The Best Triathlon Suits of 2025, Tested by Real-World Triathletes

Members of the Philly Triathlon club review tri suits ranging from $125 to $549 - see what they had to say about Zoot, Tri-Fit, Ryzon, and more.

Share

Save

When you look good, you feel good – and when you feel good, you race great. It’s no surprise, then, that when triathletes gear up for race day, they spend hours looking online for the best tri suit.

Indeed, in our 2025 Triathlete Community Survey, 88% of respondents said aesthetics were at least “somewhat” important, with 38% saying they wouldn’t wear what they felt was an “ugly” kit.

But a great triathlon suit is more than good-looking – ideally, it also needs to fit well, carry your nutrition stash, provide an aero- and hydro-dynamic advantage, and protect the tender bits from chafing. We’re asking a lot of tri suits these days, but the industry has stepped up to the challenge. Legacy brands like Zoot and Coeur, as well as newcomers Ryzon and Tri-Fit, have made it possible for triathletes to find not only a suit that meets their practical race-day needs but also shows off their own personal style.

With so many options available, we asked the Philly Tri Club to help with real-world testing of the top triathlon suits of 2025. The 150-strong club is all about creating an inclusive training community, and club members in a variety of shapes and sizes put tri suits through the paces, wearing them through workouts and races and making note of what works and what doesn’t in their triathlon kit reviews. Here’s what they had to say about the best triathlon suits of 2025.

Similar Reads

The Best Triathlon Wetsuits of 2025

The Best (and Most Popular) Triathlon Goggles of 2025

The Best Triathlon Sunglasses, Tested By Real-World Triathletes

The best triathlon suits of 2025

In our 2025 Triathlete Community Survey, we asked readers what brands of triathlon apparel they had in their closets. Though more than 20 brands were represented, the top six are familiar names in the industry.

Tri-Fit Vortex Black Edition

$549 men’s $549 women’s

Size Notes: True to size

Pockets: 3 back pockets, 2 inner front pockets, 1 neck ice pocket

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

When it comes to tri suits, it’s the little details that make a brand stand out. In this case, Tri-Fit’s attention to pockets – six in total, including one explicitly for holding ice on your neck during hot races – is reason enough to consider the Vortex for a long-course race.

Testers liked the fit, fabric choice, design, pockets, and overall feel, noting that it looks great with small logos, lightweight fabric, and comfortable chamois padding for shorter events. The chest zips up tightly, preventing wind trap, and performed well during rides and runs.

However, there was substantial drag in the water, and the vent holes under the arms caused chafing – vented fabric would be preferable, as would slightly more compression on the legs. In all, however, the Tri Fit feels premium, and with a few minor design tweaks, could quickly become a favorite tri suit.

2XU Light Speed React Sleeved Tri Suit

$350 men’s $350 women’s

Size Notes: True to size

Pockets: 1 lower-back channel pocket, 1 neck ice pocket

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

This tri suit performed adequately in the heat, thanks to the use of smart temp technology, which dials up evaporation from the skin to the air as body temperature rises. The super-thin and light chamois also mitigates heat well, especially on long rides, and strategically-placed airflow channels on the shoulders and back help things feel cool and fast on the bike.

However, the top zipper rubbed against the chest, causing discomfort during running and biking. It also chafed at the neckline due to the lack of a zipper cover. Testers liked that it fit well, but disliked that the zipper needed a fabric cover and that the white top was see-through, especially when wet coming out of the swim or sweating on the run (women testers noted their sports bra was visible while wearing the suit in a race).

The Black Bibs – The Tri Suit

$125 men’s $125 women’s

Size Notes: True to size

Pockets: 2 rear pockets

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

At $125, Black Bibs brand has created a budget-friendly triathlon suit that stands out in a market full of offerings $300 or more. But “budget” should not be conflated with “cheap” here – the suit fits well, provides exceptional compression, and is a classic style (men’s and women’s one-piece colorways include a solid black as well as a black bottom half with navy, burgundy, or white uppers). Openings for the legs and arms use silicone “power bands” to keep the suit secure throughout a workout or race, and no chafing was reported. The suit also proved extremely durable both on and off the race course, holding up through dozens of laundry cycles without shrinking, pilling, or splitting seams.

The initial impression of the chamois was mediocre, but improved with subsequent use and resolved itself after several rides. Testers reported drag when swimming, with the neckline sagging, and recommended use with a wetsuit. Dislikes included poor moisture wicking, especially in the upper body, and unusually high rear pockets.

Coeur Sports Sleeved Trisuit

$259, women’s

Size Notes: Runs small

Pockets: 2 rear pockets

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

Unlike some tri brands, where women’s suits are simply a smaller version of the men’s, Coeur tri suits are designed with a woman’s physique in mind, from the contours of the suit to the women’s specific seamless chamois. Testers also liked the supple fabric and one-piece design with a full front zipper and high-rise short beneath, allowing for breathability and extra roominess in the torso.

This tri suit performed exceptionally well on the swim and run, but some chafing was experienced on the bike – chamois cream is recommended. The arm openings run slightly small, so athletes with muscular arms should size up or opt for the sleeveless version. Luckily, Coeur offers a variety of competitively-priced women’s tri suit configurations in matching colorways: sleeved, sleeveless, sports bra/shorts, aero tops, and tri tops with built-in bras.

Ryzon Arise Triathlon Suit

$335 men’s $335 women’s

Size Notes: True to size

Pockets: 1 rear pocket

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

Testers liked the sleek, minimalist, and professional appearance of the monochromatic Arise tri suit, as well as its stretchy, comfortable, and “slippery” feel that allowed for movement and flexibility without chafing. It remained comfortable even when wet, ran true to size, didn’t create unnecessary drag, and worked well with other clothing. This tri suit generally performed well across all conditions and disciplines, with no reported poor performance or chafing.

However, a dime-sized hole appeared in the left armpit after two wears, which was surprising and disappointing, given the suit’s $335 price tag. Testers also wished the back pocket was deeper and had multiple compartments.

Zoot Ultra Tri P1 Racesuit

$360 men’s $360 women’s

Size Notes: True to size

Pockets: 1 rear pocket, two side pockets, 3 interior pockets

Built-in sports bra (women’s): No

Zoot has been a mainstay of triathlon apparel for more than 40 years, and for good reason – users recognize the balance of form and function present in many of its products. The suits, designed by endurance athletes, for endurance athletes, come in a variety of designs, including flashy patterns and colorways.

The latest offering from Zoot, the Ultra Tri P1, performed well during swims in the ocean, bike rides on a trainer and outside, and runs outside. Testers liked its comfortable and true-to-size fit as well as built-in UPF 35 sun protection fabric.

However, the pockets were not very big, making it difficult to carry proper nutrition during training rides or runs – testers recommended wearing the suit for short-course racing or long-course events only if nutrition on the course is plentiful. The zipper was also annoying and rubbed a bit, requiring multiple adjustments while running.

Overall, however, the suit was rated as “top-notch” for comfort, breathability, and weight.

Looking for more tri suit reviews? Check out our reviews of tri suits from Varlo, Swiss Side, Wyn, Synergy, and more in The Best Tri Suits for 2024.