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HOW WE TESTED Each suit was machine washed straight out of the box to remove any starchiness that can affect new garments, before being tried on for looks. An extended test period followed that involved a series of race-like swim, bike and run bricks that included a set pool swim, a road or turbo bike and a road or trail run, with the long-distance suits given extra time in the saddle and on the trails. We noted the performance of the chamois, the drying properties and added features like pockets, zips and leg grippers before trying each suit under our wetsuit to check for any rubbing. Value was a consideration but, as a decent suit can last a number of seasons, picking the right suit was more important than penny-saving. Finally, and to the delight of our energy company, we washed the suits a further number of times to check for any durability concerns.

U nlike our two previous issue’s grouptests of aerobars and race wheels, a tri-suit won’t make you

much faster on race day. But – as the only kit that’s with you every stoke, pedal rotation and stride of the way – a poorly chosen tri-suit could cost you minutes or worse, with fit and specification both major concerns when choosing your suit. Like wetsuits, trying before you buy is nigh-on mandatory, so take a pair of Speedos or swimsuit to your local tri shop and slip into a host of suits.

Every triathlete¬– be it a sprint-distance novice, a grizzled member of the long-distance fraternity, a top age-grouper looking for pure speed – will have different demands when choosing a tri-suit, so ask yourself a number of key questions first. Do you need pockets for nutrition or tools? A front or back

FLO

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What’s that coming over the hill? It’s the UK tri season, and for it you’ll need a tri-suit to fit your every race-day need. Matt Baird zips up nine of 2014’s best...

zipper? A dense chamois for comfort or a slither of a pad? Are you racing pool-based events, non-wetsuit races abroad or spending your time submerged in the North Sea with a wetsuit on top?

Aesthetics was given a more serious consideration throughout this grouptest than, say, baselayers. Slipping into your tri-suit on race morning should make you feel like you can take on the world, not worry about how Jane or Jonny from accounts will react when they see your race pic the next day.

With all these questions in mind, here we slip on nine of this season’s best to help pick your suit for the season ahead.

A lot of the suits here come in women’s cuts, but we’ll be testing a host of female-specific tri-suits in next issue’s Test Centre pages.

ZIPPERChoices include

front or back zip, with front offering

ventilation and back increased

hydrodynamics.

CONSTRUCTIONOften a mixture of elastane

and polyester and should offer breathability, UV

protection and minimal seam rub. Can also contain

a hydrophobic coating.

SEAMSShould be smooth and cause minimal irritation throughout the race, especially if you’re going long distance.

LEG GRIPPERSBrands opt for

silicone, rubber or tight hems

here to stop the legs riding up.

CHAMOISThe pad in the seat of the tri-suit. Should be quick-drying and offer plenty of padding and comfort, especially for long-distance athletes.

HYDROPHOBICA slippery coating that repels water on the swim and/or dries quickly once you’re on the bike leg.

ITU RACINGThe International Triathlon Union circuit of elite relay, sprint and Olympic-distance racing. ITU athletes are likely to crave a fast suit for non-wetsuit swims.

JARGON BUSTER

TRI-SUITS

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TEST CENTRE GROUPTEST

ARENA LONG DISTANCE£110.00arenainternational.com

Arena have plenty of history in tri and their recent return has certainly not gone unnoticed, with last issue’s Carbon-Pro tri-suit the most expensive we’ve ever seen at £300. Despite the back zipper for swim speed, the Long Distance is aimed at exactly that, with a perforated chamois providing plenty of breathability and two side pockets with room for a couple of gels. On the bike and run the suit was barely noticeable. But, oddly given the contrasting target audiences, the suit it has the most in common with is the ZeroD overleaf, with that back zip complemented by an ultra lightweight fabric and this grouptest’s second-quickest drying honours. One thing to note is the huge lime green side panels were deeply unflattering for anyone lacking the flat midriff of a Kienle or Carfrae, with our own love handles being illuminated like Blackpool Tower.

84 %

VERDICT

Not a looker but overall a strong return to triathlon for Arena

86 %

VERDICT

Unshowy but will always impress. The Matt Damon of tri-suits

BLUESEVENTY TX2000 £100.00 www.blueseventy.co.uk

The TX2000 from New Zealand’s swim specialists has been our choice of suit for a few seasons and, like that favourite armchair, it’s reliable, durable and has offered decent padding for the time we’ve spent sitting down. But, with eight other suits vying for the dubious honour, will it continue to grace our bottom in 2014? The duo of covered side pockets are pool swim-friendly, suitable for a small gel and are convenient to reach on the bike and run. The quick-drying, lightweight and ridged chamois provides plenty of bottom coverage for sojourns on the bike and the beaded leg grippers successfully keep the suit in place. The heat ray reflecting ColdBlack fabric is adept at managing temperature control, too. It may lack the style and excitement of the Tyr, but the TX2000 successfully and understatedly gets the job done time and time again.

