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Tri shorts/singlet vs. a Tri Suit

stewarba's picture
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started by stewarba on April 24, 2008

I am in the process of buying either another pair of tri-shorts or upgrading to a tri-suit. It would be cheaper to just get the shorts, but I was curious what everyones thoughts are and maybe some pros and/or cons between the short/singlet combo and the tri suit. Also, with the tri short/singlet combo, do you wear the singlet during the swim?

Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!

Socket's picture
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Socket posted 1 year ago.

Pro of tri-short+singlet: cheaper
Pro of trisuit: looks nifty
Con of tri-short+singlet: possibility of exposed belly-button
Con of trisuit: the reason for port-o-potties

Seriously though, I couldn't tell you. I just can't concentrate on work.

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azstinger11 posted 1 year ago.

Personally I prefer trisuits (though I have only done Oly/Sprints). They seem to work better with wetsuits (or rather the removal there of). Also I like the total body compression they offer and the fact you don't get plumber's crack. They do have the significant draw back that if you need to go they are more of a hassel. If it is a hot race (AZ summer yuck) then I do use tri-shorts+singlet as if I start to overheat I just toss the singlet, which obviously you cant do with a trisuit. Hope this helps somewhat.

Chris

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kylie's picture
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kylie posted 1 year ago.

Another thing to consider is if you want to match people :) I love racing in my triclub's colors, or in those for Trifuel. Or sometimes half and half ;)

I also like to train in the tri shorts I am going to race in. A trisuit would make that harder.

And honestly, I've never tried a trisuit, but have no desire to... I'm not sure why you'd call them an upgrade! I've heard the no waist pressure argument, and comfort, but I am very comfy in tri shorts so don't find it an issue.

As for the swim, if a wetsuit swim wear it all under the wetsuit. If no wetsuit, I either race "topless" (aka in a sports bra only as I'm a girl) or I pull the top on after the swim (if I need the skin cover for sun exposure, etc). It depends on the top, but all the ones I've tried I can feel pulling in the water if no wetsuit.

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NotAsFast's picture
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NotAsFast posted 1 year ago.

Depend on your size of the middle area. I find a suit a better fit. Try finding a top that fits a 6'4" monster comfortably is impossible, things squeeze out the side. No so in a tri suit. Plus it supports the middle better.

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

Socket wrote:
Pro of tri-short+singlet: cheaper
Pro of trisuit: looks nifty
Con of tri-short+singlet: possibility of exposed belly-button
Con of trisuit: the reason for port-o-potties

+1 That's pretty much it.

TriSooner's picture
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TriSooner posted 1 year ago.

Socket wrote:
Pro of tri-short+singlet: cheaper
Pro of trisuit: looks nifty
Con of tri-short+singlet: possibility of exposed belly-button
Con of trisuit: the reason for port-o-potties

+1 That's pretty much it.

theShiba's picture
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theShiba posted 1 year ago.

Socket wrote:
Pro of tri-short+singlet: cheaper
Pro of trisuit: looks nifty
Con of tri-short+singlet: possibility of exposed belly-button
Con of trisuit: the reason for port-o-potties

Seriously though, I couldn't tell you. I just can't concentrate on work.

I don't know... I'd consider that a Pro! Nothing looks more RAD than a partially exposed midriff.

Socket's picture
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Socket posted 1 year ago.

haha! :-)

"If nothing looks out of place in this picture... you just might be a triathlete."

stewarba's picture
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stewarba posted 1 year ago.

That's the kind of stuff that makes me question my sanity for doing this!

Pain is the sensation of weakness leaving the body!

jsk85's picture
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jsk85 posted 1 year ago.

stewarba wrote:
That's the kind of stuff that makes me question my sanity for doing this!

Really, the first thing that stood out to me was that sweet set of wheels on his bike. I think I'm gonna call specialized and see if they have any still around the warehouse.

Iron Dan's picture
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Iron Dan posted 1 year ago.

Shiba - Great picture, I got a good laugh at that one.

Back to the singlet vs. suit debate. I have tried both and being 6' 4" it is tough to find a suit that does not start giving me the ultimate padded wedgie because it is not long enough in the torso. With the singlet, I have trouble with the top riding up and looking like a sports bra as I run because they don't make them nearly long enough. I have remedied this problem by wearing a compression sleeveless top under the tri singlet and tucking it into the trishorts, it has eliminated the risk of flashing my crack to any innocent bystanders and having the two-piece keeps me from having to remove and padded chamois from my rear every couple hundred feet on the run.

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grlawguy posted 1 year ago.

I have tried both and prefer the tri suit over the two piece approach. With the two piece on the run the singlet always "rides up" on me and it drives me nuts and is distracting --I keep tugging it down. Also, I tried swimming without the singlet on and then putting it on after the swim in T1 --total P-I-A! But I also didn't like the feel of swimming in the singlet top. So, I switched to a TYR trisuit and found that so much better. True, if (wait, correct that), WHEN you have to use the bathroom or porta-potty before the race there is more effort required with the tri suit, can't as easily or comfortably walk up to the urinal and take care of business quickly and in an unobtrusive manner, but that inconvenience and time is neglible in my opinion as compared to the annoyance factor I experience in the race with the two-piece option. My $.02. Good luck with the choice!