IRON MA NT R I-SUITS
Comfy but aero, sleek but durable. It’s a tough job being an Ironman tri-suit. So which picks are best for 70.3 and full Ironman racing? Matt Baird tests 10
Put simply, Ironman race day can be one of the most emotional journeys of a lifetime. Your race course companion throughout all of this will be your tri-suit, with you from the starter’s horn to that finish line. So what should you look for when picking your long-course race suit?
Think about which type of athlete you really are, from an age-grouper vying for marginal gains to a long-course newcomer looking for iron survival. Top-end agegroupers should assess their suit’s aero properties, but comfort is key for all levels of athlete: what rubs during a sprint race will become a full-blown irritant in Ironman.
While budget is acknowledged in our test, we believe if you’re going to spend hundreds of pounds to enter an iron-distance race, cutting corners on a tri-suit that could potentially hinder your big race is a false economy.
In terms of testing, we’ve raced middle- and longcourse in some of these already, and we were lucky enough to test the rest in Tenerife in late January. The conditions mirrored British summertime, with temps between 10 and 25°C, winds, rain and gorgeous sunshine to boot. Pads were pummelled, grippers graded and elastane evaluated in a bid to find the greatest suit for the widest range of athletes. And if you’re wondering where the two-piece suits are, we’ll be doing a test of those in issue 365 (on sale 16 May).
HUUB ANEMOI
£289.99 The R&D work and wind-tunnel time that’s gone into Huub’s new top-billing tri-suit (as worn by Alistair Brownlee and David McNamee) is evident from the get-go, with air disruptor hems on the legs and ribbed arms included in the name of speed. It feels fast in the pool and on the bike, but what also makes this garment a landmark release is how comfortable it is for a speed suit, with barely-restricted limb movements provided by the stretchy fabric. The arms and legs are grippy and the seams are smooth. Yet there are some sacrifices for back/mid-pack athletes, with just one rear pocket, no full-length zip at the front for easier toilet stops and a lean pad that some will find too slender for Ironman. While that price will put off those not vying for age-group or elite honours, for those at the pointy end this is a remarkable achievement. huubdesign.com
SAILFISH AEROSUIT
€199.99 The Aerosuit Comp from the German triathlon heavyweights has been around for a while now but, until Sailfish update their range, it still boasts plenty of winning features for 113km middle-distance racing. These include superior looks, breathability, covered rear pockets and some of the most effective leg grippers we’ve used. The suit’s polyester and elastane mix fits well without being restrictive and the white sleeves are a major draw, offering UV protection in hot races (and they don’t feel confining in the pool). The full-length zip ensures mid-race toilet stops are a breeze, although the lack of a zip garage between zipper and skin does cause some irritation. Sadly for many full Ironman athletes, the perforated pad (although quick-to-dry after the swim) just won’t be big enough for tackling more than 90km on the bike and the price puts it as the higher end here. sailfish.com
RYZON MYTH AERO
€349 Ryzon is the tri-suit brand of two-time Ironman world champ Jan Frodeno, and the unisex Myth Aero instantly looks the part with an attractive colourscheme. The high-quality feel continues once on, with a soft-on-the-skin feel, bonded seams and ample flexibility. Despite the hydrophobic materials, we’d seriously question its nonwetsuit swim credentials, however, as ours filled up with water down the neck to create a Michelin Man effect on the opening leg that rendered it almost unusable. Things pick up once on the bike and run due to the stability and breathability offered, while swifter athletes will appreciate the aero sleeves and long legs. The wide back pocket is ample for a number of gels and the slender pad actually has enough cushioning for longer stints. Worth noting is that the price is high and it doesn’t conceal any excess weight around the waist! ryzon.net
ZONE3 LAVA
£169 The Lava from Brit brand Zone3 is instantly one of the most comfortable suits here (surpassed only by the Heart Sports suit overleaf) and is also the largest on test, so study the sizing chart carefully. There’s flatlock stitching and the Elastic Interface pad is suitable for middle and up, with the two huge rear pockets (plus two leg pockets) able to carry enough fuel for an ultra Ironman (but also adding some drag on non-wetsuit swims). The leg bands provide grip, there are ribbed aero properties on the arm sleeves and the frontal fabric offers some windproofing for colder races. We’re also pleased that they’ve recently added a full-length breakaway zip for race-day convenience. But for the price, it feels noticeably less techy and more dated than most on test here, and the bottom half especially underwhelms in the aesthetic stakes. zone3.com
HEART PURPLE THUNDER