2XU G:2 COMPRESSION£138.00www.2xushop.co.uk

Cooling, comfortable and compressive. They may be known for supplying the Aussie ITU speedster Emma Snowsill, but the G:2 from 2XU instantly sweeps the long-distance honours in this test. The three open-ended yet sizeable rear pockets will stash your nutrition for race day and bike/run bricks, while the fleece chamois was comfy. As ever, the compression benefits were hard to exactly quantify although we did feel an improvement in our run posture due to the tight fit. While the brand’s ICE X2 fabric kept us cool on harder efforts on the turbo. On the downside, it’s the highest-priced suit on test, the slowest to dry and the great swathe of grey, sorry, charcoal, on the groin area isn’t ideal, with a damp patch of water, sweat or worse being clearly visible while we were on the bike or run. For this reason, we’d definitely opt for the striking all-black version.

87 %

VERDICT

Takes the long-distance honours with its comfort and pockets

FORWARD THINKINGWhat will the tri-suit of the future look like?

Hydrophobic coating, silicone leg grippers, ColdBlack reflection technology and high-density chamois… tri-suits have come a long way since running in a pair of Speedos and vest was deemed enough by the likes of Mark Allen. With all this tech on show, what will the tri-suit of the future look like?

“It’s going to get even more technical,” says Huub’s Dean Jackson. “And it’s going to go beyond the typical needs of breathability and lightweight fabrics to combine the benefits of swim skins with tri-suits to deliver the fastest swim suit that’ll still perform on the bike and the run.”

Huub are exploring a two-pronged approach to tri-suit design, with suits boasting aerodynamics with a heat trade-off, or heat release suits with an aerodynamic disadvantage. Jackson also believes the compression angle will develop further, with “fabrics working in panelling to deliver varying degrees of compression through a mixture of fabric modulus.”

Zone3’s James Lock states that “suits will become more about aerodynamics rather than hydrodynamics. It’ll all be about trying to save time on the bike and the run, with dimple, golf ball-like fabrics and bonded seams more prevalent.” Sadly, Lock sees custom suits – where athletes can pick their type of pockets, composition of chamois and inclusion of leg grippers – as being too prohibitively expensive for the major brands to fully explore.

THE ZIP CODEDon’t fall foul of British Triathlon’s rule number 22.5 on tri-suits...

We’ve all been there. It’s the last leg of a sticky summer race and the tri-suit is unzipped down the front for some much-needed ventilation. Little do many of us realise (including a host of tri-suit designers we spoke to, with one calling it “confusing and over-zealous”), but this action could see you receiving a warning from a marshall or even a disqualification from the race organisers.

Here’s British Triathlon’s rule 22.5 in full...

‘Competitors must be adequately clothed at all times, the minimum being a one- or two-piece non-transparent swimsuit, together with a cycling or running top, if appropriate, with a gap no greater than 10cm (4in). All competitors must ensure their upper body (especially the chest area) is clothed during the cycling and running sections of the event. Front fastening tops and tri-suits must be fully fastened at all times’

Previously the ruling applied to revealing nipples, but was updated in 2013 so all tri-suits had to be fully zipped up. Whether adhered to or not, it applies to all Home Nation- permitted events who follow British Triathlon’s rules.

Not all organisers follow the rule, with Ironman events in the UK having an additional set of rules that competitors are asked to adhere to, and this doesn’t include rule 22.5. So we’d heartedly advise checking with the event organisers before racing (or even before you buy your suit) if you plan to unzip, as it could be the most depressing and avoidable DSQ you’re ever likely to face.

81 %

VERDICT

Vying for the highest honours until a couple of sore points

83 %

VERDICT

Good value and plenty of neat spec, but questions over pad sizing

PEARL IZUMISELECT£69.99 www.madison.co.uk

Tyr’s fellow Pacific-straddlers, Japan’s Pearl Izumi, also offer plenty of aesthetic appeal with their fiery red Select suit but at a more appetising price. Spec includes a sealed back envelope pocket that’s great for pool/non-wetsuit swims (but will only hold a small gel) and beaded grippers that covertly keep the legs in place. The compressive fit is excellent and the Select’s fleece chamois is adequate for Olympic-distance voyages, but we’d want more padding for going long. The torso and back panels are impressive for both ventilation and flexibility on the bike, which left us with high run hopes. Sadly two problems arose on the 10k leg, with the abrasive inner-seams running directly over our nipples and causing severe irritation. It’s a wholly avoidable design problem that won’t ease with time, which is a shame as this suit could’ve been a contender.

ZONE3 ACTIVATE£59.00www.racezone3.com

British triathletes Zone3 have garnered much acclaim on these pages since their inception in 2007, with our high hopes for the Activate continuing when we whipped it out of the box to reveal a striking suit with a favourable price tag. The single, covered rear pocket has been cleverly designed to hold any sized energy gel and the silicone leg grippers are efficient at holding the suit in place. Measuring at 17cm wide, the marginally ridged pad is the biggest on test and provides plenty of bottom coverage on the bike, but once on the run our gait became more John Wayne than Michael Johnson. Which is a shame, as the fine stitching is irritation-free, the fit is snug but not restrictive and an internal patch is a neat touch that successfully thwarts any irritation from the zipper. At just £59, it’s definitely one worth trying on for yourself.

