Triathlon is big. And it’s only going to get bigger. It’s a sport that has runners and cyclists pushing themselves to become better swimmers and swimmers pushing themselves to become better runners and cyclists… you get the idea. Triathlon is fantastic because it’s a real test of endurance, speed and mental stamina, the challenge that helps to push people out of their comfort zones. It’s also great because it helps to keep exercising and training interesting. You alternate between swims, runs and cycles and I think that helps keep it fresh and exciting as well as each aspect helps support you in each of the other disciplines. We stock everything you need for the swim element of triathlon. Read on to find out a bit about each of our new brands. We will touch upon some of the key products available and who they’re recommended for.

Before we begin, if you’re reading this and you’re fairly new to Triathlon and haven’t looked into buying wetsuits before, let me explain some of the terminology used in this post. If you’re more experienced, just skip the next few paragraphs straight into Blueseventy!

You’ll see the word ‘cell’ used a lot in this post. This affects the suit in two ways. The first way is flexibility. 39 cell neoprene is more flexible than 38 cell neoprene and 40 cell neoprene is even more flexible than 39 cell neoprene. As the cell number increases, so does the flexibility of the suit. If you’ve ever tried to put on a wetsuit and take one off and move in it, you’ll realise why this is important for swimming and competition. You can use this for comparison.

The other way this affects the suit is durability. 40cell neoprene is more fragile than 38 cell neoprene. As the number increases, so does the fragility. This is when caring for your suit becomes more important; especially as higher cell neoprenes are better quality and tend to cost more.

Another thing mentioned a lot in this post is neoprene thickness measured in ‘mm’. Basically the thicker the neoprene the more warmer it becomes but the less flexible it is. Also the thicker the neoprene, the more buoyant you will be in the water. Tri wetsuits will have varying levels of thickness in targeted areas to give you flexibility where you need it most (i.e. under the arms) and buoyancy in areas such as your hips and legs, to improve positioning in the water.

So now that’s been explained, let’s talk about our first new Triathlon brand, Blueseventy.

Blueseventy

This is one of our new brands for 2014. Blueseventy have been around since 2005 but have been involved in creating superior wetsuits for triathlon since 1993. They are one of the leading brands in the industry and have been working with athletes for over 20 years.

In addition to wetsuits they supply a range of protective socks, caps and gloves which are also available at Simply Swim, but first let’s take a look at a couple of their wetsuits.

Sprint

First there’s the ‘Sprint’ – this is an entry level suit for someone who is just starting out in Triathlon, it consists of 3mm Jako neoprene from top to bottom and is considered an easy to click and buy wetsuit due to the more universal fit and there are not as many size variations. Blueseventy reckon it’s bomb proof, perfect for those just beginning who want a decent suit to start out with. They’ve made it very flexible under the arms for an easier swim stroke and its SCS coating on the chest helps to reduce drag so that you ‘glide’ through the water. The legs don’t have as much of a slip and there is slightly different neoprene on cuffs for less restriction and comfort. Each suit comes with white cotton gloves to wear when putting it on, this helps to prevent fingernails marking and tearing the neoprene. Some people put carrier bags on their feet to help the wetsuit slide on more easily or they use something like ‘Body Glide’ which is a dedicated lubricant. This wetsuit has a low and soft neckline to help prevent chafing. There are nine different sizes for ladies which have a femme fit design rather than a unisex fit, to ensure correct fitting and maximum comfort. When selecting your size it is easier to choose by weight, making sure the suit is fitting on arms and on the legs higher up. This suit is buoyant, flexible and warm. There is a catch panel on the arms which disperses more water around the arm to help you move quicker through the water. All in all a good first suit for someone interested in Triathlon, at an affordable price.

Fusion

The next grade up, is the ‘Fusion’ – This is made from the world recognised Yamamoto neoprene which is smoother and more flexible than Jako neoprene. The particular neoprene on this suit is 38 cell with different panels, the print on the outside showing what the different thicknesses are in millimetres. The lower legs are 4mm, the midriff 4 mm and the chest is 3mm to help create a confident swimming position in the water. This suit is also SCS coated which means it has a smooth skin to cut through water quickly. There is 1.5mm on the underarms for motion and flexibility. The Blueseventy range comes with a 2 year guarantee from rips, but be careful of fingernail marks. Anything that shears across a seam is protected under warranty. This suit has an A-flex lining, which when becomes slippery when wet and helps with the transition part of the Triathlon. This has the same cuff as the ‘Sprint’ and still has appeal for a more confident entry level competitor. Again the ladies suits are designed specifically to fit a women’s shape. You will receive an in depth instruction card included with each suit.

Reaction

Next we have the ‘Reaction’ – This suit has a 1.5mm panel on the chest for more flexibility under the arms.,  A 5mm panel on the midriff creates buoyancy like a pull buoy effect, keeping hips raised through the water. Kneeflex panels for speed in transition when running out of the water. This suit is also A-Flex lined for ease and it has taped seams up to 6 inches as some people might want to cut the legs of the suit off slightly, as this helps you to take the suit off more quickly. Made from 39 cell Yamamoto neoprene, it is more flexible than the ‘Fusion’. For ladies the suit comes in a purple/pink/black colour way and the men’s is in orange and black. This suit is great because of its buoyancy which helps you use less energy during your swim.

