Looking for supportive tri gear

[tracy7199]

I am new to triathlons and completed my first last summer. I am excited for the start of the tri season this year, but am struggling to find a tri-top that works in the water yet is supportive enough for running. Any suggestions?

[Veronica]

It's pricey, but I got the Zoot ULTRA Racerback Tank. I haven't worn it to swim yet, but I have worn it for running. I really like it. It's supportive enough for me.


V.

[colby]

I am new to triathlons and completed my first last summer. I am excited for the start of the tri season this year, but am struggling to find a tri-top that works in the water yet is supportive enough for running. Any suggestions?

Some of them have built in shelf bras and depending on your size and distances that might work. Or... you could wear a sports bra underneath, as long as it was good at wicking moisture. Some ladies can get away without a shelf bra AND without a sports bra... I bet getting dressed is super easy for them (jealous).

Right now, I am using a Louis Garneau tri top with no shelf and wear a cw-x sports bra underneath it, works pretty well (except scratching my collar bone area to painful-town on long runs where the zipper rubs my skin, but I have yet to find a tri top that didn't and no amount of bodyglide seems to save me). Normally I have to wear two sports bras (even the cw-x), so the tri top acts effectively as one compression layer.

I have used tops/suits with the shelf bra before, it worked for shorter distances, but was not supportive enough for running longer distances without also putting on the regular sports bra (maybe 5-6 miles was my threshold?). You'd also want to make sure you got the right size for sure, if you bought something too big, you'll suffer in the bouncy bouncy department. Also, chlorine can stretch certain fabrics, so you'd want to avoid wearing it in the pool unless you rinsed really well.

For reference, I wear the medium sized cw-x, which is pretty much supposed to be a 34 B/C but technically I'm closer to the high end of that, a 36 in human bras. I like things to stay put!

[tracy7199]

Thanks Colby and Veronica,
Here's where you can tell that I am new at this.....so you swim/plan to swim in the tops that you mentioned? I guess that means that the drag/opacity of them works in the water. I also looked around and its not so easy to find a tri top without a shelf bra. It seems like it would get in the way if you already have another bra on underneath.

Does anyone else have specific suggestions for bra/top combos that work well in the water and on the run? Or other ideas for what to wear in the water and then change in transition.

Thanks again---this has been really helpful!!!

[Veronica]

I do plan on swimming in that top. There is enough material that I don't think it will be any more showy than my swimsuits - which don't have shelf bras. I personally can't stand a bra in my swimsuit.

TE does have some tops that don't have a bra in them.

V.

[tracy7199]

Can you swim in most of the sleeveless tops and tanks listed on TE or is there something specific that I should look for before buying something for the water? Also, I forgot to ask about bottoms......what do you wear in the water? Do you then transition into a bike short on top or wear what you have on?

Thanks again.......T

[Veronica]

This is my first season and the advice I got was to wear one outfit for the entire thing.

For bottoms I got the Zoot Ultra Short. I've worn them for a 20 mile ride followed by a three mile run. They were fine for both. But I have a well broken in butt - as the last two years I've been doing double centuries.

V.

[teawoman]

This is my first season and the advice I got was to wear one outfit for the entire thing.

Wicking sports bra under trisuit works for me.

[skinny_kitty]

I second the Zoot tri-racerback. I just bought one and absolutely love it. I took it for a test drive (without a bra) under my wetsuit yesterday and didn't feel it. I haven't run in it, but if I need something extra I'll probably use a Champion with wicking material.

Oh, and you'll go straight from the water to the bike without changing, so you do end up wearing the shorts you swam in for the whole time. I wear a Garneau compression short with just a little shammy.

Happy shopping!

[colby]

Can you swim in most of the sleeveless tops and tanks listed on TE or is there something specific that I should look for before buying something for the water? Also, I forgot to ask about bottoms......what do you wear in the water? Do you then transition into a bike short on top or wear what you have on?

Tri tops and bottoms (or one-piece suits) are moisture wicking, including the built-in chamois (usually light, but comfortable - still something you'd want to get used to if you're a fan of padded shorts). Most triathlon gear is tight fitting, like a bathing suit, so wearing it in the water is not a problem. Your bike seat will get a little wet, but don't worry, she'll survive.

I actually prefer the seams on tri shorts a lot to regular shorts (I have a pair of the zoot ultra shorts, too). Sometimes when I ride long rides, because I am a giant wuss, I ride with my tri shorts and put regular shorts on top, then shed the regular shorts for running. I love the tri suit for shorter distances and am thinking about getting a new one (as long as I don't have to pee, it works great!).

You can always throw on a bike jersey or top for riding/running if the tri tops make you self-conscious (you would NOT be alone), or you want to avoid sunburning your shoulders. I suck at putting sunblock on that back part of my shoulder, I have this terrible tan line that shows you exactly where my biceps shadow the sun when I ride my bike (I didn't even know I had biceps significant enough to create a shadow until I burned a couple times).

Shop the tri sections and you'll be pretty safe. If you have questions about your preferred style or sizing and are shopping here at team estrogen, the TE folks are super helpful, and many of them have tested their gear in real triathlons and training.