Triathlon Trisuits

For everyone who has ever competed in a triathlon, understanding the importance of clothing has never been more crucial. Whether you are a first time competitor or a seasonal professional, what you wear can be a critical factor to how well you perform. Not only is it important to look the part for race day, to feel confident and prepared, but you also need to make sure you remain as comfortable as possible throughout. This could be the differentiating factor between performing well and winning the race.

With modern day technology, specialist triathlon clothing has been developed to help athletes perform to their best ability. This clothing is extra light-weight and quick drying making it suitable for the conversion between swimming and cycling but also keeps you dry during the running section. The best type of clothing is thin to provide a second skin; this reduces drag and doesn't affect the athletes speed or agility. The clothing has been developed by triathletes for triathletes and is based on amphibians that live comfortably both in water and on land.

There are two main choices for specialist triathlon clothing; these are one-piece tri-suits and two-piece tri-suits. Which one to choose is down to personal preference and many athletes tend to try both before choosing their favourite.

All in one tri suits are usually the more popular of the two as they fit perfectly around the body and can be worn through the 3 competitions. They are very quick drying allowing you to stay warm once getting out of the water and do not absorb the sweat so as to weigh you down whilst running. They usually have a padded crotch for extra comfort during the cycle section.

Two piece suits are the more traditional style of triathlon clothing and comprise of a snug fitting top and either an adaptation of traditional swim shorts or cycling shorts. The trunk style shorts are very similar to traditional trunks but with a padded crotch suitable for the cycling section of the race. The cycling type shorts have a smaller padded area for cycling but some say are more comfortable for the running and swimming sections.

When training or competing in the winter or colder weather, the only option for triathletes is a wetsuit. This is because it is vital to keep a controlled body temperature during and after swimming in exceptionally cold conditions in order to perform at your best. Unlike traditional wetsuits, these specially designed triathlon wetsuits are slick and lightweight as to not hamper the athletes speed through the water or on land.

In order to purchase the best triathlon clothing, it is advised to buy from a specialist triathlon clothing brand such as Gore bike wear or 2XU clothing. These specialist brands will sell the finest and technologically advanced clothing, giving you peace of mind and allowing you to focus on the race. It is also important to train in this type of clothing, so you can get used to the feel and decide which type of suit is suited to your own personal style.