Aqua Sphere Aqua Skins Womens Long Sleeve Swim Skin Reviews

W hile a triathlon wetsuit will be advisable for most Great britain races with an open-h2o kickoff, a swimskin is for times when the h2o is too warm to exist wetsuit-legal. Most likely this will bear upon those who race abroad, where there'southward a much college chance water temps will creep higher up the max legal limit for wetsuits (22°C for 1.5km swims and 24°C for iii.8km swims under British Triathlon and ITU competition rules).

• How to prepare for a non-wetsuit Ironman swim leg
• All-time triathlon wetsuits for all budgets

What are swimskins?

Swimskins are fabricated of cloth materials that are designed to be hydrodynamic but without the thickness of neoprene. During pool repeats, this tester saved ii-3secs per 100m (as opposed to four-5secs per 100m in a neoprene wetsuit), so if you lot want the all-time swim split possible at your non-wetsuit A-race, it'south worth the investment.

Because about swimskins cost £200+, splashing out on the off-chance your local race might take place on a sweltering hot day isn't such a expert investment, and British Triathlon rules state that you have to clothing it for the whole result in short-form races, which will be considerably less comfortable over the top of a tri-conform.

The swimskins in this test all promise to give yous a faster not-wetsuit swim, which meant enough of testing in open h2o.

All-time men's swimskins 2022

Yonda D2

• £189

Yonda says the D2 uses 'the fastest, about efficient hydrophobic textile available', which is warp-knitted and infused with Teflon to repel the h2o as you swim. It'south a much simpler affair than some of the other highly technical swim skins on test, and the merely one with some flatlock stitching yet visible on the exterior of the garment. We as well found the fabric was less compressive than others on test, which makes it among the more comfy, leaving u.s. chafe-complimentary later each swim. Yonda claims that the D2 tin can meliorate stroke efficiency up to 4.5secs per 100m, which we found to exist a picayune off the mark, but were still satisfied with the two.5-3secs per 100m improvement we were getting in our times tests. The sticky leg grippers fabricated it a piffling hard to pull the suit upward over our thighs, simply this didn't bear on the performance in the water.

Verdict: Simple, effective and more wallet-friendly than most rivals, lxxx%

Sailfish Insubordinate Pro 2

• €299

If you lot want to convince triathletes that your swim skin is fast, it'south not a bad idea to have your visitor MD break the Kona swim course record in it… and that's but what Sailfish founder Jan Sibberson did in the previous version of the Insubordinate Pro 2 in 2018. As we detect with Sailfish wetsuits, the fit was generous, and our size medium was quite wide across the chest. The cloth is described equally 'surface-compressed highperformance textile' that'south densely woven for maximum hydrodynamics. As expected, we establish the Rebel Pro 2 was fast in our timed tests, saving up to 3secs per 100m. A reverse attachment with a cord for quick removal in T1 is a welcome improver, and the seams are all sealed to ensure the smoothest, almost hydrophobic surface possible. We did experience some chafing under the arms, and so we'd recommend using an anti-chafing product for long swims.

Verdict: A proven high-end selection with quality cloth, but a little on the roomy side, 82%

Roka Viper X2

• £315

Roka says its swim skins are now Kona's most pop. Later on numerous upgrades, the top-of-the-range Viper X2 now features thermobonded taping to provide compressive muscle support without any breathing brake, plus improved stretch which should stop any discomfort. The stretch-woven textile and hydrophobic Teflon coating are an platonic match, providing a swim free of any restriction and proving to be fast in our controlled pool testing. Nosotros did suffer slight chafing under the arms, but this was rapidly solved past some Trunk Glide in our next exam swim. Roka says the Viper X2 sizes up quite small-scale because of the compression taping and although we plant information technology tight, our usual medium was stretchy enough to suffice. We think the Viper X2 is worth the cash if you're a front pack swimmer. r

Verdict: A slap-up suit with lots of impressive tech which justifies the toll, 88%

Quintana Roo Hydrospeed

• $199.95

The make that invented the triathlon wetsuit describes the Hydrospeed equally 'the simplest, most powerful swimskin on the market place', challenge that where others 'compromise functioning for way', Quintana Roo's focusses on operation at a fair price.While nosotros've found some short-sleeved swim skins restrictive in the by, we experienced no brake or discomfort whatsoever in the Hydrospeed, which allowed us to focus on what matters – swimming fast. The Lycra-free pattern features quality hydrophobic, moisturewicking materials throughout, with a zip garage at the cervix to prevent any irritation. The attachment is fast and easy to undo for a speedy transition, while a choice of vii sizes means anybody should observe a size to suit them. The affordable price and equally impressive performance make this all-time in test.