TYRCOMPETITOR£119.99 www.tyr.com

Californian collective Tyr have fine recent form in the tri-suit market, having kitted Chrissie Wellington for multiple Ironman World Champs. While our aims are less lofty, the Competitor oozes top-end spec and style. Noticeably tighter than most of the suits here, the stealth-like black panels also provide compression properties aimed at a faster recovery and proved quick-drying when exiting the pool for the bike. The benefits of the Tyr really kicked-in on two wheels, with the beaded grippers subtly keeping the legs in place and the ridged ‘amp pad’ providing both comfort and breathability for the crotch area. The chamois was trouble-free on the run, too, with the fabric keeping temperatures low. Our only qualm was the uncovered side pockets, barely big enough for a few Jelly Babies and not ideal if you’re intent on reducing hydrodynamics in the pool.

93 %

VERDICT

Top-class suit offering comfort and compression. Highly recommended

BEST ON TEST

BESTBUY

ED’S CHOICE

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FUSIONMULTISPORT £115.00 multisportdistribution.co.uk

Rising Danish brand Fusion have previous form on these pages, with their World Cup suit awarded an Ed’s Choice logo in last year’s grouptest. The Multisport suit is targeted at the long-distance fraternity with four open-ended pockets – each big enough for a pasty let alone a handful of gels – backed up with a well-thought out touch of internal padding to stop any mid-race gel scratches. The back zipper seen here (the Multisport also comes with a front zip) lends itself to the short-course crowd, and while the fleece-lined chamois is smooth we’d definitely want more padding and breathability for 90km middle-distance bike legs and up. While the colourscheme appeals to our love of ’80s Danish football, the mass of translucent white on the front was so tight our belly hair was clearly visible (steady now ladies), leaving us looking more Gruffalo than Gomez.

ZERODOSUIT£135.00 www.z3r0d.com

Like cheese at breakfast and short working weeks, some things sadly haven’t made the journey across the Channel. Another one to add to that list is sizing, with the ultra-lightweight oSUIT from Montpelier’s ZeroD leaving our Barry White baritone more akin to that of Kate Bush. Once we were able to breathe again, what became unavoidable is that this is a suit that screams speed. The back zip and lack of pockets are primed for non-wetsuit swims. The hydrophobic Water Wear Weapon fabric magnificently repels water, while the pad was lithe and barely noticeable. If there was a category of Best for ITU Racers this would win hands down, and it’s easy to see why half of the ITU field (including our Brits) are sporting this on race day. For us mid- and back-pack mortals looking for comfort and convenience or going long, we’d suggest looking elsewhere.

OVERALL VERDICTIn a stellar field, which of these tri-suits will top the 220 podium?

As the high scores for this grouptest testify, the material composition, the quality of stitching and the performance of the pad of the tri-suits on the market is now so high that it’ll often come down to personal preference as to which suit you choose. Padding, pockets and temperature regulation are key here, and it’s worth knowing your race calendar before you go shopping for elastane.

The choice here is huge, with the ZeroD and 2XU so different that they could nearly be part of separate grouptests, so we’ve broken the results down into price points, race distance and overall categories.

For athletes gunning for both age-group and elite short-course honours, the ZeroD is the clear victor, with its hydrophobic materials a landmark of tri-suit design. Taking the long-distance honours with ease were 2XU.At the lower end of the price scale, the Blueseventy, Zone3 and Pearl Izumi (ignoring those poorly placed seams) all performed well, with the Blueseventy the most versatile suit on test for triathletes who race a host of different race distances.

No suit here exactly matched our own racing demands, with the Blueseventy close in terms of pockets and padding but falling short on aesthetics. You need a suit to have you longing for race day, so taking our overall honour of Best on Test was the Tyr Competitor. Combining style and performance, it excelled on the bike and run. Now, if only we could get those pockets bigger...

78 %

VERDICT

Good materials but a suit with something of an identity crisis

89 %

VERDICT

A techy marvel for the cream of tri, but not aimed at the completers

77 %

VERDICT

Fantastic materials let down by a couple of missing features

ZOOTULTRA TRI £110.00 zootsports.com

Hawaii-born, San Diego-based Zoot have plenty of heritage in tri, with ITU World Champ Javier Gomez just one athlete to wear their garb to glory since 1983. They’re never one to shy away from an aesthetic assault either, and applaudably so, but we just can’t warm to the ’80s aerobics look of their Ultra Tri. The fit is plush and the internal seams are the best on test at minimising chafing, while the ColdBlack tech ensures you can wear black without overheating on race day. The fairly sizeable 13cm wide fleece pad was also comfy and quick-drying, but there are better on test for breathability and long-distance comfort. Despite our fairly stocky thighs, the lack of leg grippers proved an issue on both bike and run, with too much time spent stopping them from riding up. The zip also rubbed on our chest and we would’ve appreciated a buffer between metal and skin.