BUYER’S GUIDE WETSUITS SPECIAL
As our special report on the return of tri shows (see p40), the 2020 UK race season is finally nearly upon us. And with it a mad scamble to get some open-water hours under your race belt and, possibly, a new neoprene outfit for the occasion.
With the European tri season running later than ever before (hello, Ironman Portugal on 7 November), a wetsuit will be essential for late-season warmth, as well as their confidence-, buoyancy- and speed-boosting abilities.
Following on from issue 379’s top-end test, this delayed Buyer’s Guide features 20 suits from £99 up to £500. Top age-groupers Adam Leitch and Kelly Stokes will be your mid-range guides, looking at the tech on offer, performance in the water and how they compare to the £250-500 ensemble.
Analysing the £99-250 suits are 220’s Matt Baird and Helen Webster, who’ll be looking at value for money, buoyancy levels and additional features for athletes either new to tri and/or on a budget. Time to let testing finally begin!
ZONE3 ADVANCE
£179 The Advance was once this tester’s top entry-level suit recommendation, but it’s recently been superseded by the £179 Orca S7 and 2XU P:1. The 2020 Advance instantly takes the eco award with its recycled rubber construction, and there’s no pre-swim faff with the standard zipper (unlike Aptonia and Raceskin). Zone3 don’t list the panel thicknesses, but it’s 2mm on the shoulders, a 3/4mm core and 2mm again in the calves. Buoyancy is far from excessive (leg/bottom sinkers may want more) but it’s evenly balanced. There were no neck or water-ingress issues, yet the suit only placed third in our timed speed tests. While not an exact science, we found it tight around the shoulders (and we’re more Woody Allen than The Rock in shoulder width), which could’ve lessened efficiency. Getting it off is speedy thanks to the Pro Speed Cuffs. zone3.com
85 % VERDICT EFFICIENTLY TICKS THE BOXES FOR ENTRY-LEVEL TRIATHLETES, BUT EDGED HERE BY THE 2XU AND DHB
APTONIA NEOPRENE LD
The Aptonia was second out of the testing bag and looked odds-on for the Best Buy award until the Dhb swept to the title. Plus points include the ability to try before you buy at a Decathlon store, which is tricky for the Dhb and Raceskin suits on test, and a visual design that’s our top pick here. Into the emerald waters of
