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A tri suit is a close-fitting outfit you wear for all three legs of a triathlon: swim, bike and run. It has a thin pad (chamois) for the saddle, dries quickly and goes under your wetsuit in open water. Choose a tri suit on fit first, then on the pad, sleeves, pockets and zip.
We have not tested any tri suit. This page explains what to look for and what the brands and shops state about the models we checked. Prices were checked on 6 October 2026 and change often, so check the shop before you buy.
What is a tri suit for?
In a triathlon you move from swim to bike in T1 (the first transition) and from bike to run in T2. Changing clothes in between costs time and is awkward when you are wet. A tri suit avoids that. You swim in it, under a wetsuit if the water needs one, ride in it and run in it.
For a first race you do not have to buy one. Swimming trunks or a swimsuit with cycling shorts pulled on in T1 works for a pool sprint. A tri suit becomes worth it once you race more than once or twice, or race in open water. See our guide to what to wear for a triathlon for the alternatives.
One-piece or two-piece tri suit
| One-piece | Two-piece | |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | One size for top and bottom | Top and shorts can be different sizes |
| In the water and on the bike | Nothing rides up at the waist | The top can ride up, leaving a gap |
| Toilet stops | Harder; you need to undo the zip and pull the top down | Easier |
| Long races | Common choice | Some prefer it for comfort over many hours |
The shop and brand pages we read did not always say which style a suit is, so check the product photos and description. If your upper and lower body fall into different sizes on a brand's chart, a two-piece may fit better.
Sleeveless or sleeved
Sleeveless tri suits leave the shoulders free and are easy to wear under a wetsuit. Short-sleeve suits cover the shoulders from the sun and are cut with aerodynamics in mind on the bike. Zone3 sells its Activate+ in both versions: the sleeveless at £139.00 and the short-sleeve, with what Zone3 calls Aerostripe sleeves, at £149.00 (checked 6 October 2026). Sigma Sports lists aero fabric on the shoulders, arms and back of the Orca Athlex Aero Race V2.
Under a wetsuit, try a sleeved suit before race day. Sleeves can bunch as you pull the wetsuit arms on.
Triathlon chamois and cycling pads
A cycling short has a thick pad built for hours in the saddle. A triathlon chamois is thinner, so it does not hold much water after the swim and does not feel bulky on the run. The brands describe their pads in different ways:
- Zone3 Activate+: Tri-Lite recycled variable-thickness chamois.
- Orca Athlex Aero Race V2: 4mm Italian Tri-Tech pad (120kg/m3).
- HUUB Core: 3D chamois.
For a sprint or Olympic distance race the thin tri pad is the usual choice. If you train long hours on a turbo trainer, you may still prefer cycling bib shorts for training and keep the tri suit for races and brick sessions.
Pockets, zips and leg grippers
- Pockets: useful for gels on the bike and run. Zone3 lists an elasticated rear pocket plus a cargo pocket on the sleeveless Activate+, and a storage pocket plus side-leg cargo pocket on the short-sleeve version. The HUUB Core lists side gel pockets.
- Zip: most suits have a front zip, which lets you cool down on the run. All three Zone3 and HUUB suits we checked state a front zip. A zip that sits flat matters under a wetsuit.
- Leg grippers: silicone bands at the hem stop the legs riding up. Zone3 lists silicone leg grippers on the short-leg sleeveless Activate+.
What you may wear in a race, including how a zip is worn, is set by the competition rules for the event. We have not yet verified British Triathlon's clothing rules, so check the rules document and the race briefing before race day. Our guide to British Triathlon rules covers the rules we have verified.
Tri suit sizing
A tri suit should fit like a swimsuit: close everywhere, with no loose fabric. The Zone3 and Orca suits below are listed in men's sizes from S or XS to XXL; the retailer lists the HUUB Core from Small to XX Large. Use each brand's own chart, as sizes are not the same across brands. One reviewer on the Sigma Sports page for the older Orca Athlex Aero says it runs small. If you are between sizes, think about where you want comfort: a suit that is too tight across the chest is worse on the run than one with a little room.
Tri suit models we checked
All are men's suits, as listed on 6 October 2026. Prices change.
| Model | Price (checked 6 Oct 2026) | What the brand or shop states |
|---|---|---|
| HUUB Core (older model, SportsShoes) | £39.90 sale (RRP £129.99) | 3D chamois; front zip; side gel pockets; ColdBlack UPF30; leg length not stated |
| Orca Athlex Aero (older model, Sigma Sports) | £57.00 sale (was £149.00) | 4mm Tri-Tech pad; Vapour-cool; XS to XXL; one reviewer says it runs small |
| Zone3 Activate+ sleeveless | £139.00 | Tri-Lite chamois; front zip; rear and cargo pockets; silicone leg grippers; S to XXL |
| Zone3 Activate+ short sleeve | £149.00 | Same pad; Aerostripe sleeves; storage and side-leg cargo pockets; front zip; S to XXL |
| Orca Athlex Aero Race V2 (Sigma Sports) | £149.00 | 4mm Italian Tri-Tech pad; Vapour Cool; aero fabric on shoulders, arms and back; XS to XXL; pockets not stated |
For a first season on a budget, the two older models on sale are the lowest listed prices, though sale stock and sizes go quickly. If you want pockets for gels on a longer race, the Zone3 suits state them clearly. If you want sleeves, the Zone3 short-sleeve is the clearly sleeved option listed; check the Orca Race V2 product photos.
Looking after a tri suit
Rinse it in cool fresh water after every swim, especially after chlorine. Wash it on a cool, gentle cycle inside out, with the zip closed, and skip fabric conditioner, which can clog technical fabrics. Dry it in the shade, not on a radiator. For the rest of your race kit, see our triathlon wetsuit guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do you wear anything under a tri suit?
No. A tri suit is designed to be worn on its own, with the chamois next to the skin, in the same way as cycling shorts. Underwear adds seams and holds water, which can rub on the bike and run. Many women wear a sports bra under a tri suit or choose a suit with built-in support. In open water the tri suit goes under your wetsuit.
Can you wear a tri suit under a wetsuit?
Yes. That is how most triathletes race in open water: the tri suit goes on first and the wetsuit over it, so in T1 you only remove the wetsuit and carry on. Pick a suit with flat seams and a zip that sits flat under the wetsuit. Rehearse getting the wetsuit off over the tri suit before race day.
Should I buy a one-piece or two-piece tri suit?
A one-piece stays in place better on the bike and in the water and has no gap at the waist. A two-piece is easier for toilet stops and lets you buy top and shorts in different sizes. For a first sprint triathlon either works. If you have an odd fit between upper and lower body, a two-piece is often simpler.
How should a tri suit fit?
Close to the skin everywhere, like a swimsuit, with no loose fabric to drag in the water or flap on the bike. The legs should stay put without cutting in, and the zip should close without pulling across the chest. A tri suit feels tighter when dry than when wet. Check the size chart, and note any shop or reviewer comments about a suit running small.
Sources
- Zone3: men's Activate+ trisuit, checked 6 October 2026
- Zone3: men's Activate+ short sleeve trisuit, checked 6 October 2026
- Sigma Sports: Orca Athlex Aero Race Trisuit V2, checked 6 October 2026
- Sigma Sports: Orca Athlex Aero Trisuit, checked 6 October 2026
- SportsShoes: HUUB Core trisuit, checked 6 October 2026
- British Triathlon Competition Rules 2026 (April 2026), checked 6 October 2026