THE BEST WETSUIT UPGRADES – TOP-END BUYS ON TEST

Moving on to your second tri wetsuit, or just have a little more budget? Try one of these 14 suits costing from £300, tested by Jack Sexty & Helen Webster

Last mmonth we took a look at entrylevel wetsuits costing under £300 and wwere pleasantly surprised by the selection and quality of suits available, wit th some brands offering trickle-down n technology on suits that would have c cost far more a few years ago.

Once you’v ve got a first season under your belt though, or if you’re lucky enough to have a bit mo ore to spend to start with, then it might be ti ime to upgrade. In a first tri wetsuit you’r re looking for comfort, a great fit and maybe e a few features that will help you transitio n faster. Once you get over the £300 mark th hough, the market opens up hugely and yo ou can start to really pick and choose a suit t that is tailored to your specific swim ability – and think about potential marginal gain ns that can be bought.

Key things s to look for in a mid to top-end wetsuit are th he correct buoyancy for your swim style, s so consider whether you need more buoyan ncy in the legs, but also whether you want more structure and lift in the chest and d torso, or whether your body position and core strength are such that you don’t nee ed it. The thickness of the arms becomes a co onsideration here too (some on this test go a s low as 0.5mm), plus maximum fleexibility in every area of your stroke should d be a given.

Next, think k about tri-specific features that could ba ag you a few extra seconds. What kind of f zip do you find easiest? Topdown, bottom m-up, or quick-release? Are the arm and l leg cuffs speedy to remove or will you get s tuck? What is the suit like to run in if you’ re planning a race with a long distance to co over between swim and bike?

With so mu uch to consider, it’s time to hand over to our two testers...

How we testested

We tested our women’s suits in the warm wateers of Club La Santa in Lanzarote (clublasanta.co.uk). The saltwater laagoon features a marked 1.9km courrse used for the Lanzarote Ironman 70.3 race, so was the perfect place to puut these suits through their paces. There were also three 50m swimming pools to use. Our male tester bravvely opted for British open waterr, testing in lakes with temperaturres around 18°C.