SLEEVED TRI-SUITS
We test 10 of the very latest sleeved tri-suits to suit all distances, budgets and abilities, to find the best buy for tri
YHow we tested
The tri-suits here were all given multiple tests on the swim, bike and run, with particular focus on the comfort of the material and chamois performance over long-distance bike legs. Key factors we looked at were breathability, how fast they dried, chafing (or lack of), pocket sizing and accessibility, and the effectiveness of the leg grippers and zippers. The price, aesthetics, durability and aerodynamics were also key. ou might not have seen them during the elite triathlons at the Commonwealth Games, but sleeved tri-suits are witnessing huge growth across the age-group board, especially for athletes going long. In 2015, our tri-suits test saw only two sleeved trisuits but now they warrant a test of their own (and we have a women’s test next issue as well), with the 10 here – ranging from £76 to over £300 – featuring a wealth of technology, aerodynamics, style and race-day practicality.
Personally, now we’ve gone for shortsleeves we’ll very rarely go back to vested (some of the suits here even perform well in pool tris), but what should you look for when buying your first/next short-sleeve suit? You’ll first need to think about your race plans when buying your suit. Are you racing the 452km Double Brutal or the super-sprint Bananaman at Dorney? Are you a competer or completer? And do you carry your nutrition in your tri-suit pockets or on your bike?
While buying on the web can save you cash, trying before you buy is our mantra when it comes to selecting kit, tri-suits especially. No one tri-suit is the same, with sizing differences and plenty of internal features (zip guards, flatlock seams, pad type) often being things you can’t see when scanning the web stores.
But what all tri-suits should do is make you comfortable for every discipline of your race, being the only piece of kit that’s with you from the starter’s horn to the finishing tape. And we’re happy to report that the quality of the suits here has made us chomp at the bit for the start of the tri race season. So turn the page to find your next race suit.