What to Wear for a Triathlon
Part of the fun of a triathlon is the preparation. You obviously need to train and be in your desired condition for race day. You may want to invest in some major gear, such as a good road or tri bike. You may also be interested in finding the right triathlon clothing for your training and racing, as this can make a big difference on your overall comfort and performance level.
When it comes to triathlon clothing, one rule trumps the others: Comfort is key. We have seen several racers invest in full-fledged triathlon suits for their first race, while others have done very well (and looked just fine doing it) in an outfit that they normally wear to the gym. The important thing is that you wear something that works for you personally, and that accommodate the style of race you want to run as well as your personal budget.
Here are a couple key principles when figuring out what to wear in your triathlon:
· Quick-drying is important. You will be exiting the water and hopping straight on to a bike, and you want to minimize the number of changes required for that transition. That means that whatever you wear in the water, much of it will stay on as you hop on the bike. In order to do that without chafing or other discomfort, you will want clothing geared specifically for triathlon that can dry quickly, such as good triathlon shorts.
· Minimize changes during transition. While there is nothing wrong with changing into new clothing during the bike or run leg of the race, you will be the fastest and have the least to worry about if you just keep one base set of gear on for most of the race. It will also greatly cut down on your transition times, which becomes a factor if you want your times to be competitive.
· Quality matters. If you are thinking about doing multiple races, it is important to not buy gear that will wear out quickly. Spending an extra $30 or $40 on a pair of tri shorts or a triathlon suit could pay off in the long run by getting several more uses out of a superior garment to an inferior one.
With that, there are a couple options for both men and women to consider when deciding what to wear in a triathlon. For the most part, there is no “standard” uniform for a triathlon, and you will see people in all types of clothing, but here is a general guide that can work for most people.
Men typically have two options: The less expensive one is to use a good pair of triathlon shorts, which look a bit like cycling shorts but are quicker drying and have a thinner cycling pad. With the tri shorts, you can use a basic workout shirt or even your favorite running t-shirt, or you can use a triathlon-specific top called a singlet. For cooler climate races, you may even want to consider a very light windbreaker or long-sleeved workout shirt, but for 90% of races that would be overkill. The shorts would be worn in the water, under your wetsuit if you use one, while the shirt would be added at the first transition.
The more complete but more expensive option is to buy a triathlon suit, a one-or-two piece garment that is intended to be worn for the entire race: swim through run. This can be a great choice for people who want to be fast and look the part, but may be more than many first-timers need until they get more serious about the sport.
Women have similar options to men, with one exception. In addition to tri shorts, they will want consider a support top designed for triathlon, or simply use a triathlon singlet that is intended to be worn during all three race legs. If a triathlon suit is used, it obviously alleviates the need for a singlet or support top. Besides figuring out what to wear on their top, their clothing options are very similar to that of men, focusing mainly on whether to use a triathlon shorts with other garments or simply use a triathlon suit.
As for what to wear on your feet, that is subject to personal preference. Many triathletes go sock-less in shorter races to add simplicity to the transition, but only do this if you have practiced it first and know your feet can do it. The majority of triathletes where one pair of shoes for the bike (with clips for their pedals) and another for the run, but many newer triathletes simply wear their running shoes on both the bike and the run if that is what their bike is setup for.
With a little preparation and just a bit of investment, you can be comfortable and fast in your next triathlon. Just remember to invest in quality products, and be sure to use them once or twice before race day so you can become familiar with the fit.
-Contributed by Paul Johnson
When it comes to triathlon clothing, one rule trumps the others: Comfort is key. We have seen several racers invest in full-fledged triathlon suits for their first race, while others have done very well (and looked just fine doing it) in an outfit that they normally wear to the gym. The important thing is that you wear something that works for you personally, and that accommodate the style of race you want to run as well as your personal budget.
Here are a couple key principles when figuring out what to wear in your triathlon:
· Quick-drying is important. You will be exiting the water and hopping straight on to a bike, and you want to minimize the number of changes required for that transition. That means that whatever you wear in the water, much of it will stay on as you hop on the bike. In order to do that without chafing or other discomfort, you will want clothing geared specifically for triathlon that can dry quickly, such as good triathlon shorts.
· Minimize changes during transition. While there is nothing wrong with changing into new clothing during the bike or run leg of the race, you will be the fastest and have the least to worry about if you just keep one base set of gear on for most of the race. It will also greatly cut down on your transition times, which becomes a factor if you want your times to be competitive.
· Quality matters. If you are thinking about doing multiple races, it is important to not buy gear that will wear out quickly. Spending an extra $30 or $40 on a pair of tri shorts or a triathlon suit could pay off in the long run by getting several more uses out of a superior garment to an inferior one.
With that, there are a couple options for both men and women to consider when deciding what to wear in a triathlon. For the most part, there is no “standard” uniform for a triathlon, and you will see people in all types of clothing, but here is a general guide that can work for most people.
Men typically have two options: The less expensive one is to use a good pair of triathlon shorts, which look a bit like cycling shorts but are quicker drying and have a thinner cycling pad. With the tri shorts, you can use a basic workout shirt or even your favorite running t-shirt, or you can use a triathlon-specific top called a singlet. For cooler climate races, you may even want to consider a very light windbreaker or long-sleeved workout shirt, but for 90% of races that would be overkill. The shorts would be worn in the water, under your wetsuit if you use one, while the shirt would be added at the first transition.
The more complete but more expensive option is to buy a triathlon suit, a one-or-two piece garment that is intended to be worn for the entire race: swim through run. This can be a great choice for people who want to be fast and look the part, but may be more than many first-timers need until they get more serious about the sport.
Women have similar options to men, with one exception. In addition to tri shorts, they will want consider a support top designed for triathlon, or simply use a triathlon singlet that is intended to be worn during all three race legs. If a triathlon suit is used, it obviously alleviates the need for a singlet or support top. Besides figuring out what to wear on their top, their clothing options are very similar to that of men, focusing mainly on whether to use a triathlon shorts with other garments or simply use a triathlon suit.
As for what to wear on your feet, that is subject to personal preference. Many triathletes go sock-less in shorter races to add simplicity to the transition, but only do this if you have practiced it first and know your feet can do it. The majority of triathletes where one pair of shoes for the bike (with clips for their pedals) and another for the run, but many newer triathletes simply wear their running shoes on both the bike and the run if that is what their bike is setup for.
With a little preparation and just a bit of investment, you can be comfortable and fast in your next triathlon. Just remember to invest in quality products, and be sure to use them once or twice before race day so you can become familiar with the fit.
-Contributed by Paul Johnson