Roka Gen II Elite Aero Short Sleeve tri-suit review

The snappily-titled Gen II Elite Aero Short Sleeve Tri Suit from American brand Roka has been around quite a while now and is available direct from Roka for £305.

The brand has just released its first new triathlon wetsuit range for some time in 2024, but I’ve yet to see any new tri-suit releases, which is a shame as there’s plenty to admire in this wind-tunnel sculpted creation.

The question is, does it offer enough to land a place in our list of the best tri-suits?

Swim and bike performance

Starting with triathlon’s first discipline, the Gen II Elite Aero is one the best of the bunch on test in the pool in terms of unrestrictive upper body movement.

The two side loading pockets help with the hydrodynamic profile, while the material feels slick in the water.

Onto the bike and the Italian-made fabrics feel luxurious against the skin, with the Coldblack tech reflecting UV rays and the aerodynamic mesh fabric scoring ventilation points.

The techy leg bands remain supportive yet unrestrictive, likewise the bands on the arms keep the fabric close to the skin to heighten the aero appeal.

Those two side-loading pockets also hint at drag-reduction, but you won’t fit more than a small energy gel (i.e. a Gu or Torq) in each and the lack of an internal zip guard always drops a point or two for us.

For a suit with a £300+ RRP, the fairly limited chamois has a ridge between it and the fabric below, which was the source of some chafing from the seams.

I approve of the breakaway zipper, though, for easier toilet stops both pre-race and during the event, and it offered a bit of give around the waist in what’s a tight overall suit.

Aerodynamics

Into the wind tunnel and the Gen II, perhaps showing its age, was slowest in the class in 220’s tests at the Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub with The Bike Tailor.

Two tests were conducted at a 7.5° yaw angle (simply, the amount of crosswind on your bike), one riding at 30km/h and one at 40km/h.

The rider was on tri-bars in both runs, but both saw the suit come out at the bottom of the pile out of the 13 suits on test.

Fit and verdict

While the upper body flexibility is great, the Gen II Elite Aero did feel tight (the Texans label it a ‘compressive fit’), especially below the waist, and I do have concerns over using this for a full day of half/full-iron racing on the bike and run.

There are eight sizes available, however, including tall versions to help you find a decent fit, but I’d definitely recommend sizing up if you’re between sizes.

In terms of colours, the black here with Coldblack technology is the sole option for both male and female racers.

There’s also a sleeveless white and black version, plus lesser-spotted two-piece offerings in both sleeved and sleeveless numbers.

Combined with the limited pad depth, this tighter build makes the Gen II Elite Aero feel more of a short-course speed suit rather than something for long-distance racing, especially on non-wetsuit swim legs.

It’s about time we had a sequel, though.

Roka Gen II Elite Aero Short Sleeve tri-suit specs

Price:	£305 / $302.94
Available from:	Roka
Sizing:	XS-XL including tall options
Pockets:	2
Breakaway zip?	Yes