Best Triathlon Gear for Beginners
Congratulations! You’ve committed to doing your first triathlon. To make the most of your training and get the best finishing time on race day, you’ll want some specialized triathlon gear for beginners.
Here’s our list of recommended triathlon gear that will help you during your training, on race day, and beyond:
Running Triathlon Gear for Beginners
Running shoes
Did you know that typical running shoes only last 300-500 miles? At about that time, the shoe’s sole will start to lose its cushioning and shock-absorption properties.
Get your running shoes professionally fitted to ensure you have the proper support for your foot type. A professional can help you pick the right shoes based on your foot shape and running style. Be sure to tell them you’re wearing them for a triathlon, too.
For an easier transition from the bike segment of your triathlon, consider adding elastic laces, which you can quickly pull tight and lock into place. When each second counts, this piece of triathlon gear can make a difference.
Triathlon socks
It’s considered one of the great debates among triathletes: Socks or no socks? If you wear socks, you could lose precious seconds in transition as you take them on and off. On the other hand, if you’re prone to blisters, you may decide socks are necessary.
If you say “yes” to adding socks to your triathlon wardrobe, choose ones made from moisture-wicking material, and that includes a double layer to reduce friction.
By the way, if you’re concerned about sand sticking to your feet before throwing socks on, most races have small pools of water to dip your feet in or water hoses to avoid this issue.
A moisture-wicking fabric has two jobs: one is quickly moving (or wicking) sweat to the fabric’s outer surface, and the other is drying rapidly so that your sweat doesn’t saturate the fabric.
Triathlon suit (or triathlon kit)
Triathlon suits, also known as tri suits, are usually made of moisture-wicking material and are designed around wind and water resistance and temperature regulation. They typically include a chamois (small pad) in the buttock region for extra padding during cycling. If it’s your first time wearing one, it can take some getting used to, so practice wearing it (and swimming in it) before your race to make sure you’re comfortable and focused. You can wear these suits throughout your entire race, which minimizes time wasted changing your clothes. An added bonus? Because tri suits are form-fitted, they can also reduce the chance of your clothing getting snagged on your handlebars or other racers.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses may seem like a small thing for a race but are essential eye protection when cycling. Not only that, they’ll keep the sun, bugs, rain, and wind out of your eyes so you can focus on your race. Be sure to choose a good pair of performance sunglasses with UV ray filtration and photochromic lenses to adapt to changing lighting conditions more naturally. Also, make sure they fit well, so they don’t bounce around on your face as you run or bike or even worse, fall off.
Biking Triathlon Gear for Beginners
Choosing the right bike
There are bikes for every budget and type of rider. If you’re thinking long-term, look for a mid-range model. If you’re more budget-conscious and already have a decent road bike, you can add a clip-on aerobar to make it more suited for triathlons.
It’s up to you what type of bike you pick up for your event too, whether you’re most comfortable on a flat bar bicycle with flat pedals, a road bike with clipless pedals, a time trial bike, or in the case of doing an off-road triathlon, a mountain bike. Before your event, make sure to check whether there are any race-specific rules regarding bikes.
We always recommend testing a bicycle before you buy it. Bikes aren’t something you want to purchase online, sight unseen. Many professional bike shops can help you get properly fitted during the bike-buying process. Trust us; a properly fitted bike will be much more comfortable, encourage you to train harder, help you avoid injury, and ultimately help you race faster.
Helmet
Helmets are another essential piece of triathlon gear for beginners to advanced triathletes. You can buy top-of-the-line helmets with aerodynamically placed mouldings and vents, but for the casual triathlete, it’s not a necessity.
Here are some must-follow tips for choosing the right helmet for your race:
- Ensure it has passed all safety tests (as required by local laws and your race organizer).
- Make sure you try on your helmet and test it well before race day to make sure it’s comfortable and breathable.
- When trying on helmets, try them on with your race sunglasses to ensure the fit is comfortable.
We recommend specially designed shoes for the biking portion of your race. The right bike shoes will help you pedal faster and get on and off your bike easier too! They often include a single strap for quick fastening, a stiff sole for comfort and efficient energy transfer on the pedals, and a heel-loop to give you extra leverage when pulling them on.
When racking your bike in transition, you can also attach your bike shoes to your pedals, so you have the option to run out of the water barefoot, jump on your bike and start pedalling. Once you get some speed going, you can then slip your feet into your shoes.
Bike computer
If you’re looking to maximize your training, a bike computer is a must-have so that you can see data-based, measurable progress and reports. It’s a great way to improve your biking skills while you train because you see real-time data. Most computers will track your speed, distance, and GPS location at a bare minimum.
If you are already a hobbyist or casual cyclist, you may currently use an app on your phone for your biking stats, but you don’t want to be fiddling with your phone or smartwatch in a triathlon. And besides, most races don’t allow phones. We suggest getting a high-quality bike computer for triathlon training and on race day and mounting it to your bike.
Race belt
It’s a simple yet effective ‘innovation’ when racing: the race belt!
A race belt holds your triathlon bib number and easily swivels from the front to the back, so your number is visible when cycling and running. Using a race belt means you don’t have to poke holes into your triathlon suit, potentially ruining the material and avoiding you having to re-pin your number from the front to back and vice versa during the transition. Trust us; when your hands are shaking from exhaustion or adrenaline, not having this could tack on several extra minutes of your time!
