Equipment

The Three Disciplines

Triathlon requires equipment across swim, bike, and run. Prioritize based on discipline weaknesses and race distance.

Swim Equipment

Wetsuit

Mandatory for cold water, advantageous for buoyancy and speed in legal temperatures.

Legal Limits: Most races allow wetsuits below 76-78°F (varies by organization)

Types:

• •Full suit: Maximum buoyancy and warmth
• •Sleeveless: Arm mobility, faster transitions
• •Two-piece: Flexibility, easier bathroom breaks

Evidence: Wetsuits reduce swim times by 5-10% through improved buoyancy and reduced drag (Chatard et al., 1995).

Recommended Brands: Roka, Orca, Zone3, blueseventy

Tri-Specific Goggles

• •Larger field of view for sighting
• •Tinted/mirrored for outdoor racing
• •Quick-adjust straps

Swim Skin

For wetsuit-illegal races, provides minimal drag reduction.

Bike Equipment

Triathlon/TT Bike

Aerodynamic geometry with aero bars for time trial position.

Key Features:

• •Steep seat tube angle (76-78°)
• •Integrated aero bars
• •Deep section wheels
• •Hidden cables/integrated storage

Alternative: Road bike with clip-on aero bars (significant upgrade for minimal cost)

Aero Bars (Clip-On)

Convert a road bike for aero position. Most cost-effective speed upgrade.

Evidence: Aero position can save 1-2 minutes per 10km at Ironman pace (Fonda & Sarabon, 2012).

Triathlon Helmet

Aero Helmet: For races - significant time savings Standard MIPS: For training - safety and ventilation

Tri-Specific Shoes

Quick-entry cycling shoes with single strap.

• •Rubber heel for running in T1
• •Large pull tab for quick entry

Bike Computer with Power

Essential for pacing, especially for long-distance events.

Recommended: Wahoo Elemnt, Garmin Edge series

Hydration & Nutrition

• •Between-the-arms bottle setup
• •Bento box for nutrition storage
• •Aero bottle options

Run Equipment

Triathlon Running Shoes

Quick-lace or elastic laces for fast T2 transitions.

Features:

• •Elastic lock laces
• •Breathable upper (wet feet from bike)
• •Cushioning appropriate to race distance

Race Belt

Number attachment without pins - flip from back (bike) to front (run).

Visor/Hat

Sun protection and sweat management.

Transition Equipment

Transition Bag

Organize gear by discipline.

Transition Mat/Towel

Mark your spot, wipe feet, organize gear.

Body Glide

Prevent wetsuit chafing and hot spots.

Budget Tiers

Sprint/Olympic Distance - Minimal ($800-1500)

Getting started in triathlon:

• •Entry wetsuit ($150-250): blueseventy Fusion, Xterra Volt
• •Existing road bike + clip-on aero bars ($100-150)
• •Triathlon shorts (can swim/bike/run) ($50-80)
• •Quick-lace running shoes or elastic laces ($100-150)
• •Race belt ($15-20)
• •Goggles ($25-40)
• •Basic tri bag ($30-50)

Sprint/Olympic Distance - Competitive ($2500-4500)

Serious age-group racing:

• •Quality wetsuit ($300-500): Roka Maverick, Orca Alpha
• •Road bike with aero bars or entry tri bike ($1200-2500)
• •Aero helmet ($150-250)
• •Tri suit one-piece ($150-250)
• •GPS watch with triathlon mode ($250-400)
• •Tri-specific cycling shoes ($100-150)
• •Race day flats ($100-150)
• •Power meter (single-sided) ($300-400)
• •Complete transition setup ($100-150)

Half/Full Ironman - $6000+

Long-distance racing equipment:

• •Premium wetsuit ($400-700): Roka Maverick Pro
• •Triathlon bike ($3000-8000)
• •Deep section race wheels ($1000-3000)
• •Aero helmet ($200-350)
• •Premium tri suit ($200-400)
• •Power meter ($400-1000)
• •GPS watch with extended battery ($350-500)
• •Multiple hydration systems ($100-200)
• •Recovery tools for training volume ($200-400)
• •Nutrition testing and race supplies ($100-200)

Training-Specific Equipment

Swim Training

• •Pull buoy, paddles, fins
• •Tempo trainer for pacing
• •Wetsuit for open water practice

Bike Training

• •Smart trainer for indoor ($400-1200)
• •Spare tires and repair kit
• •Indoor training app subscription

Run Training

• •GPS watch
• •Multiple shoe rotation
• •Foam roller

Race Day Checklist

T1 (Swim to Bike)

• •Wetsuit (if using)
• •Goggles
• •Bike with race number
• •Helmet
• •Sunglasses
• •Cycling shoes
• •Nutrition on bike

T2 (Bike to Run)

• •Running shoes with elastic laces
• •Race belt with number
• •Hat/visor
• •Nutrition

Sources

1. 1.Chatard JC, et al. (1995). "Effect of wetsuit on performance in triathlon." Journal of Sports Sciences.
2. 2.Fonda B & Sarabon N (2012). "Aerodynamics of cycling: A mini-review." International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching.
3. 3.Bentley DJ, et al. (2008). "Specific aspects of contemporary triathlon: Implications for physiological analysis and performance." Sports Medicine.