Triathlon suits are an accessory that triathletes often look for as they get more serious about the sport. While it is possible to train for and race in triathlons with a simple sport shirt and tri shorts, the benefits of a triathlon suit are that it is engineered specifically for the sport and can significantly reduce transition times. The transition time reduction comes from the triathlete’s ability to keep on piece of gear on for the entire race, rather than changing at the first and possible the second transition. For someone who wants to get serious about their times, or do longer triathlons, a triathlon suit is a wise investment.
What Makes a Good Tri Suit
Our favorite triathlon suits have a few things in common. First, they manage moisture well, wicking away sweat and water, and not holding dampness in the fabric. This is important because you will use the suit for swimming and immediately jump on the bike with minimal drying. Second, a good triathlon suit will provide a moderate level of padding in the seat for cycling. You shouldn’t expect the same level of padding you would get in bike shorts, as that could cause chafing on the swim and run. Third, the better triathlon suits offer plenty of ventilation throughout, as no two racers have the same heat during a race, and need to be able to manage it. Finally, good triathlon suits should fit snugly, like a glove, with minimal chafing at the edges, in the crotch, or under the arms.
Not surprisingly, the best triathlon suits come from the same manufacturers as some of the top cycling or compression gear. Those types of garments share much of the engineering and even many of the same materials as good tri suits.
Our Recommended Triathlon Suits
We have tried dozens of triathlon suits, and the following five suits fit our criteria of what makes a good triathlon suit. All come from manufacturers that have reputations for quality and endurance. We are confident recommending any suits on this list, but have ranked them according to some of the finer points of the suits and our field tests.
The PI Octane Suit is a good value at $170.
Pearl Izumi Octane. The Pearl Izumi Octane ($170) just looks fast, and with the best technology Pearl Izumi has to offer, it feels fast too. It is the most premium suit on the market today, and we love that PI keeps investing in R&D, making them one of the key advancers of tri technology. The 10” inseam makes this suit a bit longer in the legs than some, something that we personally prefer. Made with PI’s PRO Aero fabric, it is incredibly quick-drying coming out of the water, and doesn’t hold any sweat in the fabric, even on long runs and rides. A zipper vent helps provide coolness on warmer days. This may be our favorite Tri Suit, but it is expensive at over $200. For those wishing to spend less, Pearl Izumi’s Elite Intercool ($129) as a great product with all the key features, just without the high-end fabric of the Octane and seam construction that is a slight step down from the Octane. If we were going to recommend one “starter” tri suit, this would probably be the one for now.
De Soto Forza ITU. DeSoto has always been one of the more innovative makers of triathlon gear, making high-end pieces for serious triathletes. The Forza ITU triathlon suit, $192, is right up there with the very best you can buy, combining comfort with performance. The suit has one of the better cycling pads that you will find in a tri suit, one that actually has buoyant qualities to help you in the swim. Serious triathletes will appreciate Desoto’s testing that shows the suit reduces swim times by about a minute per mile, while more casual races might like the bolder color choices (blue, red, or black) than are found in many brands. The 2013 version features pocket covers that reduce pocket drag in the swim. The list price on the suit is $192, and it is worth every penny.
LG M2 Skin
Louis Garneau Course M-2 Skin. Louis Garneau is perhaps best known for great cycling gear, and that shows in their Tri Suits. With the LG Course M-2 suit, we can almost say that LG thought of everything. It carries a healthy $299 price to prove it, but a good investment if you have the budget. The M-2 is a high-end, seamless suit that incorporates one of the more advanced seat pads on the market. The pad sports an anti-bacterial top layer that can assist in the process of tissue regeneration on the bike, something anyone who has done a century ride will know something about. The seamless construction of the suit means less chafing and one less weak spot for the suit to fail during its lifespan. We love the aerodynamics, the contrast between an aero upper and a tough, comfy lower, and the fact that the Coldblack treatment provides for a cooler uniform during those hot and sunny races. It might be the most sophisticated suit on the market, but you will pay for it. The M-2 Skin also features covered, angled side pockets to reduce the drag coefficient. If the M-2 is above your price point, LG also makes the Comp ($100) which is intended for more of the beginner market. You give up much of the aerodynamic construction and features like the upgraded pockets and seat pad, but you still get a garment from one of the leading cycling gear makers out there. One thing we liked is that it is chlorine-resistant, which makes it one of the few intended to be used in pools as well as open water.
Zoot Ultra. One of our favorites.
Zoot Sports Ultra. At $195, the Zoot Sports Ultra sits firmly in the high-end category for triathlon suits, but a reputable maker like Zoot knows how to make good Tri wear. The compression spandex allows for athletes to feel the benefits of compression on their muscles and skeleton, and Zoot has used higher-end features such as anti-chafing seams and low-friction pockets. One thing Zoot has done as well as anyone is split their suit into panels, which creates zones focusing on support of major muscle areas. This paneling is a page out of Zoot’s wetsuit playbook, something they know well. Our testing suggested that the quick-drying features of the Zoot were excellent, and the cycling pad dried quickly but was a little thin for longer rides. For those on more of a budget, the Zoot Performance at $110 provides an entry-level option. It shares many features with the Ultra, but provides a few more affordable options (such as leg grippers on the hems vs. grip-less technology on the Ultra).
2XU Comp. The 2XU Comp ($149) is a good triathlon suit that won’t break the bank. It reminds us a lot of the Pearl Izumi line in its stitching and performance, but isn’t quite in the class of some of the $150+ suits listed above. 2XU has gotten in the game of making some of the best compression wear on the market in recent years, and that engineering carries over to the Comp triathlon suit. The suit features the same Lycra fiber that goes in much of 2XU’s compression gear, and testing suggested that this suit provided slightly more compression than some of the others we tried. The strength of the Comp likely comes in the run, as 2XU has built a good suit for that leg of the race. We preferred the Desoto and Louis Garneau models for long rides, but then again those suits are at a higher price point than the Comp.
So, Should You Invest in a Triathlon Suit?
As we wrote earlier, a triathlon suit is hardly an indispensable piece of tri gear. When we look at everything else that deserves a spot on your race day checklist, the tri suit is not mission-critical. In fact, one of our founders did more than 20 triathlons before even buying his first tri suit. Still, there are a few times we think it would make sense to get one:
- If you have ample budget. Hey – maybe you are rich. Get a tri suit.
- If you are training for a long race — an HIM or IM triathlon
- If you legitimately think that you will have a chance at regular podium finishes
Otherwise, you can have a lot of fun in triathlon for a long, long time by combining a good pair of tri shorts and a singlet.