As a bonus, many race belts have handy gear storage for gels, nutrition, and hydration.
Swimming Triathlon Gear for Beginners
Swimwear
Usually either trunks, jammers, a swimming costume or a tri suit. There’s no rule to say you have to wear a tri suit, but it might make for a quicker transition depending on what you plan to cycle in. To reduce drag, close-fitting swimwear is preferable, although you can wear your board shorts if you want!
Goggles
The priorities are to wear a comfortable pair, that won’t fog up and don’t leak. So, make sure you test them first. Style is a personal preference. Most swimmers tend to prefer smaller goggles that fit neatly around the eye sockets rather than more bulky swim masks. Make sure you pack a spare pair for emergencies. While we’ve covered goggles for the pool swim, in the open water you should also consider the type of lens you’ll need. As well as clear lenses, tinted lenses can help with the glare of the sun, which is often the case in early morning starts. Light-enhancing lenses can be useful on a dull day.
Swim cap
Race organizers typically give each competitor a swim cap that often denotes the wave you’ll swim in. If you’re worried about the temperature or quality of the swim cap catching in your hair, you can also bring your own and wear the event’s race cap over the top.
Nose-clips/earplugs
You’ll have learned through training how you cope with pool swimming and chlorine, and many swimmers either go for nose clips or earplugs to prevent infection.
Wetsuit
Races can be wetsuit mandatory, optional or non-wetsuit if the water is deemed too warm. The most important aspect is that it’s a good fit. This means it feels tight enough to trap the thin layer of water needed to keep you warm, but also provides enough flexibility to allow for a range of motion through your swim stroke. It’s also worth remembering that if your suit is ill-fitting you will be carrying excess water as a passenger, this again can considerably slow your time.
Different levels of thickness give varying degrees of buoyancy, with weaker swimmers often preferring more buoyant wetsuits. Thermal wetsuits are also available for really chilly water.
Lube
While it might help you get out of your wetsuit faster, its prime function is to prevent chafing from the wetsuit against the skin, particularly around the neck when you turn your head to breathe.
Transition Towels
If you’ve ever tried to put on shoes with wet feet after a swim, you know how difficult it can be under normal conditions. Add to that your exhaustion and adrenaline after just completing your swim portion of the race, and you’re going to waste a lot of time putting on your shoes.
Purchase a small, inexpensive hand towel and place it next to your gear so you can quickly dry your feet off during the transition.
FAQS
What triathlon gear do I need for kids?
Triathlon gear for kids doesn’t differ much from the equipment required by adults. The golden rule is that kids should have the gear they are comfortable with so they can safely enjoy the sport. Mandatories will be a swimming kit, including goggles that don’t leak and a safe bike and helmet.
They’ll also need clothes they feel comfortable wearing and a decent pair of running shoes. Make sure you pack enough snacks too, as they’ll be hungry by the time it’s all over.
When children start taking the sport more seriously, they’ll be telling you what they need. But be wary of spending a fortune on the kit because kids do tend to have a habit of growing out of it.
Is women’s triathlon gear different from men’s?
Women’s triathlon gear can be different from men’s but isn’t always. A lot of kits can just be similar but marketed in different colours or designs that are thought to appeal more to one gender or the other. There are obvious differences between swimsuits and tri suits, but also women’s wetsuits tend to come in different cuts. Try before you buy is a sensible approach. Women’s bikes can be different, especially the saddle because of the shape of the pelvis.
Having a saddle that fits properly is essential. However, it’s not just a man-woman divide. Some ‘male’ saddles and bikes can be suited to women, it really depends on individual physiology. If you’re unsure an expert bike fitter should be able to guide you in the right direction.
Where can I find cheap triathlon gear?
Triathlon gear can be expensive, but it is possible to get cheaper triathlon gear. If you’re starting out and not sure whether you’ll stick with the sport yet, consider second-hand or end-of-season sales.
Two of the most expensive items can be bikes and wetsuits, and you can find decent second-hand lines in both.
Pretty much every item in triathlon you can get at an entry-level option, and if you’re worried it will slow you down, remember the gear is only responsible for a fraction of your time savings come race day.
By far the biggest way to get to the finish line faster is to train consistently.
What should a beginner wear for a triathlon?
While you might see lots of triathletes in very tight, expensive-looking Lycra one and two-piece and snazzy neoprene wetsuits for the swim, beginners don’t have to follow suit.
If you’re starting with a pool swim, just a normal swimming costume or trunks will be fine, and you can cycle in shorts and a T-shirt.
If you’re not confident with bike shoes, you can wear the same trainers you’ll use for the run.
In short, enjoy it and don’t compare yourself to anyone else.
What gear do you need for an Ironman?
You tend to need more gear for Ironman than shorter triathlons because it is a longer race and you are covering all eventualities, chiefly the weather conditions.
Most Ironman swims will require a wetsuit, you’ll also want a choice of goggles.
Your bike is likely to be either a road bike or a triathlon time trial bike.
You should also pay more attention to nutrition and how much you want to take with you. However fast you are, an Ironman is always a long day.
