A word on aerodynamics<\/strong><\/h2>\nIf you\u2019re going longer and aiming for middle\/Ironman 70.3 or long-distance\/Ironman triathlon this season, aerodynamics and additional comfort will be higher on your list of priorities.<\/p>\n
Here, aerobars<\/a><\/strong>, aero helmets<\/a><\/strong> and a triathlon bike<\/a><\/strong> with integrated storage systems will all come into the aerodynamic reckoning. As will your choice of tri-suit.<\/p>\nWind tunnel data has revealed that a short-sleeved tri-suit, as opposed to a vested suit, can save around a minute for a 90km bike leg, two minutes for a full 180km Ironman bike that, compared to a tri-bike or set of carbon tri-bars, is some of the cheapest speed you can buy.<\/p>\n
However, when racing anything up to 8:30hrs at 70.3, or 17hrs at Ironman, suit irritations and poor design choices will also be heightened, so above all make sure the suit fits well and is equipped for longer periods racing.<\/p>\n
- What is a tri-suit?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
A word on comfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\""Ruth\"]( "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Ruth Astle competes in the 2022 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii (Credit: Tom Pennington\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAs for comfort, the most important question you need to ask is, does it chafe? Granted, this can be hard to tell without giving the suit a spin, yet there are key signs you can look for\u2026<\/p>\n
1.<\/strong> Avoid suits with lots of seams or seams in uncomfortable places, as these spots are most likely to rub.<\/p>\n2.<\/strong> Secondly, is the chamois comfortable on the bike? This often comes down to the size and positioning of the padding. Bigger isn\u2019t always better here, as too much padding can make you feel like you\u2019re wearing a nappy and have no marginal benefits on performance.<\/p>\n3.<\/strong> Be sure to take a close look at the fabric, does it wick sweat away well? Watch out for light, breathable materials, which will often require hand washing.<\/p>\n4.<\/strong> Importantly, does it have enough pockets? Pockets mean snacks, and fuel for the ride is essential to avoid that mid-race bonk.<\/p>\n5.<\/strong> An issue many athletes worry about is toilet stops \u2013 and if you suffer with small bladder issues then a two-piece suit will certainly make life easier for you. The benefits to a one-piece suit is that it will be more streamlined and you know that it will stay up throughout the race, however with all kit, practise with it in training \u2013 lots!<\/p>\nHow to pick an Ironman tri-suit<\/strong><\/h2>\n ![\""Credit:\"]( "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Credit: Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nUnsure what suit to wear? First, decide what kind of athlete you are.<\/p>\n
Are aerodynamics worth the added costs that come with it if it means scooping the age-group honours?<\/p>\n
Or do you just want something comfy and capable of carrying up to 17hrs worth of fuel to the finish line?<\/p>\n
Whatever you decide, don\u2019t compromise on your tri-suit. You\u2019ve spent hundreds on race entry and countless hours training, so don\u2019t be influenced by a suit because it\u2019s \u00a325 cheaper or is better looking than the one that really works for you.<\/p>\n
That said, you\u2019ll want to look and feel good in your suit of choice for that finish-line photo, so aesthetics do play a role.<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t visit a shop, do an online analysis of pocket and pad sizing, leg-gripper types and study the sizing charts carefully.<\/p>\n
See our list of the best Ironman tri-suits<\/a><\/strong> for more help deciding on the right option for you.<\/p>\n- Do you need to wear underwear under a tri-suit?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Best triathlon wetsuits for all budgets<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If you’re going long the right tri-suit is crucial for your comfort and success as 12+ hours in the wrong suit is a long time! Here are five things to look for <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":24027,"template":"","categories":[1,84],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit-300x220.jpg",300,220,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you're going long the right tri-suit is crucial for your comfort and success as 12+ hours in the wrong suit is a long time! Here are five things to look for","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/24026"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Wind tunnel data has revealed that a short-sleeved tri-suit, as opposed to a vested suit, can save around a minute for a 90km bike leg, two minutes for a full 180km Ironman bike that, compared to a tri-bike or set of carbon tri-bars, is some of the cheapest speed you can buy.<\/p>\n
