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Having the best triathlon suit is among the most underrated factors that can turn your beginner’s triathlon experience into an awesome one. Training and fitness– these will improve over time. But a good entry level wetsuit can offer many performance-boosting benefits you can take advantage of.
Our Top Picks For Best Entry Level Triathlon Wetsuit
Not the best swimmer? Get extra buoyancy and save more energy. Enjoy warmth, comfort and better flexibility that translate to more mobility, less effort, and quicker transitions. Don’t just invest in yourself; invest in your gear too. Here is a list of the best entry level triathlon wetsuits that can give you an edge in your first triathlon race.
Orca S6 Wetsuit
Orca has consistently been in the list of top rated tri suits for beginning athletes not just for its affordable price. From S4 – the lineup’s entry-level model since 2010, yearly design improvements made S5 another favorite of beginning tri-athletes. And now, the Orca s6 has been making waves with its outstanding buoyancy, increased functionality and comfort.
From its Orca S5 predecessor, the design has been fine-tuned to feature fewer panels on the arms and legs for comfort while increasing functionality. The time and distance-tested 39cell technology moves with you with an incredible elongation rate of 513%.
It has zero water absorption and zero weight variation, supporting uninhibited natural motion. Its Yamamoto high performance neoprene front panel provides maximum buoyancy, plus the addition of a 5mm lower back panel offers freedom of movement in and out of water.
For cold water swims or warmer climates, the Orca S6 wetsuit is well equipped. It has a breathable neck collar similar to the high-end Predator models for less chafing and restriction in movement. High-functioning and extremely durable, this is a practical choice for budget-minded athletes looking for maximum buoyancy.
Exterra Volt 3/2mm Triathlon Fullsuit
From the brand that produced many tried and true wetsuits that have become a long-time favorite of many triathletes, comes the Volt wetsuit. It offers the perfect balance of mobility and buoyancy. Its 3/2/1mm neoprene construction gives maximum flexibility, speed, and comfort.
The entire front, from neck to ankles, has a 3mm rating, lifting the body into an optimal fast and smooth swimming position. The thinner 2mm back supports natural movement. And the light 1.5mm GKS neoprene arms/shoulders maximizes mobility.
This full suit features anatomically-correct arms/shoulder panels that allow for a full-range of motion for faster and smoother strokes with less effort. The comfortable low-profile collar ensures that that suit stays in place.
The X-MAX Seam-Seal Technology guarantees durable and long-lasting waterproof seams. The overall design promotes compression and fantastic float, without restricting freedom to move.
Huub Aerious II 3:5 Suit
The Huub Aerious has a 3mm upper body to 5mm lower body neoprene ratio that provides perfect buoyancy for any beginner athlete to excel despite sinking legs. Fact is, 85% of triathletes do not have a strong swimming background. And this gear has been designed to improve speed, efficiency and flexibility by strategically adding buoyancy in the hips and legs – where it is most needed.
Huub’s Aerious features a neoprene/nylon design that is remarkably stretchy. It offers the right blend of flexibility and thickness, made comfortable by the use a soft yet tough and elastic lining material. Its breakaway zipper makes for fast and easy transitions.
The X-O Skeleton technology improves body alignment and stability. The Arm Crossover alignment feature corrects positioning for reduced snaking/ Fish tailing in the water. Aside from these features, many have also found the size chart of Huub to be very true.
The Huub Aerious II 3:5 wetsuit is perfect for those with ‘sinky legs’ or weaker leg kick. It promotes a faster and easier swim despite longer distance, saving your legs for bike and run.
Though on a higher price range, this has been designed to help your stroke, kick, and body position for optimal performance. This model also comes with a mid-level buoyancy profile of 4:4 ideal for strong swimmers.
Buying Guide
Buying a wetsuit means you’ll have to navigate through a labyrinth of brand marketing and buzzwords in order to make a selection that’s right for both your ambitions and, not to mention, your budget.
While there are plenty of wetsuit options for experience, expert triathletes, the majority of wetsuits sold are geared more toward beginner and intermediate levels.
It can be tempting to simply go for a cheap or discounted tri wetsuit, but there is more to the decision than that. A bit part of buying the right suit is matching your needs to the purchase. That is where there is as much art as analysis involved.
Here’s what to look for when investing in a wetsuit, whether it’s your first purchase or not. If you buy the right wetsuit for you, it should an investment that you can use for years to come.
How Should Wetsuit Fit
Let’s face it – wetsuits fit tight, and they aren’t the easiest thing to get into and out of. That is how they are supported to be — think “snug”, but not constricting.
One thing to remember is that while dry land comfort is important, neoprene expands when it gets wet.
Your suit will feel larger once you get in the water. High-end wetsuits, especially, fit like a second skin and can really be difficult to get into.
When choosing a wetsuit, it is really important to be sure that the fit leaves nothing to be desired. You might want to research or even try on various brands, since the cuts vary slightly from make to make.
The correct suit size will be tight, but not painfully so.
Ideally, there shouldn’t be any pockets or air spaces between the suit and skin – the area around the small of the back is particularly prone to this problem. If the suit is too loose, water will gush in underneath and it will lose much of the insulating effect.
