Reviewed: Rocket Science Sports’ Model G Trisuit

Austin-based Rocket Science Sports was started by an aerospace engineer back in 2004 and has a range of triathlon, swimming, cycling, running, and custom apparel (varying from basketball to yoga). The Model G trisuit is one of their three available mid-sleeve designs. It comes in pure black with a neon left arm sleeve or white with a bunch of Rocket Science logo designs. The main selling points on the Model G are its aerodynamic design and unique graphene fabric—meant to aid in body cooling. Diehard racers should not overlook the Model G as it could possibly give a competitive edge when their engine is roaring and temperature gauge is dialed up.

Rocket Science Sports Model G: The Good

The Model G is like an excellent second skin. It has a thin, breathable layer throughout the upper body and most of the lower body. Compression is right in the sweet spot around the arms and legs. The suit has a low-cut neckline with a chest zipper that zips to slightly below the chest. When covering with a wetsuit, there was no fabric readjustment—no folds or shifting of the material occurred. The non-slip strips ensured the suit stayed in place.

While swimming, the mid-sleeve construction syncs nicely with the wetsuit’s movements, and the presence of a chamois was hardly noticeable while in the water.

While biking, the suit’s fit held an aerodynamic design, with no material flapping in the wind. The “Veon” chamois was a standout feature, and the pad was thick and comfortable—maintaining comfort well past two hours of riding (this is obviously a suit designed for long-distance races). The neat stitching job in this area was much appreciated, as there was no rubbing or post-ride chafing. On the low back of the trisuit is an easy-to-access zipper pocket with plenty of space to pack for nutritional needs, making digging around simple and safe.

The second skin feeling is best highlighted on the run—especially in the upper torso. The material sticks to the skin without causing any chafing or restriction, maintaining its breathability from the bike. In bright sun, despite being a dark-colored fabric, the trisuit material did not hold heat like you’d think. On a sunny route that usually guarantees sweat and eventual overheating with typical running apparel, the suit excelled at keeping cool. As advertised, the coolest areas were around the chest/torso areas, and the sun protection coverage over the shoulders most certainly helped.

Rocket Science Sports Model G: The Ok

With thin fabric like this comes durability concern for long-term use—particularly given the hefty price tag. Though it is worth noting that with both premium trisuits and swimming wetsuits, an increase in performance often comes at the cost of toughness.

The suit can also become a bit of straight jacket to remove, given the properties of the fabric and the otherwise-excellent grippers: Good luck trying to take it off mid-race; it might require some assistance on the way to the bathroom.

When biking with the chest zipper down, it was also tricky to pull back up, and we had the same experience while running. When attempting to zip up, it was necessary to squeeze together your shoulders to ease fabric tension and allow the zipper teeth to catch. Overall, whether biking or running, the trisuit felt best when fully zipped up.

When running, the chamois’ size was noticeable, but only under certain conditions. A dry chamois was manageable, but toss some water on and that water drained to the chamois like a sponge. The result was a pad that felt bulky, even heavier. Though a combination of body temperature and climate typically would help the chamois dry, it can happen a little slower than a runner might want.

We put the graphene fabric to the test in a car with the heater on full blast. The suit retained a lot of sweat during the test, but did not maintain a long-lasting cooling effect when the temperature got above 85 degrees F, though wind convection might factor into the graphene fabric’s functionality. Interestingly enough, after exercise stopped and after exiting a maxed-out car heater, the body did cool down very quickly.

Conclusions

It’s no secret that most top-ranked triathletes are crossing the finish line at Kona with a mid-sleeve aerodynamic suit, and biking and running all day in a sleeveless trisuit under a glaring sun is a distant trend of the past for long-course races. It makes sense: survive the elements or run the risk of burning out the engine. Rocket Science’s Model G, with its graphene temperature controlled, aerodynamic fabric, is a trisuit that can aid racers to the podium in unfavorably warm conditions, providing long-course triathletes the benefits of heat dissipation, saddle comfort, sun protection, and muscle compression—but it’ll cost $450.