GILL MARINE PURSUIT WETSUIT

£150 Is this entry-level wetsuit a good buy for triathletes?

ere at 220 we’re used to trying all the latest wetsuit releases from triathlon specialists, so it can be easy to forget sometimes that not everyone is in the market for a tri-specific swimming wetsuit. So is there a space in the market for something a little less heavy on the tech (and the wallet?).

Enter the Pursuit from marine specialists Gill, aimed – as the name suggests – at those wanting to enjoy the water for outdoor pursuits, whether that be stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, or outdoor swimming. Available in both men’s and women’s sizing, with women’s, as tested here, in sizes 8-18, the suit is constructed with warmth in mind and as such features a mix of 4mm and 3mm uncoated neoprene. For added cold-reduction it features glued and blindstitched construction with critical taping on the inside to keep the warmth in and cold water out.

HThe benefits of this are that this is certainly a warm wetsuit and one that served us well for dips over the coldest months of the year. What you gain in warmth you lose in hydrodynamics and flexibility, though, as there is none of the swim-specific technology we’re used to in swimming wetsuits such as hydrophobic-coated neoprene, buoyancy profiles, or thinner fabric in areas such as the shoulders to allow more stretch.

Tri wetsuits are notoriously fragile though, which this suit is not... So if you’re a newbie, or a casual swimmer looking for a do-it-all suit with longevity, then there may be a gap in the market for a more adaptable wetsuit like this.