Buy Triathlon Clothing
Triathlon clothing comes in several shapes and sizes. At any given triathlon, you will see people wearing all kinds of different combinations, and people train for triathlons wearing any number of different garments and types of workout gear. With the growth in popularity of triathlon since about 2000, and the addition of many more women to the sport in recent years, tri clothing has become more specialized and many more choices now exist.
buy triathlon clothing
While there is no hard and fast rule on what you have to wear in a triathlon, there are a few general themes that hold true for good triathlon clothing, and a few decisions you will want to make in order to be comfortable and perform well. For purposes of offering guidance, we will provide our perspective on the best clothing choices for triathlons. Note that which options you ultimately choose may depend on your overall budget, and if your goal is simply to finish a triathlon or to be competitive in your age group.
We have lots of information and tips below on what to consider wearing in a triathlon. However, some of our readers just want us to cut to the chase. For a beginner at the sprint or olympic distance, we would suggest outfitting yourself in the following, and you will be all set.
The first question you may need to answer is whether to invest in a triathlon suit or not. Most high-end triathletes wear a triathlon suit because it offers a one-piece, all-purpose piece of gear that can be worn from the moment you arrive at the race to the post-race cool down. The majority of more recreational racers we observe, however, use a combo that is not as specialized (or expensive) as a triathlon suit.
Once you have your shorts selected, you need to figure out what to wear on top. This is where the answer might be different for men or women. Many racers will choose a triathlon-specific top, often called a singlet, for racing. Singlets can be nice because they can be comfortable for activities such as cycling or running, even outside of a tri race. Good singlets range in price from $40 to $100, depending on the maker and the quality.
If you are just getting into triathlon and simply want to stick your toe in, consider going with the minimum gear needed for triathlon. However, if you would like to get a little more into the sport, this guide gives you a great start.
There are several options for triathlon clothing. Clothing choices include Triathlon shorts, triathlon tops, and one piece trisuits. Triathlon clothing is actually a combination of swim, running and cycling clothing technology. The clothing used in triathlon needs to be snug fitting to reduce drag. It should be hydrodynamic and dry quickly so it will be comfortable after swimming in the bike and run leg. Padding in the short for cycling comfort without creating discomfort in the run and the leg is another important feature. The challenge was to create clothing that will provide all these features without affecting comfort and performance for the other 2 disciplines.
Triathlon Clothing fabric is similar to spandex in that it is tight but with enough stretch to be form fitting and comfortable. It is breathable, dries quickly and does not tend to absorb a lot of water. Most triathlon clothing brands also minimize hotspot or friction areas by using flat lock seams or lazer welded seams. In addition to the typical fabric used for triathlon clothing, you will find additional fabric features offered.
1. Hydrophobic Triathlon clothing. Tri shorts made with hydrophobic fabric actually repels water. If you pour water over the fabric, the water just rolls off without being absorbed by the fabric. This is a great feature when you get out of the swim and start off on the bike as it is more comfortable and will also help you warm up faster.
1. New fabric technology is always coming on the triathlon scene. Triathlon clothing made with Coldblack material will help you stay cool even when in the sun. Coldblack reduces the absorption of sunlight and therefore heat build-up. In Addition it provides reliable protection from damaging UV rays. Clothing with coldblack guarantee a minimum UPF of 30 in any color.
Triathlon Short Chamois are different than the chamois found in cycling shorts as they are designed to be worn in the swim, bike and the run. You would not want to do a full triathlon in a cycling short as the chamois would absorb too much water in the swim and they tend to be much too big, almost diaper like for the run. In addition, the chamois for cycling shorts are not designed to expel water and would be very uncomfortable to run in. Triathlon short Chamois are designed to minimize water absorption, expel water quickly and are smaller in overall size to make then comfortable to be worn for every leg of the triathlon, not just the bike leg. The chamois for tri shorts vary depending on the manufacturer and the price point. However, here are two main types of triathlon chamois:Micro Fleece and foam pad.
The material for tri tops is very similar to the triathlon shorts. Compression, hydrophobic, and cold black fabrics are also an option for the tops. The fitting should be snug fit to reduce drag. Like the shorts, the triathlon tops can be worn for every leg of a triathlon. Most triathlon tops are sleeveless, tank style cut. However, short sleeved options are becoming more popular now as short sleeved versions offer more sun protection and reduced chafing for some people.