To learn more about fitting a wetsuit the right way, check our article.
Range-of-Motion
Related to fit is the range-of-motion afforded by a wetsuit. Think about what you will be doing in your wetsuit — swimming in open water, in a race that you have trained for for months. You want to be sure that your swim stroke is not terribly altered by the presence of a wetsuit.
To do this, be sure you have a suit that allows your arms and shoulders to do a normal, full swim stroke without pulling down on your limbs.
If the wetsuit is too constricting, at best you will have sore shoulders after the race. At worst, you will alter your swim stroke and compromise your speed. Note that sleeveless wetsuits, while not as warm or buoyant, sometimes allow for better overall range-of-motion.
What The Fabric
Virtually all triathlon wetsuits are made of neoprene. The question is what type, and how thick the neoprene is.
Neoprene is the fabric marvel that makes your wetsuit both buoyant and warm. Neoprene is a synthetic rubber with thousands of tiny air pockets incorporated throughout. These air pockets give the wetsuit its buoyancy, and they also make for great insulation, helping to retain your body heat in cold water.
However, not all neoprene is the same. Yamamoto Neoprene is generally recognized as the highest quality neoprene available. It is made by a small factory in Japan with a unique limestone-based process that allows the factory to produce very thin neoprene that still retains superior buoyancy and heat retention.
Yamamoto Neoprene is a staple in many top-end wetsuits, and used in sections that are as thin as 1.5mm. Less expensive suits will use thicker, bulkier neoprene – up to 5mm in thickness.
Two types of Yamamoto Neoprene are in use today in triathlon wetsuits: #39 and #40. Yamamoto #39 has been widely used for a number of years. Its buoyancy and durability have helped cement the reputation of Yamamoto fabrics in triathlon circles.
More recently, Yamamoto #40 has begun to appear on high-end wetsuits. This fabric boasts superior “stretchiness” compared to #39. Previously, #40 was exclusive to Quintana Roo, but it has now found its way to some of the other brands. For example, Orca does a nice job of integrating #40 into its higher-end wetsuits, such as the Alpha.
Buoyancy
Wetsuit buoyancy isn’t just about type of fabric used. It’s also about where it’s placed in the suit. Most suit makers incorporate extra buoyant fabric panels in key areas, like the butt and lower back.
Taking this idea further, some wetsuit companies like Orca and BlueSeventy are now tuning suit performance, making different suits for different types of swimmers. For example, BlueSeventy markets both neutral and positive buoyancy suits.
Whereas neutrally-buoyant suits aim to minimize drag by providing a sleek and low profile suit, positively-buoyant suits incorporate extra floatation in the butt and calf areas to help lift the lower body in the water. This extra buoyancy can be quite helpful if you don’t consider yourself to be a technical swimmer as it improves swim posture.
Some suits even add extra buoyancy to the chest panel as well, which can be a real aid to those who don’t consider swimming to be a strength.
Texture
Many suits also incorporate a textured forearm panel. The purpose of this panel is to improve stroke power as your arm pulls through the water. On high-end suits, these panels are molded neoprene. Entry level suits will use an appliqué that is either painted on glued on.
Zippers, Cuffs, Collars, and Seams
A tear on the seam is a sign of poor construction. Tears on the neoprene is often caused by the triathlete (punctures, etc.).
These are the creature comforts of your wetsuit, and can make all the difference between whether you’re going to love or hate putting on the suit. Cuffs and collars should lay flat and be comfortable, but snug, to prevent water from rushing in to the suit. Loose collars tend to rub against your skin and chafe.
Nearly all triathlon-specific wetsuits now have flat locked seams, which are again much more comfortable reduce chafing. Poor seam construction is the kiss of death on wetsuits, stay away from ultra-cheap suits that will likely rip.
In general, zippers should easily move up and down when pulled on, but also stay in one place when they should. Some makers such as Xterra are known for their 2-year guarantee on items like zippers and seams. This is a useful feature for the athlete looking for gain a few seconds edge during the transition.
How Much Should It Cost
At the end of the day, perhaps the most important feature for many would-be wetsuit buyers is price. The key point on price is value — you want to get the best wetsuit for the money, regardless of what your particular budget tends to be. (this should be true for all of your tri gear — think of it all as a long-term investment).
Entry-level wetsuits start at around $150, and top-of-the-line models can fetch over $600. Mid Range suits are often the best bang for your buck. While entry level suits are very basic in design to order keep a low price point, mid range suits are all about value.
Many of the features on today’s mid range suits were found just a few years back on only the high-end suits. Finally, remember to keep things in perspective –a good suit will complement the hard work you’ve put into training, but not replace it.
Conclusion
Finding the best entry level triathlon wetsuit can make a huge difference when it comes to the energy and time saved and spent smartly. Each of the products has its own set of excellent features that can bring out your A-game on your first and upcoming triathlons.
Please note that besides just owning a great wetsuit, it is important to improve your swimming technique.
Many triathlon wetsuit reviews can tell you the same things for each wetsuit. However, beyond the budget, having enough time to know your personal athletic needs and aligning these to the features would help you to land with the perfect ironman wetsuit.
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