Helix

Lastly we have the ‘Helix’ – This suit has come out first out of the water in Triathlons more than any other wetsuit design and is the thinnest most flexible wetsuit in the Blueseventy range. Its top half is 1.5 down to 1mm on the forearm for optimum flexibility with a great catch panel on the arms to help you feel the water and cut through it. Some people will find this suit colder but if you’re swimming fast enough, you’ll be fine! The wetsuit has a reverse zip, which means that it zips from up and over already pulling half of one arm out so it’s faster in the transition. The blue panels use TST torsional stretch technology, which is 1.5 40 cell Yamamoto neoprene with the under arms and shoulder 1.5 mm to create flexible movement, all motion is flexible, including a flexible back. You’ll notice golf ball shapes in the neoprene which is the aerodrome, making it lighter, more buoyant and faster. It has the same split chest panel inside with the addition of TST. The chest panel is made from two 2.5mm sandwiches and the centre is 1.5. Again, A-Flex lining is used to make it quick to remove as well as the tubed leg with no seam. This suit gives you enough chest expansion so it’s not pressed on your chest, making it easier to breathe. This is an Olympic quality suit.

Accessories

In the Blueseventy range you’ll also find protective socks to protect feet from sharpness on the ground when entering the water and to help keep feet warm during the swim. The range includes thermal caps, of which some are merino wool lined, as well as gloves. Some races won’t allow these, so it’s best to check but they can be useful for training also. You can check out the range of swimwear, swim caps and goggles on our website. Popular choices are the Hydra Vision google because of its curved lens, which gives extended view and clarity. It’s good to have two pairs of goggles, a mirror lens and a clear lens for different light conditions. Also available is a timing chip, neoprene toe covers for use on the bike transition and bags to carry all of your gear.

Tri-suits

You’ll also find Tri-suits to wear on the cycle and run phases, available as one-pieces and as separates, which are great for long distances; as if you do need to stop you can take them off easily to use the toilet. But what you choose is really down to personal preference. Each suit includes gel pockets and reflective strips, a padded chamois for comfort on your bike and supportive bust insert for women.

The tx1000 is the entry level tri-clothing range which then goes up to the tx2000 which uses coal black temperature regulating systems and has a slightly better chamois as well as a locking zip. Lastly there is the tx3000 which is the top of the range Tri-suit.

Orca

Orca is another new brand to Simply Swim for 2014 and is the leading brand for Triathlon. Like Blueseventy, it originates in New Zealand and has been around for over two decades, created by former triathlon champion Scott Unsworth, who had a real passion for the sport and wanted to create better wetsuits than those currently available.

There are 6 main wetsuits in the Orca range and these are the S5, Equip, Sonar, Alpha 1.5, Enduro 3.8 and the RS1 Predator.

S5

The ‘S5’ is the beginner’s suit or entry level suit, for those who are perhaps new to open water swimming and Triathlon and is very reasonably priced for a Triathlon wetsuit considering its many features. It offers a 39 cell Yamamoto neoprene and SCS coating and is flexible and buoyant, making it easier to swim and lifting you higher in the water for a faster swim.

Equip

The ‘Equip’ is perfect for someone who is a good swimmer and is more flexible than the ‘S5’. Also constructed from 39 cell Yamamoto neoprene and coated with SCS (super composite skin) this wetsuit is less buoyant than the ‘S5’ making it more suitable for a confident swimmer.

Sonar

The ‘Sonar’ has everything the previous suits have but also has aerodome technology, making it a more technical suit, aimed at intermediate swimmers and more serious triathletes, such as those who are reaching half Iron Man level. It is more buoyant and flexible than the previous two suits and is Orca’s best-selling suit.

Alpha 1.5

Next we have the ‘Alpha 1.5’ which is far superior to any of the previous Orca suits in terms of flexibility, buoyancy and hydrodynamics. It’s a combination of 40/44 cell Yamamoto Neoprene with a Nano SCS coating making it much smoother, thus it cuts through water much better than cheaper wetsuits. It has a flexible ‘second-skin’ lining and an excellent range of movement through the arms, shoulders and back. The aerodome 2 features are placed strategically to aid buoyancy and positioning in the water.

Enduro 3.8

Lastly we have the ‘Enduro 3.8’ is slightly less flexible than the ‘Alpha’ but is much more buoyant and is on a par hydro dynamically. The main difference is that it has Exo-Cell technology, which optimizes your swim position using strategically placed panelling. This wetsuit is much higher end and aimed at elite competitors, it’s slightly more fragile than cheaper suits, but this is a necessary aspect of higher performance.

Orca also have a range of swimsuits, swim caps, goggles and other accessories to support you in your swim training.