You can spend a lot on a triathlon wetsuit nowadays, and technological improvements plus the ongoing arms race between top brands mean any top-end suit is likely to offer a very satisfying swim experience in 2022.
We've reached a point of relative consensus whereby the best suits invariably have thin and highly flexible neoprene in the arms and shoulders, with the goal to protect the rotator cuffs and make it feel like you're not wearing a wetsuit at all. The core and legs will include technical features to correct body position and keep those legs high.
Not all suits are created equal, and more buoyancy or extreme thinness doesn't necessarily equal a better suit. If you have a rapid kick, you might prefer a suit with less extreme buoyancy so your bottom half isn't too high, whereas a fast but sinky-legged swimmer might require extra buoyancy.
Top-of-the-range suits can cost more than entry-level road bikes nowadays, and indeed several here cost £600+. So, which one best justifies the investment?
We covered many kilometres, mostly in open water and some in the pool, over a solid six weeks of testing, looking for the suit that struck the ultimate balance between flexibility, buoyancy and comfort, while also being super easy to get out of...
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of 220 Triathlon.
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This story is from the August 2022 edition of 220 Triathlon.
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