The Best Triathlon Wetsuits of 2024 – Triathlete – Triathlete

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Our experienced editors spent hours swimming in a range of this year’s best triathlon wetsuits—from $350 up to $1,200—to help you find the perfect suit to keep you warm and make you fast. Photo: Triathlete
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The best triathlon wetsuit might simply seem like a thing to keep you warm when water temperatures drop, but there’s (way) more to it than that. If you want to actually improve your swim split in your next tri (and probably everything that comes after it), you’ll want to invest in a triathlon-specific wetsuit—not something from a surf shop.
While a long list of features is one way to shop for your best triathlon wetsuit, it’s also important that you get the right features for your body type, your experience level, and your goals. But of course, none of this matters if the most expensive (or the cheapest) triathlon wetsuit you can afford doesn’t fit well.
With that in mind, we’ve not only highlighted the top features in this year’s crop of new wetsuits, but we’ve also taken the suits out, swam in them, and rated them across a nine-point rating system; we’ve also broken down which models have more (or less) sizes, their warranty, their return policy, and a quick TL;DR for each suit.
Our experienced editors spent hours swimming in a range of this year’s best triathlon wetsuits—from $350 up to $1,200—to help you find the perfect suit to keep you warm and make you fast.
Looking for more guidance before you get started? Check out our explainer on what to look for when buying a triathlon wetsuit.
While the gear below was loaned out by the brands represented, all choices were selected independently by the tester without any promotional consideration or brand input. Also, unlike other “best triathlon wetsuit” websites, our testers actually swim in the wetsuits ourselves—no glancing at spec sheets and rewording marketing terms. Learn more about our gear review process here.
$600 at Blueseventy (Men's) $600 at Blueseventy (Women's)
Warranty: 1 year
Try-on: 30-day return, used
Even though the names haven’t changed, Blueseventy has been busy quietly updating their well-loved triathlon wetsuit line. First, we were big fans of the updates made to their entry-level Sprint—things that made a sub-$300 suit feel more like something in the $400-500 range. Now Blueseventy has followed suit with updates to their “midrange” Reaction and upper-end Helix. Borrowing tech from the previous version of the Helix, Blueseventy has made some impressive changes, particularly around the neckline to make the Reaction one of the comfiest in the wetsuit world—at any price.
Elsewhere, there are no surprises as the updated Reaction has fantastic flexibility, balanced (but not extreme) floatation—worth noting if you’re an experienced swimmer, versus a swimmer with “sinky” legs—and very quick removal. Structural support, durability, and warmth are totally on par with other suits in this range, but truly chafe protection is where the Reaction shines far above others. If I was doing some sort of marathon swim (or a salty iron-distance swim), this would be the suit I’d choose for the neckline alone. -Chris Foster, Editor-in-Chief
Triathletes who have traditionally struggled with chafing and/or like to sight often
$1,245 at Roka (Men's) $1,245 at Roka (Women's)
Warranty: 2 years
Try-on: 30-day return, used
While Roka’s previous high-end wetsuit, the Maverick X2 wasn’t exactly cheap, it was still hovering right around the $1,000 mark. Roka’s latest, the Maverick X.3, flies right past the $1k bar and inches toward the ultra-ultra-premium wetsuit land almost solely inhabited by brands like DeBoer (though who, to be fair, are now giving away a free training suit with the purchase of their own bonkers $1,500 DeBoer Fjord 3.0). $1,200 is a lot to spend on a wetsuit—I don’t care who you are. But of course, the other side of that coin is that the Maverick X.3 has some of the best shoulder flexibility in the game—on par or better than Zoot’s standard-setting Wiki Wiki suit (reviewed below)—and has the best structural support, bar none, of any suit I’ve ever used.
With that in mind, there are likely triathletes out there who suffer mightily from structural issues like “snaking” while swimming, and despite their best efforts still find this an overwhelming limitation. If this is you, you’re looking at either the Maverick X.3 or—to a slightly lesser extent—the previous king of support, the Huub Pinnacle. However, like all über-flexible premium suits, know that this is not a particularly durable wetsuit, nor is it the warmest out there (both due to the ultra-thin arms/shoulders). I would also like to call out that 22 sizes between men’s and women’s cuts is easily the most available by any brand, and the fact that there are more women’s sizes than men’s makes Roka’s women’s sizing a total unicorn. -C.F.
