and has a tendency to flip away from the zipper head, often making it redundant.

Fit is subjective but I did find it tight around the crotch and the rear of the collar was a little loose and floaty, which may well have disrupted some of the aero gains achieved elsewhere.

The tacky texture on the inside of the leg and arm grippers helps to keep both the leg and arm sleeves secure on the limbs, but there are techier, less noticeable versions elsewhere on test here that have superseded this design from 2020. Tri tech moves fast.

The big issue is that the Elastic Interface chamois that’s been specced is, for my behind anyway, just too minimal for long-distance triathlon and extended sojourns on the aerobars.

While speedsters will undoubtedly be in the saddle for less time than me, for whom Ironman is about completion over competing, the minimalist pad and no option to select another when ordering feels like a missed opportunity.

That lean pad and lithe polyester/Lycra material blend does mean the Aeroforce X clocks a lightweight 199g (M) on the scales.

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Wind tunnel performance and bottom line

The Aeroforce X-II performed excellently in 220’s wind-tunnel tests at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub with The Bike Tailor.

Its performance over our baseline suit at a 7.5° yaw angle (simply, the amount of crosswind on your bike) was 48secs faster at 30km/h and 51secs quicker at 40km/h over a 40km bike leg with a rider on the tri-bars, placing it upper mid-table in a test involving pricier suits.

Combined with the lack of a full-length zipper, I’d most likely recommend this suit for Olympic-distance and no longer than 70.3 racing.

Plus, you’d ideally have a non-wetsuit swim at the start to maximise the hydrophobic materials, upper-body flexibility and covered pockets.

Zone3 Aerofoce X II tri-suit specs

Price:	£299 / $430
Available from:	Zone3 (men’s), Zone3 (women’s)
Sizes:	XS-XL
Pockets:	2
Breakaway zip?	No