Castelli

Free Tri ITU Suit - Men's

While it may seem excessive to the uninitiated, experienced triathletes will understand why Castelli was compelled to use no fewer than eight different materials in the Free Tri ITU Suit's construction. Over the course of a given day, the suit will be expected to meet the often-contradictory requirements of three different endurance events. If you were to draw up your own blueprint for an article that can handle this, you'd see that limiting the suit to only eight materials is actually a study of restraint.

Of these materials, two stand out as the stars: Instadry Speed Fabric and the Giro 3 at the arm and leg openings. Instadry Speed Fabric is an early adapter of the hydrophobic materials featured across the tri industry. On the run and bike, it pushes moisture to the surface for quick evaporation, but it really shines in the swim, where it refuses to absorb any water, staying buoyant and reducing drag.

Our other favorite inclusion, the Giro 3 grip bands, may be the single greatest innovation in cycling clothing ever. No joke. That's because they lay flat on your skin, keep the shorts in place, and don't pinch your legs or restrict motion in any way. Chances are good that, by this point, you've had the pleasure of wearing them or something similar, so you know why we're so enthusiastic. If you haven't, then you owe yourself the experience.

Of course, Castelli began life as a cycling clothing manufacturer, so it's little surprise that the Free Tri ITU Suit has extra goodies for the second leg of your event. Castelli claims that the Velocity material on the back is wind-tunnel tested to actually shave minutes off of a solo bike ride of, say, 112 miles, living up to Castelli's claim that you're "getting an unfair advantage." The aerodynamic gains come courtesy of the ergonomic cut and elastic properties that let it fit like a second skin. While the articulated shoulders are designed primarily to facilitate swim and run motions, they also don't impede your reach to the aero bars.

Instead of the usual three rear pockets, the Free Suit's Free pocket design incorporates two pockets with side openings at the tops, eliminating the open-to-the-wind, parachute construction of open-topped pockets. The flatlock stitching used throughout and an ITU-compliant rear zipper make for a comfortable fit with an easy, self-sufficient on/off operation courtesy of its lanyard.

The suit's bottom line is the Kiss Tri chamois, which eliminates any excess material for a minimalist chamois that once again straddles the line between events to cover all the tri requirements. It maintains the support you need on the bike while its soft outer layer and minimal bulk all but disappear during the swim and the run. Its low bulk and high ventilation also make it the fastest drying chamois in Castelli's line, so you'll be riding dry by the time you leave T1.