People looking for a perfect fit with tons of sizings, those with structural limitations, and triathletes with a big (big) budget
$1,000 at Synergy (Men's) $1,000 at Synergy (Women's)
Warranty: 2 years
Try-on: 30-day return, unused
While Synergy is typically known for its more budget-friendly wetsuits (their Endorphin Fullsleeve has been an editors’ favorite for years), like most brands they also dip their toes into the upper end as well. Their previous version of their most premium neoprene was the Hybrid EFX3, which scored high marks from testers for overall fit and feel in the water, but was dinged for some chafing around the neck. The newest version of Synergy’s high-end rubber is the Hybrid EFX4 that seems to have solved the neck chafing issues, in this tester’s opinion, but did lead to a tiny bit of water entry at the neckline when entering heavy waves (a rare use case, but still). The new version also has a price increase of roughly 25% over the previous one.
That said, Synergy’s use of extra-buoyant air-impregnated fourth-generation Aerodome neoprene allows for very thick and floaty legs and torso without bogging the suit down in extra rubber. I found this to be one of the floatier high-end wetsuits and a good pick for those who struggle with hip/leg sinking, but want the light weight and flexibility that only premium neoprene can provide. It is also worth noting that the Hybrid EFX4 has a very snug fit compared to other suits in this price range and took more time to get on and off, but wasn’t an issue while swimming (likely due to the hyper-flexible nature of the neoprene). Also: While previous testers noted the Hybrid EFX3 was overly warm, the new version is on par with other tri suits when it comes to temperature. -C.F.
Triathletes with less background in swimming, who want tons of floatation, but still like a flexible upper body and light weight suit
$425 at Zerod (Men's) $425 at Zerod (Women's)
Warranty: 2 years
Try-on: 20-day return, unused
Advertised as a wetsuit for those “mostly looking for flexibility, who want a natural stroke as if they were not wearing a wetsuit,” the Zerod Flex is indeed flexible. The wetsuit is made with supple “SuperStretch” Yamamoto rubber in various thicknesses, from 5mm on the core and 4mm on the thighs to 2mm on the sleeves and underarms.
But the suit’s flexibility is negated by sizing, which runs small and tight, especially in the arms. In testing, that tightness restricted the movement of the arms and shoulders through the water, making swimming feel harder, despite the extremely buoyant panels on the core and legs. Additional challenges were found in the raw-cut neck and three-layer velcro closure, which caused chafing and made sighting uncomfortable. -Susan Lacke, Senior Editor
Slim athletes looking for flotation
$399 at Xterra (Men's) $399 at Xterra (Women's)
Warranty: 1 year
Try-on: 30-day return, used
I was pleasantly surprised by the performance of this wetsuit that can be purchased (always) on sale at an entry-level suit price. With all the high-end wetsuit perks, like air-dimples for additional flotation, variable neoprene thickness for horizontal body position, and multiple arm and shoulder panels for unrestricted flexibility…this suit can meet the demands of any triathlete.
The most unique feature of the Vengeance is the capri-cut legs (which end just below the knee) to assist in the easiest leg removal among tested suits. The shorter leg length does affect our warmth and flotation rating as there is a lot of leg left uncovered and unsupported. -C.F.
Any athlete with a “full speed ahead” mentality
$245 at Sailfish
Warranty: 2 year
Try-on: 30-day return, used
While I haven’t spent a ton of time with the Sailfish line, I was pleasantly surprised to find another $300ish suit that was competitive in the $300-400 range. The Sailfish Ignite 2 punched outside of its weight class in terms of flexibility—feeling more like a $500+ suit throughout the shoulders and while running—and seems very much durable enough to withstand a few seasons of abuse.