Verdict: A super comfortable, short-sleeved suit without whatever brake, 91%

HUUB Race

• £179.99

Huub'southward Race swimskin plays second fiddle to its top-end Agilis (£264.99), merely after numerous test swims, we preferred the Race due to the less rigid material that we found easier to become on with. It's really a archetype revived by Huub, who'southward brought back this version of its original swim skin to provide a more affordable offering. In the h2o, the hydrophobic fabric did its chore, and we experienced very petty restriction across the chest. Huub says the conform has 'high compression to reduce frontal area', and while the compression isn't as great as the offerings from Roka or Sailfish, the slightly more relaxed fit might be appreciated by some swimmers. A fulllength zip baby-sit covers the easy-unlock rear attachment to forbid whatever discomfort, and the leg grippers hug your thighs while beingness nice and piece of cake to arrive position before you set off.

BlueSeventy PZ4TX

• £240

This tiptop-stop swimskin is available in short-sleeved or sleeveless versions. We previously plant the sleeved suit restrictive across the chest, then were hoping for improvements in the sleeveless version. Although the medium is a little on the small side compared to other mediums on exam, when positioned correctly the PZ4TX is surprisingly stretchy and unlike the straitjacket feeling nosotros expected when first wrestling it on. Blueseventy say they picked iv different hydrophobic fabrics specifically chosen for their compression and stretch characteristics and, while swimming, it's evident that there'due south some musculus support in the legs and little to no restriction on the upper body. The bonded seams do the chore of minimising any rubbing or chafing, and overall it provides a comfortable, fast swim for a little less than the other high-end swimskins on test.

Verdict: Plenty of stretch in the water and synthetic with quality materials throughout, 85%

Buy from Bikester

Huub Agilis

• £264.99

The Agilis was adult with Ali Brownlee leading up to his 2019 assault on the Ironman World Champs, and Huub claim they've come up with the fastest swimskin in the earth to help him pursue his dream. Developed using their Thou.A.D. (Measurement of Agile Drag) system, Huub say they've fabricated the suit tight in all the correct places, which shifts your centre of buoyancy and lowers surface drag, and have also added buoyancy and high compression around the core to keep you stabilised through the water. The legs are clad in super-thick panels and, while we don't doubtfulness that Huub have added them to decrease elevate, getting the suit in position correctly took a considerable corporeality of effort, and in the water it felt a bear upon claustrophobic. On elevation things were considerably amend, with more stretch offered on the shoulders that allowed for a largely unrestricted pull.

Verdict: a fast, compressive and tech-laden swimskin, merely with very trivial give in the legs 81%

Purchase from Wiggle

Orca RS1

• £299

The RS1 is the priciest adapt on test and promises the ultimate in hydrodynamics to speed up your swim. Orca claim the blanket won't blot any water on swims of upwards to three hours – and it's remarkable how well the RS1 does this – with the water beading up on the surface improve than any other adjust we tested. We were too expecting a highly comfortable swim because the price tag… yet sadly it savage curt in this respect, with the very rigid cloth almost feeling like information technology was weighing usa downwardly at the shoulders. The thermos-sealed seams are also very thick, which adds to the rigid feeling. A few strokes in the situation improved, and nosotros felt the small amount of buoyancy offered by the suit helping us to move smoothly through the water. A smart edition is the kinesiology tape on the sides, which Orca say will offering extra core back up to go along you lot stabilised for longer.

Verdict: Massively water repellent, just made with an extremely rigid material, 78%

Buy from Add Nature

Roka Viper XII

• £275

Roka say their swimskins have become the most popular at the Ironman World Champs, claiming a quarter of the field wore their Viper accommodate at the 2015 race. A few upgrades later, and Roka'south latest meridian-end swimskin now has thermo-bonded taping inside to provide compressive muscle back up, and improved stretch under the armpits. We found our size medium was on the smaller side of what we'd expect, simply when zipped upward we establish the Viper X II was as stretchy as promised. Roka apply 2 varieties of stretch-woven textile for the main material with a hydrophobic Teflon coating, and it moved with u.s. through the water to provide a restriction-free swim, with the water visibly beading off the surface on our water exit. We experienced some underarm chafing during a long fix, which is a little disappointing since Roka claim this is an surface area they'd refined.