It takes discipline to train for a triathlon. Triathlons consist of three combines sports of swimming, cycling and running. In addition to the swim, bike and run, the transition between each leg requires preparation. For a successful race, it is important to have the right gear. Here are some pointers of recommended gear.
There are many variations of triathlon race options. For a first triathlon, sprint (or mini tri) may be a good option. Sprints generally consist of a mile swim, a 6-10 mile bike ride and a 5k run. Competing in a Sprint is a good introduction to triathlons and will help you gage on your ability and what it will take to move up to the next distance you choose. When you feel confident about going further you can try Olympic, Half Ironman, and full Ironman distances.
For most efficiency and ease, triathlon specific clothing is your best choice. Triathlon specific clothing includes shorts, tops and racesuits. They are designed to wear throughout the whole race, including the swim, bike and run. The shorts or racesuits have tri specific chamois that are designed to provide comfort on the bike leg, but not soak up much water during the swim or provide discomfort during the run. They use fabrics and materials that dry quickly and provide excellent moisture transfer and breathability for temperature regulation. Some triathlon clothing options go even further to provide compression to increase blood circulation and muscle support. A pure cycling short chamois will asbsorb too much water and is too big to wear while running. Tri specific clothing should fit snugly as to prevent drag and to limit stretching from water during the swim portion of the race. Although tri specific clothing is a better choice, it is not required to use in a triathlon. This would require changing during the transitions between the swim to run and for the bike to run transition.
If you were to choose just one tri specific clothing piece, the triathlon-specific short ( tri shorts) would probably be the most critical choice. Triathlon LAB carries the top triathlon clothing brands including shorts by 2XU, Zoot Sports, De Soto, Orca, Sugoi and Louis Garneau.
Most triathlons begin with the swim. This gives you time to put on your wetsuit if you are using one, and to get in the water to get accustomed to the temperature without rushing. Typical gear for the swim include: Triathlon or swimming wetsuit, goggles, swim cap, anti chafing stick, anti fog, ear plugs, and nose plugs. For colder swim races swim socks, skullcaps and thermal swim gloves may be advised.
Depending on the water temperature, a triathlon (Or swimming) wetsuit may be advised. Please note, a wetsuit for surfing or diving may actually slow you down due to the loss in flexibility and slickness, so it is highly recommended to only use a triathlon wetsuit which is specific for swimming. In general, wetsuits will provide warmth in cool water conditions, add bouyancy, and reduce drag to improve swim time. In warm water conditions above 84F, wetsuits are not allowed by USAT. There are many types of triathlon wetuits and varying types and thicknesses of neopreneused to achieve different technical aspects of the wetsuit. Sleeveless wetsuits are available for warmer water swims and for those that prefer completely free arms. Long sleeve wetsuits will provide the swimmer with added warmth and added bouyancy.
Proper fit is essential to have a good experience using a triathlon wetsuit. Too big, and the wetsuit will fill with too much water and slow you down. Too tight and it will be uncomfortable and restrictive. Different brands all fit differently. Some brands are suitable for larger frames and some seem to suit slighter frames. It can be challenging to put on a wetsuit as they need to fit very tight. Be prepared to spend a little time putting it on correctly. A wetsuit should be as tight as possible without being restrictive. Almost like a second skin. There should be no gapping in the crotch or under arm regions. Your breathing and arms stroke motions should not be restricted. Even with proper fit, some people may get chafing on the neck or arm hole (Sleeveless), so it is advised to use an anti-chafing product such as Bodyglide or Trislide. Also, keep in mind that the triathlon wetsuits have more delicate neoprene than traditional surf wetsuits and care should be take not to tear with sharp objects or fingernails. Please see this helpful video on how to properly put on a wetsuit.
Goggles are an essential item for triathlons. Goggles will enable you to see better under water and with more comfort. Goggles will also will provide physical and UV ray protection for your eyes. Goggles are designed for different light and water conditions. Swimming in the ocean where you will be required to go through waves will benefit from hybrid or mask style goggles. The larger surface will disperse the pressure from the waves over a larger surface area, and are less likely to be knocked of your face. Smaller size goggles are suitable for pool and lake swimming. Light conditions should be considered when choosing the lens. For low light conditions, clear lens work well. For outdoor and sunny conditions, choose goggles with light tints. 041b061a72