GEAR
Dare2Tri Mach3S.7 Wetsuit
Canadian triathletes are facing the harsh reality that we’re not likely to see any multisport racing this year, but that doesn’t mean we might not be in the hunt for a wetsuit this summer – we might actually need one more than ever. With pools closed and not seemingly on track to open any time soon, open-water swimming might be our only option for swim training.
If you’re not jumping into a race any time soon, it might seem a bit crazy to invest in a super-expensive wetsuit with all the bells and whistles designed to give you an edge in the first leg of a triathlon. But you still want a suit that performs well enough to make training fun. At $555 Dare2Tri’s Mach3S.7 offers a lot of high-end features you’ll find in suits twice the price.
Like some of the most expensive suits on the market these days, the Mach3S.7 offers a ton of flexibility around the shoulders, which means you’ll be able to get through your swim workouts with considerably less shoulder fatigue. The 0.7-mm Duraflex rubber used under the arms (the arms use 2-mm thick rubber) provides all that movement, but remains extremely durable so you won’t need to worry about blowing through this suit even if you’re in it a few times a week.
While the arms and shoulders use thin rubber to provide lots of movement, there’s thicker rubber panels in the torso and legs to provide warmth and buoyancy, including 5-mm thick 44Cell stability panels that keep you high in the water and help you roll easily during your stroke. The suit uses very light 44Cell HBF-Limestone neoprene, which you’ll also see in much more expensive suits, while the added GlideSkin surface coating makes the suit even faster.
The neck closure is really comfortable, too, while the YKK stainless steel bottom-up zip is really sturdy and will take lots of wear.
For triathletes in need of a suit to get them through a summer of open-water swim training, the Mach3S.7 is well worth a look. You’ll get lots of performance features to make your swim workouts lots of fun, and it will certainly do the trick once you’re able to start racing.—KM