Verdict: High-terminate adapt with plenty of clever innovations to justify that lofty price tag, 87%

Buy from Roka

Zone3 Kona Target

• £295

While most of the swimskins on examination are rather subtle, you'll certainly stand out in the Kona Target'due south loud impress inspired past the Ironman World Championships across the artillery and upper back. Zone3 claim the X2R fabric is i of the lightest and about compressive hydrophobic materials bachelor, and they've as well worked to reduce the number of seams to prevent whatever irritation. We plant information technology did indeed provide a completely chafe-free swim, and the fit is quite generous across the body which gave united states of america some extra liberty of move. Short-sleeved swimskins have made u.s. feel restricted in the past, merely the Kona Target has just enough stretch to let yous to swim as y'all would in a sleeveless swimskin, with the actress benefit of having more hydrodynamic material covering your upper artillery. A pull cord comes already attached to the quality YKK attachment for fast removal in T1.

Verdict: A fast and stylish short-sleeved swimskin that's too hugely comfy, 90%

Purchase from Swim Inn

• 30 of the all-time tri-suits reviewed: short-sleeved, vested and Ironman
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Best women's swimskins 2022

Aqua Sphere Phantom V3

• £352.99

That price tag puts the Phantom firmly at the acme end of this grouptest, making it a considered purchase fifty-fifty confronting the likes of the Zone3 and Roka. The suit features a 'core power' system designed to improve posture and hip rotation. We noticed this consequence in the water, although we preferred the way the Roka felt in achieving the same, as the overall fit was more supportive. This arrange felt a slightly odd shape on this tester only we did similar the experience of the ii fabrics used, which were both relatively supple as well as highly compressive. The suit was water repellent and, although it featured a locking zip with baby-sit, a pull cord would accept been appreciated. On a side notation, the styling was our to the lowest degree favourite.

Verdict: Clearly adept tech only eye-warteringly expensive and the fit was a scrap odd on this tester, 80%

HUUB Aura

• £179.99

There'due south no getting around the fact that for almost of us, a swim skin is a luxury purchase. Nevertheless, if you're looking for one simply don't want to fork out close to £300, and so Huub should be your get-go port of call as (spolier alert) the brand bagged our all-time value award this outcome for both their men's and women'southward 'entry-level' conform – the Race on the next page being the men's version of this Aura. Like our male person tester, nosotros found this suit comfortable and, if a little less compressive than the Roka for example, all the same high compression plenty to brand a substantial departure in our swim times. Information technology felt good on and the hydrophobic material slipped through the h2o. Looks aren't everything, merely this suit was easily up at that place with the most stylish.

Verdict: Nevertheless a considered purchase just if you want a swim peel then you tin can't go wrong here, 82%

Sailfish Rebel Pro 2

• €299

The Rebel Pro 2 is one of three suits (along with the Roka and Huub) that likewise appears in their male version over the page. This tester has e'er found Sailfish wetsuits to suit her though, so how about a swim pare? Well, as with their wetsuits they come upward a fiddling large, and then nosotros'd recommend sizing down in this make for a fully compressive fit. Patrick Lange used this adjust when he broke 8 hours in Hawaii so it comes with skillful pro credentials and, equally our male tester noted, the densely-woven fabric gave superb hydrophobic functioning. Touches such every bit the bonded seams and opposite zipper with long pull cord were appreciated. A sleeved version is too available and overall it felt like a quality suit.

Verdict: A fast suit with good credentials and some overnice touches. Size downward for a compressive fit, 84%

Zone3 Swimskin

• £295

The merely sleeved swim skin in our women'due south examination this year, we were immediately fatigued to the styling of this 1. Sleeved suits are a little trickier over a sleeved tri-suit, but over a vested one (which Zone3 recommends) this created a smoothen silhouette and fitted perfectly with just enough stretch (in one case on!) to requite the range of movement needed through the arms and shoulders. Adult in collaboration with two-time Kona swim winner Josh Amberger, the suit has skilful credentials and the SCS (Super Composite Peel) technology felt highly waterrepellent and rapid. In our puddle sessions this adapt gave the almost impressive timesaving over our i,500m test session and the bonded seams felt good quality.

Verdict: Sleeves are a winner, good styling and the fastest suit in our women's testing this year, 90%

Roka Viper X2

• £315

Having pro Lucy Charles-Barclay race in them tin't hurt the cred of the Roka swim skin and, worn over a tri-suit, this was a comfortable (if very compressive) arrange. Every bit noted in our male person test of the same arrange, Roka does recommend sizing up. Our medium worked well for swims upward to 3km in the pool and open water, with the bonded interior support and Teflon DWR (durable water repellant) cloth helping us feel fast in the water, something which was again backed up past our Garmin stats. We did experience a fiddling chafing under the arms, simply this was solved by calculation a short-sleeved tri-suit and/or lube. The adjust also featured lower back back up and nosotros noticed that on longer swims our body position stayed as it should.

Verdict: Impressive tech and we loved the back up it gave, just pipped past the Zone3 this year, 88%

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Source: https://www.220triathlon.com/gear/swim/swim-clothing/best-swimskins-reviewed/

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