More triathlon gear tests than any other website. EXPERT REVIEWS of the latest and best tri kit, including bikes, running shoes, wetsuits and clothing.
One of the cheapest helmets we’ve tested, the Neon is also the most basic but, if £30 is your limit, it’s well-featured and, at just 254g, one of the lightest around. There’s an optional clip-on visor that’s actually big enough to be useful, a retention cradle and decent-sized, mesh-protected front vents. However, while the front […]
Zipp is better known for wheels than for bars… and you’re going to have to be a wheeler-dealer to afford this costly cockpit! The base bar with central stem-mount tube and twin barrel receivers for the extensions are similar to USE’s Tula. The broad teardrop outer wings get an anhedral droop and you get hummingbird-shaped […]
The radical modular construction of the 924g Jetstream has both pros and cons. The base bar is innovative, using biplane wings to increase stiffness across the 400mm span. The small horns with built-in carbon brake levers also get a pommel-style pimple to stop your hands sliding forward. Things get even more radical with the ‘tri […]
This crescent-shaped wing has been used to devastating effect by racing legends like Fabian Cancellara and Carlos Sastre, and it’s easy to see why. Its amazing aerodynamics are obvious as soon as you look at the wafer-thin teardrop wing, super-shallow horns, blade-like brake levers and streamlined clamp zone. The thin bar isn’t overly flexy, and […]
Although VisionTech’s hybrid construction TriMax has an impressive pro win record, it’s low on adjustment. At 946g, it’s also high on weight for the cost, the excess weight coming from the alloy centre section, in particular the massive tapered teardrop clamp at the back of the in-built stem. This allows a thin profile to the […]
Although VisionTech’s hybrid construction TriMax has an impressive pro win record, it’s low on adjustment. At 946g, it’s also high on weight for the cost, the excess weight coming from the alloy centre section, in particular the massive tapered teardrop clamp at the back of the in-built stem. This allows a thin profile to the […]
Getting this Ritchey combo together is more awkward than most, as the base bar, pad clamps and extensions are all sold separately. But once complete, it’s not a bad lightweight option at 540g, and buying the straight or S-bend carbon-fibre extensions separately means you can get exactly the set you want first time rather than […]
Steve Hed is the Godfather of bicycle aerodynamics and his original aerobar is still a super-swift, innovative-looking design. The great price also helps but it certainly doesn’t look or ride cheap. The unique double-bar stem clamp allows a really deep, flat wingspan. This makes it extremely aero and insanely stiff despite its shallow draught. The […]
Easton’s Attack TT is as minimalist as cockpits get and won’t suit everyone. If they fit, though, they’re the lightest bars here by a very long way. The forward-curved, anhedrally drooped wings and dead-straight horns are all formed as one piece. Their ovoid profile also creates an entry point for externally mounted gear cables, and […]
USE’s left-field thinking has already racked up Olympic and Ironman wins across the globe. And the Tula is certainly a radical-looking bar, not least because of the unique brake levers. Thin aluminium blades sit parallel to the leading edge of the curved base bar to reduce drag over the wing. At first, they take a […]
The ‘other’ French pedal and carbon bike specialist – the Time RXS pedal family – is every bit the top-end match for Look’s line-up. This steel axle, carbon-composite body version is the mid-price option, but it’s only 40g heavier (at 316g) than the £203.49 Titan Ulteam version. The mix of plastic nose and metal engagement […]
You know something is blinding value when you check the price twice. Profile’s all-in-one 836g option is a bargain bar that comes complete with great design detail and an integrated, alloy-sleeved stem. The 400mm base-bar width is broad enough for most riders and a deep centre section means there’s no twist between the horn tips. […]
If it fits, this good-looking 668g bar, available in black or white, is cracking value for money. Trek has been making carbon bikes and bits for longer than most other brands. While this combo isn’t light, it’s strong enough for big boys to use their swimming shoulders without worry on the climbs. The flat, forward-swept […]
When you think Blue Seventy, chances are you first and foremost think ‘wetsuit’ rather than ‘goggles’. But the American company were the official goggle brand for 2008’s FINA 10km Marathon Swimming World Cup. Yep, they know a thing or two about the open water. The Hydra-Vision is a nice bit of kit; super-light and low-profile, […]
The brains behind some of the most innovative and award-winning goggles on the market have recently launched the Kayenne: a goggle with a low-drag frame that offers four-way vision (up and down as well as 180° to the sides). The extra visibility is a great bonus for open-water swimming, where you’ll want to be able […]
TYR’s tri-specific offering is the Arc 180 mask, for those who prefer extra protection and heightened visibility. And because of the Arc 180’s relatively small build and light weight, it’s suitable for both adults and juniors. We tested the clear, but it also comes in a choice of smoke, blue and pink lenses, which are […]
The Nest Pro, whose looks are inspired by the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing, was launched last year. While there’s no promising they’ll turn you into a Phelps or an Adlington, these goggles will certainly rest comfortably and remain water-tight in the wet stuff. The lenses offer wide peripheral vision, are great for both training […]
White is where it’s at for 2009, with everything from sports cars to (inexplicably) mountain bike frames appearing in this most impractical of shades. Zoggs has picked up on the trend with this limited-edition version of their hugely popular Predator goggle, as worn by Olympic Champ Jan Frodeno and World Champ Daniel Unger. The brand’s […]
Spiuk’s latest offering is a female-specific tri-suit based on their respected swimsuit. First up, the lightweight and slick fabric of the Evolution 2 gives it a fast feel in the water, thanks primarily to little absorption. The open-back design is unique to the women’s tri-suits tested here and we really like the look. Not only […]
The first thing we noticed about the Craft Elite suit was the colour: while it may appeal to some tastes, we think it’s decidedly dull. But that negative vibe didn’t transcend to its feel – it’s comfortable and doesn’t restrict movement in any of the disciplines. A good chamois provides sufficient padding on the bike, […]
TriGirl is one of the few women-specific triathlon brands on the market, and prides itself on design and development ‘by women for women’. We like the colours and design of this suit, which are far brighter than most competitors’ offerings. It has an inner support around the chest, which performs well on the run, making […]
Traditionally a runner’s brand, ?Saucony has spread its wings and moved into the tri market. The Elite suit is its female-specific tri-suit, which is new in name but not in construction, as it’s simply the renamed Athena tri-suit. Like the Athena, the first thing you notice is the overly large size. On the plus side, […]
2XU is well established in the triathlon market with a heritage of producing solid performance garments. And the Elite certainly follows this trend… Generally it’s well fitted with a snug, comfortable feel. During the swim the fit is perfect around the neck, thighs and underarms, which prevents any water entry and thus reducing extra resistance […]
New to the UK for the 2009 season, Erox is a Swiss triathlon-only brand with a great range of products, from wheels to shoes to bikes, of which we tested last issue. The Endurance provides a simple performance offering with a snug fit that contours well over the body. This snugness becomes a touch too […]
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