However, when racing anything up to 8:30hrs at 70.3, or 17hrs at Ironman, suit irritations and poor design choices will also be heightened, so above all make sure the suit fits well and is equipped for longer periods racing.<\/p>\n
- What is a tri-suit?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>
A word on comfort<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\""Ruth\"]( "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Ruth Astle competes in the 2022 Ironman World Championship in Hawaii (Credit: Tom Pennington\/Getty Images for Ironman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n As for comfort, the most important question you need to ask is, does it chafe? Granted, this can be hard to tell without giving the suit a spin, yet there are key signs you can look for\u2026<\/p>\n
1.<\/strong> Avoid suits with lots of seams or seams in uncomfortable places, as these spots are most likely to rub.<\/p>\n
2.<\/strong> Secondly, is the chamois comfortable on the bike? This often comes down to the size and positioning of the padding. Bigger isn\u2019t always better here, as too much padding can make you feel like you\u2019re wearing a nappy and have no marginal benefits on performance.<\/p>\n
3.<\/strong> Be sure to take a close look at the fabric, does it wick sweat away well? Watch out for light, breathable materials, which will often require hand washing.<\/p>\n
4.<\/strong> Importantly, does it have enough pockets? Pockets mean snacks, and fuel for the ride is essential to avoid that mid-race bonk.<\/p>\n
5.<\/strong> An issue many athletes worry about is toilet stops \u2013 and if you suffer with small bladder issues then a two-piece suit will certainly make life easier for you. The benefits to a one-piece suit is that it will be more streamlined and you know that it will stay up throughout the race, however with all kit, practise with it in training \u2013 lots!<\/p>\n
How to pick an Ironman tri-suit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\""Credit:\"]( "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Credit: Ezra Shaw\/Getty Images for Ironman<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Unsure what suit to wear? First, decide what kind of athlete you are.<\/p>\n
Are aerodynamics worth the added costs that come with it if it means scooping the age-group honours?<\/p>\n
Or do you just want something comfy and capable of carrying up to 17hrs worth of fuel to the finish line?<\/p>\n
Whatever you decide, don\u2019t compromise on your tri-suit. You\u2019ve spent hundreds on race entry and countless hours training, so don\u2019t be influenced by a suit because it\u2019s \u00a325 cheaper or is better looking than the one that really works for you.<\/p>\n
That said, you\u2019ll want to look and feel good in your suit of choice for that finish-line photo, so aesthetics do play a role.<\/p>\n
If you can\u2019t visit a shop, do an online analysis of pocket and pad sizing, leg-gripper types and study the sizing charts carefully.<\/p>\n
See our list of the best Ironman tri-suits<\/a><\/strong> for more help deciding on the right option for you.<\/p>\n
- Do you need to wear underwear under a tri-suit?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Best triathlon wetsuits for all budgets<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If you’re going long the right tri-suit is crucial for your comfort and success as 12+ hours in the wrong suit is a long time! Here are five things to look for <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":24027,"template":"","categories":[1,84],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit-300x220.jpg",300,220,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/47\/2023\/07\/what-should-you-look-for-in-an-ironman-tri-suit.jpg",600,440,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you're going long the right tri-suit is crucial for your comfort and success as 12+ hours in the wrong suit is a long time! Here are five things to look for","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/24026"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/220triathlon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Best triathlon wetsuits for all budgets<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul> <\/body><\/html>\n
- Do you need to wear underwear under a tri-suit?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
![\""Ruth\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2022\/10\/ruth-astle-ironman-world-champs-2022-6c6e120.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>![\""Credit:\"](\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/34\/2017\/01\/kyle-smith-riding-canyon-speedmax-cfr-635b5ee.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" "\\"\"IRONMAN\\"")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>