Why the Zone3 Aspire is our highest-scoring triathlon wetsuit of all time

There’s one thing you should know about me before we go any further –and that is that when it comes to the triathlon wetsuits that make my rotation, I’m very fussy. Very, very, fussy. So with the classic Aspire wetsuit from Zone3 redesigned for 2025, would it make the cut?

Well. All I can say to start with, is… Wow. This is a wetsuit that is buttery-soft from the moment you pull it from the packaging and instantly feels unlike anything else I’ve swum in — and with wetsuits improving markedly in recent years, that’s really saying something.

Features and fit

That slippery pliable feeling is thanks to the use of B-Prene Yamamoto neoprene throughout the entire suit. Under very specific conditions this will biodegrede to reduce the impact of the material at end of life.

More interestingly for this test though, it also feels amazing when you pull the suit on. In total 25 different panels make up the new Aspire and pulling on my usual size large, I instantly noticed how easy it was to slide into.

So much so that I had to call Zone3 and ask for a size medium/large as the additional stretch meant I was getting quite a bit of water ingress as I swam – so think about sizing down if you are between sizes.

In the smaller size though I hit that sweet spot between a close-enough fit to keep water from flushing through (it reduced to a tiny trickle in the first few metres of my swim, then nothing) but still flexible enough to get a full range of movement in the front crawl stroke.

Buoyancy and performance

It’s worth noting here that the buoyancy profile of the men’s and women’s Aspire differs, with women getting a max of 3mm, while men get 5mm through the legs and lower core/bum.

This is important as women tend to need less buoyancy and as a distance swimmer prone to a tight lower back, it’s crucial to me that I’m not lifted too much by my suit.

The Aspire sat perfectly along my spine without pinching and created a natural body position which was much appreciated.

Other features to note here are the sensory panels on the wrists to feel the water, a Super Composite Skin coating to reduce drag (and I was definitely speedy in this suit over my usual timed 1km test loop).

There’s also Zone3’s X-10 Extreme one-piece shoulder panel, made from #40 grade Yamamoto neoprene, which provides 360° stretch across the torso and shoulders.

Finally, the white cuffs make me easy to spot in the water and a silky-soft lining make it removable in seconds. Very well done, Zone3!

Price	$973.70 / £549
Material	100% sustainable, B-Prene Yamamoto neoprene
Sizing	Women’s: XS-XL Men’s: S-XXL
Features	B-Prene Yamamoto neoprene; speed cuffs; SCS coating; body rotation enhancement; glued and blind stitched seams

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