Triathlon gear of the year: our favourite 21 products in 2021
The 220 team takes a look back at our favourite gear of 2021...
It may have been a year of ups and downs, but one thing you can always rely on is a steady flow of exciting new kit. Here’s our pick of the best (in no particular order!) from over the last 12 months…
Best triathlon kit of 2021
1. Boardman Carbon
- £85
With a full carbon sole, two adjustable dials and lots of ventilation for just £85, the Boardman Carbon seems almost too good to be true. But it’s not.
This shoe really is the real deal, handling everything we threw at it during our best road bike shoes testing. It may not be the most breathable or best-looking on the market, but it’s fit for British weather.
Compared with others on our road cycling shoes test, these don’t have the stiffest soles, but we found support to be adequate for our testing rides. We also liked the top closure dials and inner for comfort. Jack Sexty
2. Speedo Fastskin Hyper Elite goggles
- £50
These colourful, mirrored Speedos were easily the comfiest on our best triathlon goggles test and boast the most secure seal, sitting very streamlined on the face.
They instantly appealed to us thanks to their colourful design and trendy appearance. We also liked the wrap-around extended vision of the lens geometry.
In terms of comfort, the soft gaskets fit comfortably around the eyes and remained secure in use.
Adjustment is via an unusual one-piece strap, which is a little touch of genius that splits handily into two, proving very secure throughout our swim. Helen Webster
3. HUUB Aura 2 3:3
- £449.99
Huub says the Aura 2 3:3 wetsuit is designed specifically for the female athlete, that’s in terms of female geometry and buoyancy profile. It certainly fit us like a glove.
We loved the extreme shoulder mobility and comfort, while the graded neoprene on the upper legs aids buoyancy. The Aura’s also very easy to remove quickly thanks to handy ankle panels. Helen Webster
For other women’s wetsuits, check out our favourite suits for all budgets
4. HUNT 48 Limitless Aero
- £1,389
At launch, the Limitless Aero Disc was boldly proclaimed as the fastest in the world up to and including a 50mm depth.
Hunt’s white paper, produced after countless wind-tunnel hours, seems to verify that claim, while exceptional rolling performance and stability in winds ensured a fantastic ride on our test wheels, which came complete with CeramicSpeed bearings. Jack Sexty
Intrigued? Check out our full review of the Hunt 48 Limitless Aero to find out more.
5. Yonda Spook wetsuit
- £219
A budget pick from Yonda’s open-water collection, the Spook has a high-quality construction, with the nylon/neoprene combo offering an unrestricted front-crawl stroke due to the smartly placed panels.
The classy neck led to a chafe-free swim and despite some water ingress, the Spook offers great overall comfort and durability. Yonda edges many others on our best budget triathlon wetsuits test, claiming a high score of 85%. Matt Baird
6. Elite Direto XR-T turbo
- £829.99
An outstanding smart trainer that’s worth every penny. It comes without a cassette, but a riser block and adapters for disc brakes are included.
The Direto’s ride feel is second-to-none, while the power adjusts quickly and smoothly in every session. A huge 2,300w max resistance means even your most furious sprint won’t trouble it an inch. Jack Sexty
Check out our full review on the Elite Direto for more information.
7. Endura Pro SL 3-Season
- £179.99
As far as softshell bike jackets go, this is a winner from Endura. Versatility is the name of the game here, with a removable gilet offering additional warmth and generous vents delivering impressive temperature regulation.
Ample storage and excellent wind protection help it score highly, while reflective detailing boosts visibility. Find out why we gave it best on test with 92% in our full review. Rob Slade
8. Le Col Hors Categorie II
- £180
These Le Col bibs are beautifully crafted, true to size, and weigh only 160g. The fabric manages to combine supreme softness with great compression, while the leg grippers feel secure and the back mesh panel keeps us cool. Our favourite of all the women’s bib shorts on test. Jacqueline Davis
9. Osprey Dyna 6
- £100
This women-specific 6L run pack feels compact and secure when in motion. There are multiple pockets for storage, plus the Dyna’s light mesh breathes well and aids comfort, while its two 500ml soft flasks with straws are easy to secure and drink from. In the market for your own running pack? Read why the Dyna is our firm favourite here. Kate Milsom
10. Canyon Speedmax Disc
- £11,599
The Speedmax has come closer to ticking every box than any tri bike we’ve ever tested. The integration is clever and practical, the ride superb and it’s all fairly easy to live with, featuring components that can be assembled and disassembled in a flash. If you have the cash, you can’t go wrong here. Jack Sexty
Here’s why the Speedmax is Frodeno and Lange’s tri bike of choice.
