Santini Leaf men’s tri-suit review

The Santini Leaf is suitable for hot conditions, with the lightweight material of the tri-suit featuring UPF30 protection and the mesh sleeves and underarm panels proving breathable in the 25°C conditions of early May in the UK. 

Santini Leaf tri-suit design

The top can be fully opened and detached from the shorts at the front, but be aware that unzipping your top completely will likely see you fall foul of triathlon race rules (including in official Ironman races), with British Triathlon’s own rulebook stating the zipper must not be undone further than the sternum/breastbone.

I also found the thicker lower half of the suit less breathable than the impressive upper area, especially when compared with the Huub suit. 

There’s much to enjoy elsewhere below the waist, nonetheless, with the gel inserts in the techy, three-layer chamois from IMG having just the correct amount of support in the right areas to warrant Santini’s claim that this is a suit for long-distance triathlon competition. 

The pad wouldn’t be overkill for short-course racers, however, and it’s also quick to dry. 

The perforated arm and leg bands are efficient at keeping the sleeves in place, but not to the detriment of race-day comfort, while the breakaway, full-length zipper is ideal for race-day toilet stops and sat comfily around my gut area. 

Adding to the race-day appeal are the duo of rear, kangaroo-style pockets, which are stretchy, sizeable and easy to access, and can each hold a stash of energy gels and bars. 

Santini Leaf tri-suit aerodynamics

Santini makes no aerodynamic claims about the material, but the lengthy leg and arm sleeves and textured material on the arm sleeves all suggest drag- reduction benefits. We’ve yet to test in the wind tunnel, but Santini’s Thorpe performed very well in our 2024 tunnel tests. 

The internal construction is tidy, but a seemingly small but significant issue comes in the zipper, which is something 220’s reviewers have discovered before in Santini’s Viper suit; there are comfort issues with the zipper. 

Here it’s the minimal zipper garage, with two flaps of fabric – about the size of an eyepatch for a cat – not significant enough to stop rubbing on both the bike and run legs. 

Santini Leaf tri-suit bottom line

Given the cost and attention that’s gone into the suit elsewhere, it’s a frustrating and easily remedied flaw that I’d demand in any sequel to this functional, largely multi-distance friendly suit. 

Male racers get two colourways, an all-dark blue option and this mustard and blue pick in a huge eight sizes (XS- 4XL) – I’m between small and medium sizes and was glad that I went up to medium. Female racers get four Leaf colour options, meanwhile, again in a welcome eight sizes. 

Santini Leaf tri-suit specs

Price	$295 / £190
Features	UPF30+, full-length zipper, two rear pockets
Sizing	Men’s XS-4XL; women’s 2XS-3XL

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