GEAR
ALL THE BEST EQUIPMENT FOR A BETTER SWIM
2XU PROJECT X:2 Price: £650 Available from:
2xushop.co.uk Fastest time: 2:43.8 1.5km equivalent: 18:57.5 Time saved over 1.5km2:07.1 Time saved in s/£: 0.20 Total strokes: 179
Most secure
BLUESEVENTY AXIS Price: £399 Available from:
blueseventy.com Fastest time: 2:46.5 1.5km equivalent: 19:16.2 Time saved over 1.5km: 1:48.4 Time saved in s/£: 0.27 Total strokes: 183
2XU appear to have thrown everything into this suit. It has won awards and got people talking. It is “engineered to encourage a more effi cient fl ex and body roll” and features a “transition front buoyancy panel” (which looks something like an integrated bullet
proof vest) and “Velocity Strakes” that are intended to increase stability in rough water. We particularly liked the almost-solid grip panels on the forearms, which we thought would be great for self defence in a crowded swim. Overall, the suit felt very solid. Strangely, it didn’t feel that quick through the water, although it did produce one of the fastest times in our test.
ORCA 3.8 Price: £350 Available from:
orca.com
Fastest time: 2:46.5 1.5km equivalent: 19:16.2 Time saved over 1.5km: 1:48.4 Time saved in s/£: 0.31 Total strokes: 185
As implied in the name, the Orca 3.8 is aimed at Ironman triathletes covering 3.8km swims. The focus is on buoyancy and comfort for people who may be in the water for an hour or longer, and then have to jump on a bike. The suit also features “Hydrolift Buoyancy Cells” in the forearms that are intended to reduce arm fatigue on long swims. As our test distance was 2x216m, we didn’t have the opportunity to feel whether that made a difference, although we can vouch for the comfort. The suit felt similar to wear to its Alpha stablemate, and produced a similar swim time.
Blueseventy’s Axis wetsuit is targeted at triathletes from non-swimming backgrounds. Working on the premise that most triathletes will have dense and muscled legs due to all their running and cycling, Blueseventy designed the Axis with additional buoyancy around the hips, thighs and lower legs. Given that drag caused by poor body position is one of the biggest factors slowing swimmers down, this obviously makes sense. However, if you already have a good body position then you might prefer a suit that lifts the entire body more equally.
Most comfortable
BLUESEVENTY HELIX Price: £450 Available from:
blueseventy.com Fastest time: 2:43.3 1.5km equivalent: 18:54.0 Time saved over 1.5km: 2:10.6 Time saved in s/£: 0.29 Total strokes: 175
Best for leg buoyancy
Best feel for the water
The Helix stands out as it has fabric panels on the forearms, which allow the wearer to feel closer to wetsuit-free than any of the others. On the other hand, the thinness of the material offers very little protection against the cold (as discovered through experience). The suit is also designed to offer neutral buoyancy (compared to the lower-body buoyancy of the Axis) and hence may work better for swimmers that already have a good body position. The Helix was the second fastest suit we tested.
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