Founded by elite triathlete James Lock, Zone 3 is a new British-owned tri-specific brand. Current products include wetsuits and racesuits with further specialist-designed clothing promised for 2010. The Vanquish is packed with the latest technology, from the 2mm neoprene shoulder panel that stretches from elbow to elbow – so flexible that it’s easy to forget […]
The latest race suit from Zoot is aimed at comfort and long-distance performance. Using a double-zip system – one for the internal chest support and the other for the external suit – it was a little awkward to get into and produced some drag in the swim. But it still felt very supportive, especially on […]
The Zenith is Zoot’s top-of-the-range suit, updated for 2009. BIOwrap balance technology makes the suit stand out in a crowd, giving it the look of a super-hero’s outfit, with padded panels mimicking the body’s musculature. But does it deliver a super-powered performance? 2mm Yamamoto neoprene exterior and 3mm balance panels on the interior allow the […]
Aqua Sphere and Ironman have partnered up to launch a new range of triathlon wetsuits. The WRacer represents the ‘pro’ (mid-range) level for women… and very nice it is, too. Specifically designed for the female frame, it fits well and offers enough flexibility in key areas to keep capable swimmers feeling unrestricted in the water. […]
The UM1214a has aimed itself squarely at those of us who really hate the cold, and feels like one of the warmest tops around. Our microscopic scrutiny supported this tactile feedback, showing a high-density make-up for the fabric that locks the warmth against your skin. The added features – a turtle neck and thumb holes […]
The Craft Pro Zero range mimics classic thermal undergarments in both look and feel. The polyester used has a cotton-like finish, providing immediate comfort. The fit is also very accurate with a long tail and arms ready for the bike, and slight turtle neck to stop those cold breezes. As a base layer the thermal […]
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 […]
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