A common complaint among us triathletes is just how poor our swim performance can be. And one of the main reasons that we fall foul to bad form is because of sinking legs and a whole load of ensuing drag. Given the assistance that a wetsuit provides with buoyancy and hydrodynamics, many of us train […]
The Sailfish Furious – recently approved by FINA – is a ‘speedsuit’ designed to be worn over your tri-suit in a non-wetsuit race. The idea behind the technology is that it helps you gain a speed advantage over the standard suit by trapping air, which increases your buoyancy and reduces drag through the water. As […]
Founded by elite triathlete James Lock, Zone 3 is a new British-owned tri-specific brand. Current products include wetsuits and racesuits with further specialist-designed clothing promised for 2010. The Vanquish is packed with the latest technology, from the 2mm neoprene shoulder panel that stretches from elbow to elbow – so flexible that it’s easy to forget […]
The latest race suit from Zoot is aimed at comfort and long-distance performance. Using a double-zip system – one for the internal chest support and the other for the external suit – it was a little awkward to get into and produced some drag in the swim. But it still felt very supportive, especially on […]
The Zenith is Zoot’s top-of-the-range suit, updated for 2009. BIOwrap balance technology makes the suit stand out in a crowd, giving it the look of a super-hero’s outfit, with padded panels mimicking the body’s musculature. But does it deliver a super-powered performance? 2mm Yamamoto neoprene exterior and 3mm balance panels on the interior allow the […]
Aqua Sphere and Ironman have partnered up to launch a new range of triathlon wetsuits. The WRacer represents the ‘pro’ (mid-range) level for women… and very nice it is, too. Specifically designed for the female frame, it fits well and offers enough flexibility in key areas to keep capable swimmers feeling unrestricted in the water. […]
The UM1214a has aimed itself squarely at those of us who really hate the cold, and feels like one of the warmest tops around. Our microscopic scrutiny supported this tactile feedback, showing a high-density make-up for the fabric that locks the warmth against your skin. The added features – a turtle neck and thumb holes […]
The Craft Pro Zero range mimics classic thermal undergarments in both look and feel. The polyester used has a cotton-like finish, providing immediate comfort. The fit is also very accurate with a long tail and arms ready for the bike, and slight turtle neck to stop those cold breezes. As a base layer the thermal […]
This is Maru’s latest thin strap, aqua sport suit. And, as with the Tyr Hurricane, it hasn’t been designed for those who like subtle colour schemes. Its bright, funky kaleidoscope pattern might not be to everyone’s liking, but if you love your swimsuits loud, then this is definitely a suit to take a closer look […]
You could be quite easily mistaken for a character from Baywatch wearing this eye-catching red number, but don’t let that put you off. This is a good suit at a competitive price, which looks the part and performs well in the water. However, it might be worth trying it for size before deciding if it’s […]
This suit is not for those swimmers who like to blend in by the poolside. Its bright-green Hurricane design is ‘lively’, and in its packaging you’ll be inclined to keep it there… but once on it might actually surprise you. It looks particularly good in sunny conditions. It’s aimed at the performance swimmer, with a […]
The Boomerang, which is part of Zoggs’ performance swimwear range, is a simple, but stylish-looking suit. Like the Zoggs Sonic Back it’s fully lined through the front of the suit, so feels soft against the skin and is comfortable to wear. And it’s made from Dow XLA technology, which means it has both a high […]
Nike has never been a major player when it comes to swimwear, so it’s hardly surprising that when it does take the plunge, it does so by bringing some swanky, new technology to the pool. Although Nike has had swimsuits on the market for some time now, this latest one features their Dow XLA fibre, […]
Tyr says this is one of its best-selling suits – and it’s not hard to see why. It has a simple yet elegant and stylish look, which always makes for a good start. The ‘H-Back’-style straps have been designed to come wider up the chest and over the shoulders, which translates to extra support and […]
The Speedo Endurance Pulseback is a tried and tested favourite. Its resistance to chlorine is simply remarkable, and one of these suits could possibly last longer than your tri career. It’s quick drying and fits well, although doesn’t have as much stretch as other suits of the same size, so trying before you buy might […]
It’s hard to get excited about this suit: it looks a little dowdy and there’s no denying it’s just a plain and simple cossie. It’s part of Zoggs’ fitness range, so isn’t aimed at the top-level performance swimmer; rather it’s for those who enjoy going for a swim every now and then. Hence, it isn’t […]
This is a sleek, stylish and well-designed suit that could be worn for both training and racing a triathlon. It has been designed to mould to the athlete’s body in all three disciplines, and it does so brilliantly. It’s an extremely comfortable suit with low-profile seams throughout, to avoid chafing to the skin, and offers […]
The Snugg Lite is one of the more expensive suits we’ve tested recently, and it’s clear that the extra money has gone into selecting high-quality materials and putting them together with real craftsmanship, right here in the UK. The suit is extremely flexible around the shoulders, and a strongly reinforced anchor point for the zip […]
At under £100, the basic offering from Terrapin is certainly affordable. It’s also an extremely durable and attractively priced product that would last many seasons. Unfortunately, though, the economising and build quality seem to come at the expense of pure performance as shoulder flexibility and hydrodynamics are somewhat compromised. The externally taped seams offer robustness […]
The Ultrafull from triathlon equipment veterans Quintana Roo is an accomplished product indeed. Light in weight and totally supple around the shoulders, it felt extremely comfortable and mobile in the water. Like the Foor it has incredible buoyancy in the legs, which would be a bonus for most triathletes with heavy quads to drag through […]
The 2XU is similar in price to the Snugg Lite and Quintana Roo Ultrafull (also reviewed on this site). That’s not the only thing they have in common, as it offers a similarly high level of performance. It’s supple across the critical shoulder and chest area and its buoyancy is excellent. Fairly short legs and […]
The Sailfish Vibrant blended into the middle ground, offering good, if not remarkable, levels of flexibility, buoyancy and fit. The quality of construction is up there with the best here and the high-grip forearm panels – to increase the effectiveness of the catch and pull phases of the stroke – is a bonus on an […]
The Mako is a well-constructed product, primarily offering warmth, buoyancy and durability. It uses pretty thick panels, and therefore what it gains in insulation it loses a little in flexibility across the shoulders and chest. That said, it wasn’t overly restrictive, and, as with most suits on test, offers a range of movement that wouldn’t […]
A very stylishly designed suit from a highly regarded manufacturer. The Equip is lightweight and flexible around the shoulders with a close-fitting, slimline cut – it would seem to suit athletes preferring salads to doughnuts if you get what we mean! High-friction forearm panels to increase purchase on the water during the pull phase are […]
