More triathlon gear tests than any other website. EXPERT REVIEWS of the latest and best tri kit, including bikes, running shoes, wetsuits and clothing.
With its short, kinked horns and adjustable extension clamps, this 528g set-up is easy to keep inside of your brakes to please race officials. But the multi-angle shape still gives a range of useful hand positions. The tips are bar-end shifter compatible but there are no slots for feeding cable inside so you’ll need to […]
Like most Swiss stuff, Oval bars are premium priced but then it’s some of the most versatile, best performing kit around. These 328g A910 kinked extensions are slightly shorter than normal, which means you could run them as draft-legal or full aero. Alloy tips are ready for bar-end shifters, with a slot to tuck the […]
Planet X’s draft-legal ‘shorty’ Stealth set-up comes with stumpy, S-bend extensions that swell from skinny at the clamp to fat at the ends. As with most shorty bars they’re not slotted for internal cable routing, but the clamp sections will take the full range of plug-in extensions designed for the Stealth bar if you want. […]
Easton’s 568g, entry-level clip-on is well made and usefully adjustable but definitely on the heavy side. Their Attack bar gets a lightweight EA70 alloy construction but this cheaper model uses a 2014 aluminium in a tapered, S-bend shape. The long collared clamp for the extensions gives massive reach adjustability and they’re slotted for internal cable […]
Bontrager has certainly put some thought into these 546g bars, starting right at the tips of the extensions. Grooves allow shift cables to form a small aero section while carrying them round to where they tuck inside the cable ports. They’ve even put a neat little cat’s-bum plug at the far end so the cable […]
Ambrosio’s 542g set-up is a good affordable option for anyone after a naturally low, simple bar. Its low position comes from ‘underslung’, while the long ski-bend sections then rise up in front to give you plenty of hand positions to play with. The armrests are also adjustable: about two inches front to back, an inch […]
Profile has been synonymous with good tri-bars at great prices for years, and the 520g T2+ has some really nice features. It comes as standard with long, shallow S-bend extensions that give an impressive range of hand positions. The open-backed clamp means you can easily adjust them to try different reaches and they’re slotted for […]
The Ventix have a similar classic bike appeal to the Brikos, but without the compromise, and better ventilation to keep them fog-free on a run. The upper frame closely skims the face, with the hinges set slightly back to minimise any peripheral interference. Unlike many similar frames there’s no obstruction during aero riding, nor is […]
The Snugg Lite is one of the more expensive suits we’ve tested recently, and it’s clear that the extra money has gone into selecting high-quality materials and putting them together with real craftsmanship, right here in the UK. The suit is extremely flexible around the shoulders, and a strongly reinforced anchor point for the zip […]
At under £100, the basic offering from Terrapin is certainly affordable. It’s also an extremely durable and attractively priced product that would last many seasons. Unfortunately, though, the economising and build quality seem to come at the expense of pure performance as shoulder flexibility and hydrodynamics are somewhat compromised. The externally taped seams offer robustness […]
The Ultrafull from triathlon equipment veterans Quintana Roo is an accomplished product indeed. Light in weight and totally supple around the shoulders, it felt extremely comfortable and mobile in the water. Like the Foor it has incredible buoyancy in the legs, which would be a bonus for most triathletes with heavy quads to drag through […]
The 2XU is similar in price to the Snugg Lite and Quintana Roo Ultrafull (also reviewed on this site). That’s not the only thing they have in common, as it offers a similarly high level of performance. It’s supple across the critical shoulder and chest area and its buoyancy is excellent. Fairly short legs and […]
The Sailfish Vibrant blended into the middle ground, offering good, if not remarkable, levels of flexibility, buoyancy and fit. The quality of construction is up there with the best here and the high-grip forearm panels – to increase the effectiveness of the catch and pull phases of the stroke – is a bonus on an […]
The Mako is a well-constructed product, primarily offering warmth, buoyancy and durability. It uses pretty thick panels, and therefore what it gains in insulation it loses a little in flexibility across the shoulders and chest. That said, it wasn’t overly restrictive, and, as with most suits on test, offers a range of movement that wouldn’t […]
A very stylishly designed suit from a highly regarded manufacturer. The Equip is lightweight and flexible around the shoulders with a close-fitting, slimline cut – it would seem to suit athletes preferring salads to doughnuts if you get what we mean! High-friction forearm panels to increase purchase on the water during the pull phase are […]
The Sprint has a robust and high-quality feel, as you’d expect from one of the most established players in the market place (Blue Seventy used to be Ironman Wetsuits). It’s neither one of the lightest suits here nor does it sport any particularly ‘special’ features, but it still does a solid all-round job when it […]
The standout feature on the Fuzion is the fact that it’s made entirely from smooth skin Yamamoto neoprene, giving it a slight hydrodynamic edge over those that use uncoated rubber for some panels. It’s a relatively lightweight number and scored highly on shoulder flexibility. However, the test suit’s cut seemed very long in the body, […]
The updated Aussie-designed Quantum offers excellent flexibility all round, 100% smooth skin finish on the neoprene for maximum slipperiness in the water, and a snug, comfortable fit. The leg panels are extremely buoyant, which is a bonus for many triathletes whose heavy cycling legs need all the help they can get to stay near the […]
This competes with the ProGrid Guide for the title of ‘most versatile training shoe we’ve tested to date’. The ForMotion system used in tandem with adiPRENE cushioning means that you get a mix of cushioning and stabilising when your foot hits the ground; the heel partially decoupling to reduce impact and shearing forces. It feels […]
It may sound obvious to say that a neutral shoe is all about cushioning, but the 1062 focuses mainly on this, and not on any of the foot-steering features that you’ll find on other shoes at the same price point. Not surprisingly, both the heel and forefoot are well padded, so if your main concern […]
This is a lightweight shoe for neutral runners. Lighter runners can use it for training, while others could use it for racing or faster training. The fit and feel are good, with a surprisingly well-cushioned ride, given the weight. The cushioning is firm-to-springy, compared with the softer Nike Victory or lower-profile Puma Infinitus, but this […]
Avia wouldn’t be the first running brand to roll off my tongue, but I quickly felt at home in this shoe. It’s lighter than it looks; gives an easy, soft landing on heel strike; and still has some guidance through to toe-off. The subtle support through the heel and midfoot would suit mild over-pronators or […]
Reebok have played it safe with this shoe. As such it’s quietly effective, but won’t knock your socks off. The cushioning’s fairly firm with a little bit of spring to it, so it’s a good choice for those at the heavier end of the scale or for lighter runners who prefer a firmer shoe. It’s […]
This shoe could fall into the lightweight category, but has enough cushioning for lighter runners to use it every day. The fit and feel of the upper is more like that of a track spike, with a relatively low-profile midsole and great forefoot responsiveness. You can certainly run fast in it, so it’s surprising that […]
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