In terms of floatation, it’s important to call out that the Ignite 2 is a better choice for very experienced swimmers who are already balanced in the water, as there is only a maximum of 3mm neoprene, even in the hips, torso, and legs. Nowadays you’ll find suits at most price points with at least 4mm (and oftentimes 5mm) in the parts of the body that typically sink on less-experienced swimmers. Chafe prevention was excellent, thanks to a very low neckline, however it came at the cost of some water entry when diving or dealing with waves. – C.F.
Experienced swimmers who value flexibility over lower-body buoyancy and don’t want to spend lots of $$
$279 at Zone3
Warranty: 1 year
Try-on: 30-day return, unused
Zone3 caters to the sustainability-minded triathlete with Terrapene, a synthetic rubber that is 100% biodegradable. The material, developed by the same specialists who developed the oft-used Yamamoto neoprene, will break down fully in a compostable environment but is designed to not decompose during normal swimming or storage.
But this is no greenwashing stunt – the Terraprene Vision is a legit performance suit, with suppleness and flexibility throughout. That means easy on, easy off, and plenty of movement in the places you want to move. The suit feels light and unrestrictive, especially in the shoulders, thanks to a one-piece 1.5mm shoulder panel design that nails the ideal “second-skin” fit swimmers desire; 3mm panels on the torso and the front of the legs provide buoyancy without creating an excessive feeling of “swimming downhill.” I also appreciated the thinner 2mm cuffs at the wrists and ankles for ease of removal, though I would have liked to see slightly longer sleeves, as these hit closer to my elbow than my wrist. -S.L.
Long-course triathletes with good form and an even better conscience
$349 at Orca (Both) $349 at Amazon (Men's) $297 at Amazon (Women's)
Warranty: 3 years
Try-on: 14-day return, unused
Truth in advertising: The Athlex Float will make you float – a lot. This super-buoyant wetsuit can correct even the heaviest of legs, thanks to 4.5mm neoprene in the lower half of the suit that tapers to a thinner, more elastic material in the upper body. Small details make it clear the designers of the suit are open-water swimmers themselves: a laser-cut neck lays low and flat along the skin, yet no excess water comes in, and a small neoprene pocket along the zipper is explicitly designed to hold your keys, so you can stop worrying about leaving them on the beach during open-water practice.
Though the women’s suit is actually designed for the contours of a woman’s body, some of the details can be dialed in a bit more – the legs feel loose, while the wrist openings are very tight. The women’s suit design also seems to cater to those with short torsos, with “tall” options only for sizes XS and S. Size up or consider the mens’ version if tall or have a longer torso. -S.L.
Triathletes looking for turbocharged buoyancy on a budget
$700 at TYR
Warranty: 1 year
Try-on: 30-day return, used
Upon opening the box for this suit, users are presented with gloves and booties for ease of donning. You may think it’s a nice gesture, but you’ll soon find it’s a necessity – this suit is extremely challenging to put on, even with the gloves and booties. The the neoprene is thick and tight, made even thicker by panels built into the core for extra stabilization and flotation. But users are rewarded with an extremely balanced swim. The suit was especially impressive in cold and choppy conditions, allowing a certain degree of control one doesn’t always find in such waters.
However, there are a lot of stitched (as opposed to glued) seams, and they don’t always lay perfectly flat, which caused chafing in some unusual places. Bring body lubricant – and lots of it. -S.L.
Training and racing in cold, choppy waters
$875 at Zoot
Warranty: 2 years
Try-on: 30-day return, unused
Historically, the Wikiwiki has been this tester’s favorite wetsuit but the 3.0 has some significant changes that lower our overall scoring. The lower body fit, flexibility, and flotation are still spot on and provide a neutral body position in the water for a front-pack swimmer. But the fit on the upper body is decidedly too large and even with multiple adjustments, it continued to collect excess water with each swim. The forearm panels have transitioned from a crazy thin fabric which offered a direct connection with the water to a thicker and textured panel. Overall, the suit is still a top-level choice but we’d definitely pick the original in a head to head.
Athletes looking for a high-end suit with a roomy torso
Take a look at last year's triathlon wetsuits for men and women, rated and reviewed
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Roka requires wetsuits to be unused for a return and has been updated to reflect that Roka's policy is 30 days, used.
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