More triathlon gear tests than any other website. EXPERT REVIEWS of the latest and best tri kit, including bikes, running shoes, wetsuits and clothing.
Maximuscle and its Promax range is synonymous with protein. It’s always gone down well with us before, but how does this new flavour – choc and mint (908g tub) – measure up? Weighing in at 120kcals per serving, it’s relatively lightweight compared to its competition in this category. But, for a 70kg male, one serving […]
Normally associated with Wimbledon, tennis rackets and sports clothing, Slazenger has recently launched the S1 Hypotonic, marketed as a fluid replacement drink and coming in two flavours: orange and mixed berry. Hypotonic means the fluid in question has a lower concentration (or osmolality) than plain water or isotonic drinks. This allows for faster absorption into […]
Mavic and Zipp are usually the first names to spring from people’s lips when they’re talking about aero wheels. But while that pair may have the highest profile, they are far from the only stalls in the deep-section marketplace. FSA isn’t exactly a newcomer to that market but is hoping its K-Force wheels will help […]
The Knog may be the most style conscious of the panniers we’ve tested, with discreet yet distinct design touches, but it’s not without substance. Its main compartment is large enough to take clothes, tools and food, plus there’s a padded pouch for a laptop and/or documents, with another mesh pouch on top of that for […]
Dawes is often seen as a byword for affordable, no-frills kit. But a product has to do more than simply be a bargain to be any good. Not that the Dawes pannier is a disaster; it’s just you get the impression that they’re hoping its low price will give it a bit more leeway in […]
The Yamaska may not be as tough as the Carradice CarraDry but it does use the same Rixen Kaul fixing system to clip to your bike. It makes for a solid binding, and the neat design means it remains rigid and rattle free over cobbles, kerbs and potholes. It’s also smaller, but this means there’s […]
At first glance the Outeredge seems a basic little brute, but look closer and you find it has some neat tricks up its sleeve. It shares the same tough, waterproof PVC as the Carradice CarraDry on its front and back, while the plastic-coated fabric on the sides are similar to the AGU Yamaska 435. The […]
Compared to the largely understated black offerings available these days, the silver CarraDry is the loudest pannier around. But while it may be the most ‘disco’ thanks to its shiny exterior, it’s also the most cavernous, with a maw capable of swallowing a 27-litre load. Two clips and an adjustable hook attach it securely to […]
The Avia 2053 is an intriguing shoe: off the shelf you’d tell yourself they’re rigid and heavy just because of the way they look. But on your feet, you’re going to find that they’re amazingly light and rather spacious. Okay, they’re a little stiffer than some shoes on test but that’s because they’re unquestionably a […]
2009 winners of the 220 Award for Innovative Product of the Year, Newton Shoes are taking the world of triathlon by storm. Basically, their shoes encourage you to run up on your toes, working to the theory that runners who do so run more quickly. Of course, such bold thinking creates plenty of argument, but […]
The first thing we noticed with the Paramount 2s was the amount of support around the middle of the foot. Sadly, this was counteracted with the rigid ride underneath the heel, which we’ve never experienced with Saucony before. The end result is a well-cushioned, flexible shoe up front that offers some decent support, coupled with […]
Triathletes who have run in Puma shoes in the last half a decade will know that they tend to provide a hard ride. There are fans of this style, but our testing team know that such a ride is, more often than not, unpopular. It appears Puma has concluded exactly that with this shoe. The […]
This is a light training shoe built on a narrower last, which means a couple of things: it lends itself to pacier workouts and the shoe encourages you to get up on your toes. In terms of support the Wave Precision is well cushioned in the forefoot, but they do feel significantly harder under the […]
These are without doubt among the lightest training shoes on the market. But, importantly, the weight-saving doesn’t appear to be at the loss of any cushioning or too much support. Nike tends to come up with softer shoes (see the Nike Free) and these are no exception, although there’s a hard feel underneath the instep. […]
Likely to appeal to neutral runners who tend to run on their toes, the Stratus 3 is the kind of shoe that you can put on straight out of the box and hit the tarmac. They provide good cushioning, a snug fit and acceptable flexibility. They don’t shout and wave; they just, in an understated […]
Cushioned, responsive and supportive, these shoes are for triathletes with mild to moderate pronation. Running in that category has, until recently, meant enduring a stiffer, non-responsive shoe. But, thankfully – excuse the pun – change is afoot, with the Trance 9 a top-of-the-range option. Key areas such as breathability and grip are both acceptable, making […]
Straight out of the box you know that these are a stable, robust shoe that are designed for high mileage. When you put them on, what you’ve got is a solid but not restrictive feel that does a great job of soaking up the miles. Designed for runners who require moderate stability, there’s plenty of […]
Thanks to the great man Dave’s history in Hawaii and the heritage of this fabled US brand, the name Scott has long been synonymous with triathlon. In terms of performance, these provide a solid, hard ride. While there are softer shoes about not everybody enjoys such a cushioned feel. We’d argue that they’re a touch […]
This recreational heart rate monitor from Polar, the forefathers of this type of technology, is solid, lightweight and a good all-round performer. This package includes the G1 GPS unit, like the Polar RS800CX, but we do wonder why anyone but the most data-hungry would stump up the difference. This watch supplies a wide range of […]
This Suunto monitor has an understated but masculine style and boasts a good level of technology, notably via the ANT+ communication that permits bike and running peripherals to be integrated into your training. The bundled foot pod doesn’t compare to the micro offering from Garmin, but it’s still lightweight and certainly a cost-effective equivalent to […]
From the packaging through to the watch and dock design, the GT5 looks like old stock from the 1990s! But no, this is the pinnacle heart rate monitor from Cardiosport with a comparatively low profile and simple design. The coded heart rate strap is the same as you’ll find in the Sigma Onyx and the […]
Very rarely do we come across a piece of technology that can perform to our highest expectations. With the XT310, Garmin has exceeded them. This is a truly multifunctional device with a simple and completely reconfigurable interface. The extensive levels of functionality even allow a relative technophobe to be up and running (quite literally!) in […]
The name suggests that this Timex kit might include a wealth of goodies. The end result, however, was somewhat disappointing. The bundle includes a USB stick for wireless downloading of data and a fairly standard heart rate belt. The USB device is a welcome addition but doesn’t provide the live functionality of Suunto, nor the […]
Polar demands respect when it comes to performance, but as the RS800CX is one of the most expensive monitors we’ve tested, it needs to prove its worth. Specification-wise, everything is covered, and when combined with the improved Polar Pro 5 software, this really is a device that can help you guide, improve and plan your […]
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