11. Wahoo Elemnt Bolt
- £249.99
Updated for 2021, the new 2.2in colour Bolt has a host of new navigation features including on-screen turn-by-turn directions, while ‘retrace your ride’ to the start and ‘take me to’ functions can get you out of a tricky situation when lost on the road.
The device is supremely easy to use, and boasts a 15hr battery and 16GB memory. Read the full review to find out more. Kate Milsom
12. Hoka One One Rincon 3
- £105
The Hoka One One Rincon 3 ticks every box for multisport. They’re impossibly light (197g for a UK7) yet cushioned, suitable for training and racing from 5km to the Ironman marathon, and feature swift drainage, a breathable upper, and even a heel loop and race-focussed tongue. These are Hoka’s best shoes yet. Matt Baird
13. HUUB Vision goggles
- £34.99
Aside from looking like a pro with these suave mirrored goggles from Huub, you also get extreme comfort thanks to the soft silicone gaskets. The sleek, mirrored UVprotection lenses shield eyes from the sun’s glare outdoors as well as bright pool lighting indoors. While the wide lens equates to an unobstructed field of vision. Kate Milsom
14. On Cloudboom Echo
- £210
These speed machines are made from a wafer-thin mesh upper and a light foam midsole. The carbon Speedboard and extreme rocker create massive propulsion, resulting in a fast shoe for half- or full-marathons, just don’t expect much support. Here’s why the Echo is one of the best marathon shoes on the market. Kate Milsom
15. Oakley Plazma sunglasses
- £149
These prescription-friendly glasses are as impressive as they are stylish. Our version came with the Prizm Road lenses, delivering exceptional clarity, enhanced visibility in changeable light conditions, and were comfy through long sessions. Here’s why they scored a whopping 90% during our testing. Helen Webster
16. Santini Delta Pietra jersey
- £95
This stylish and slim-fitting jersey from Santini is designed to keep you cool during hot rides and was a favourite on our best women’s cycling jerseys test. We liked the soft, four-way stretch fabric, mesh panels and aero raw-cut sleeves.
It stays effectively in place thanks to an elasticated silicone hemline, while three large back pockets provide plenty of room for nutrition and other essentials. Kate Milsom
17. Inov-8 Trailfly Ultra G 300 Max
- £170
With industry-first Graphene-enhanced foam in the midsole, these shoes are made for the trails and feel comfy and supportive.
We tested the Trailflys on mud, rocks and in some swimrun events, and were impressed at how grippy, light and quick draining they feel. The curved ‘boomerang’ rocker is also propulsive without feeling too extreme. The Trailflys won our trail shoe test with flying colours, here’s why. Kate Milsom
18. Tri-Fit Evo trisuit
- £179
An impressive does-it-all suit from Aussie-based brand, Tri Fit. The suit is comfortable, the pad is great for long-distance races, and the focus on aerodynamics across the shoulders, back and arms doesn’t inhibit flexibility. Pocket space is amongst the best, too. Adam Leitch
19. SiS Beta Fuel Gel
- £12 for 6
This orange gel from SiS is made of a newly developed blend of maltodextrin to fructose in a 1:08 ratio, which delivers a hefty 40g of carbs. SiS believes this split is optimum and, while we can’t verify that without a lab, the taste is great and it digests well. James Witts
20. S-Works Evade II
- £200
The fastest helmet on test in our Boardman tunnel sessions, the Evade comes with 12 deep, internal air channels, ideal for warm high-intensity rides. The magnetic buckle is great for transition speed while the inclusion of the MIPS safety system is welcomed. Matt Baird
After a more budget option? Check out our favourite road cycling helmets under £100
21. Coros Pace 2
- £179.99
Among a congested market, the Coros Pace 2 is a superb multisport watch that offers excellent value. The watch more than proves its worth in the water, while run power metrics and training plans are also welcome. Heart rate monitoring and GPS are solid, as is a battery life of 30hrs in GPS mode. James Witts
Want more expert reviews of triathlon gear that’ll help you achieve your aims? Take a look at our gear section.
Kate Milsom
Freelance sports journalist 
