Van Rysel Triathlon LD tri-suit review

We loved the look of the Van Rysel Triathlon LD tri-suit in the steel blue and fluro coral pink colourway, and we also loved the price.

There aren’t too many suits around for under £70. So, chapeau to Decathlon’s own apparel brand. Not surprisingly, that low cost comes at a slight performance hit, but it’s still a bargain.

Storage and ventilation

First up, this tri-suit has great storage with a mesh pocket on the back, which is easy to access, and pockets on each thigh that hug the body and look stylish with a slit of orange showing through.

So, for someone who’s new to triathlon and wishes to carry a wealth of nutrition, this is up there with the Tri-Fit Liberty suit for storage capacity.

Comfort

Like the Zone3 Activate+ it has a full-length zip that acts like a gilet. Again, I appreciate this as, not only is it great for ventilation, but it makes it easier to get on and off, too, and would clearly be useful if you need toilet stops.

That said, it could do with fold-over zip protection for extra comfort.

The material looks plush, dries quickly and provides good ventilation, but this is where the price savings show as it just doesn’t possess the same comfort as the other suits on test.

Where the mesh material on the back meets the back pocket is a cause of mild seam-derived irritation, albeit it lessened over time and could have just been the cut of this particular garment.

On the positive, the material around the shoulders fits well and isn’t restrictive during swimming.

Fit

The sleeve length’s a little shorter than some of the others but whether that suits you or not comes down to personal preference.

The suit features thermoformed elastic at the arms and thighs to help keep it in place during the each of the three disciplines and, of course, transitions.

They do a good job, and the suit feels comfortable and secure.

I tested a size medium and it was true to size, although on a 5ft 7in female the top did feel a little short in the torso when down in the drops.

Chamois performance

Van Rysel’s LD suit has a narrow chamois, which makes it good for running and comfy on the bike over hour-long rides.

In fact, it’s the thinnest chamois on test and, as such, isn’t perfect when you ride long, so it’s either ideal for shorter-distance triathlons or for a conditioned triathlete with a lot of saddle time in the bank.

As with the other suits I’ve recently reviewed, I tested the suit during unpredictable British spring weather, but it performed well on its own and as part of a layering system.

Overall, this is a solid-entry level suit with a good price tag. It just lacks a little on performance compared to the other suits.

For more options to suit all budgets, take a look at our list of the best tri-suits on the market right now.

Van Rysel Triathlon LD tri-suit specs

Price:	£69.99 (UK only)
Buy from:	Decathlon
Available sizes:	XS-XL (women’s), XS-2XL (men’s)
Breakaway zip?	Yes
Chamois pad:	Gel insert
Pockets:	4