£125 We used Heart Sport’s 2017 Blue Lightning suit for our debut Iron and it was hard to fault throughout, looking much better than we did after the 15hr+ duration. The newer Purple Thunder keeps the brilliant ‘floating’ pocket design, which is separated to stop the pockets bouncing around when full (although they aren’t great in non-wetsuit swims). The fulllength zipper for easy toilet stops is a draw and the padded chamois handles extended saddle stints, which, although wide at 19cm, is somehow barely noticeable on the run. Welcome additions include a (fairly slight) zip guard, flatlock internal stitching and a new aero ribbed fabric on the sleeves. Sadly we still feel the bottom is slippery on a variety of saddles, and we just can’t get on board with this unisex colour design (yet Heart have three new tri-suits arriving imminently). heartsports.co.uk
ROKA GEN II ELITE AERO
£255 The Gen II Elite Aero from Roka is the best of the bunch here in the pool, for us just edging the Huub in terms of arm movement. Onto the bike and it feels luxurious against the skin, with the Coldblack tech and aero mesh fabric venting well, while the techy leg bands are the best in the business. The two side-loading pockets are aero but you won’t fit more than a small energy gel (i.e. Gu or Torq) in each and the lack of an internal zip guard always drops a point or two for us. While the upper body flexibility excels, it feels very tight below the waist for a full day of iron racing (there are eight sizes available, however), making it more of a short-course speed suit rather than something for long-distance racing. And for a £255 suit, the small-ish chamois is crudely stitched on and was the source of some chafing from the rough seams. roka.com
DHB AERON LAB
£160 Wiggle’s in-house brand DHB tout the Aeron Lab as suitable for Ironman events, but we feel it’s more suited for those racing – and we mean truly racing – 113km middle-distance events. The key reasons for this are the slim chamois, aero feel and lack of a full-length zip, but there are plenty of positives elsewhere. Each of the two back pockets are able to hold a couple of energy gels each, and there’s effective ventilation meshing on the back and under the armpits. We like the understated yet sleek design and the grippers also impress, as does the feel of the techy and hydrophobic fabric. The end result is a high-quality speed suit that’s fast in the pool, on the bike and run, and marks a serious progression for DHB into the top end of race suits (worth noting is that this is far superior to the standard £120 Aeron tri-suit from DHB). wiggle.co.uk
SANTINI REDUX
£200 A new sponsorship with Ironman highlights Santini’s multisport intentions, but it’s their cycling heritage that’s evident in the massive 20cm x 40cm pad on the Redux. Consisting of ‘multi-layered foam, breathable layers and gel insert’ it felt like having a floatation device between our legs on the swim and, while perfect for an longcourse 180km bike leg, its firmness and size were troublesome again when attempting to run. Which is a shame as there’s much to admire elsewhere on this stylish-looking and aero-feeling suit, including the stealthy but sizeable pockets, breathable and UPF 50+ fabric, and the effective leg bands that gracefully stayed in place throughout. The stretch-woven fabric also provides a wide range of upper body movement on the swim and the construction is chafe-free. But we just can’t escape those pad problems. zyrofisher.co.uk
2XU COMP FULL ZIP
£160 The Comp from Aussie brand 2XU was a big winner in our two-piece and shortsleeved tests in 2018 and the new version has even found room for improvements, increasing the compressive properties in the legs, being quicker to dry and offering better ventilation via the Coldblack material. We love the evident compressive properties in the legs and the pad is a winning fleece-lined and multi-density chamois hybrid for hour-upon-hour comfort. The full-length zip means toilet stops are free from hassle and the internal front pouch keeps excess belly weight in check. We’d prefer larger pockets for mid-race supplies and, while we’re far from being Jan Frodeno in the height stakes, the legs of the new version came in 2cm longer than before to reach our knees, which irritated us on both the bike and run. So try before buying. 2xu.com
LOUIS GARNEAU LGNEER
£314.99 Louis Garneau were one of the first triathlon brands to offer the full-length zip for race-day convenience, and the LGneer continues this practical approach to racing. Developed in the wind tunnel with top Canadian Ironman Lionel Sanders, there’s plenty of technology on show, including the unique addition of Crabyon, a fabric said to accelerate wound healing, and floating back pockets. The wide perforated pad is among the comfiest here in the saddle – and doesn’t obstruct the run – while the suit dispenses with traditional leg grippers in favour of bands… with fine results. But is it worth the £300+ outlay? Only if you’re in pursuit of the most marginal of long-distance gains (and here we’d opt for the Huub Anemoi). Plus, the finishing quality of the internal stitching just isn’t good enough for the financial outlay. garneau.com