I used it at IMFL and really liked it. I plans on using it for all my races this year.
- The suit is tight but it's meant to be tight. I'm 6'0" and 165 lbs on race day and the medium fits great.
- The fabric is soft and stretchy once you get it on and moves well with your body.
- The sleeves almost go down to your elbows. I also wore arm coolers for extra sun protection so the only skin showing on my body were ankles to knees and my head/neck.
- Practice pulling it down so that you can do potty breaks quickly. I got pretty good at doing this. It's not super hard to get off but you do need to pull your arms out of the sleeves because the zipper only goes down to about 1-2" above your belly button.
- I never noticed it when swimming.
- It's very aerodynamic on the bike. It's basically a cycling skin suit with slightly shorter sleeves, a fleece pad, and usable to swim and run. Keep it zipped all the way up for obvious reasons. Jim Manton at ERO Sports has stated on numerous occasions it's by far the fastest tri suit he has ever tested in his tunnel. There are some cycling skin suits that are faster but as he said, "Have fun swimming and running in those."
- It was very comfortable to wear on the run. I did unzip it for most of the run just to get a little more cooling but it's stays pretty cool for a mostly black suit. I didn't notice the shoulders at all. Definitely didn't feel tight or like it was pulling down on my shoulders. Like I stated earlier, the fabric is sort of soft and stretchy once it's on.
- I did pull shorts over the Octane for the run. While there is a "pocket" it's not very big and I carry a little snack baggie with sunscreen, salt tabs, Aquaphor and Chapstick plus I like to grab gels and Gu Chomps along the way so I needed the pockets in the run shorts to carry that. No biggie.
- It wasn't super hot at IMFL but it wasn't cool either. I think it hit 80. I did a training ride in 100 degree heat and it was fine.
You can see my IMFL pics here: Bob's IMFL FinisherPix
Did the guys in Hawaii wear the swim skins over this type of suit? Or do these also serve that purpose?
Shoulders can't be covered in Kona, so those using the PI or similarly sleeved suits had worn the bottom only during the swim, and folded up the top with it tucked into their swimskin. In t1, they just pulled on the top and away they went.
@ Bob - thanks for the review and the pics. I have read the entire Hierarchy of Aero thread and especially listen to whatever Jim @ ERO says. If my shoulder issue doesn't resolve in another month, I may convert my spring season to mostly duathlons and the Tri Octane seems really optimal for that. I can't believe a medium fits you! I am only 5' 8" and 150-153lbs race wt ... right between S and M on their sizing charts. Based on your experience should I go with a S or M?
@ Dave - this is a one piece suit so the only way I think you could wear it in a non-wetsuit swim is if the shoulders roll up AND STAY UP. It's probably not a good option for warm water. For the two piece suit options with sleeves, you risk losing the time savings in T1. But Luke McKenzie managed somehow. I would like to have seen his transition. I think he was wearing an unbranded Champion suit that I expect will come to market this year.
The medium fits me just fine. I'm sure the L might feel a little better but it would also be looser. I'm a little more legs than torso so maybe that helps me fit into M sized tri suits. Either way I'd say the S might be a better option. Remember that suit is meant to be pretty tight.
Posted By Paul Hough @ Dave - this is a one piece suit so the only way I think you could wear it in a non-wetsuit swim is if the shoulders roll up AND STAY UP. It's p not a good option for warm water. For the two piece suit options with sleeves, you risk losing the time savings in T1. But Luke McKenzie managed somehow. I would like to have seen his transition. I think he was wearing an unbranded Champion suit that I expect will come to market this year.
I didn't do a great job of explaining - sorry. Luke McKenzie (and, Marino Voenecker, when he wore a one-piece in 2012) put on the one-piece at the race start, but left the torso unzipped and kinda hanging loose around the waist - basically, they had only the shorts part of the unitard. They reportedly tucked the loose top part behind then and then used a swim skin over the suit. In t1, they were able to just take off the swim skin and pull up the top part of the one-piece to the torso, zip up, and they were on their way.
Comments
- The suit is tight but it's meant to be tight. I'm 6'0" and 165 lbs on race day and the medium fits great.
- The fabric is soft and stretchy once you get it on and moves well with your body.
- The sleeves almost go down to your elbows. I also wore arm coolers for extra sun protection so the only skin showing on my body were ankles to knees and my head/neck.
- Practice pulling it down so that you can do potty breaks quickly. I got pretty good at doing this. It's not super hard to get off but you do need to pull your arms out of the sleeves because the zipper only goes down to about 1-2" above your belly button.
- I never noticed it when swimming.
- It's very aerodynamic on the bike. It's basically a cycling skin suit with slightly shorter sleeves, a fleece pad, and usable to swim and run. Keep it zipped all the way up for obvious reasons. Jim Manton at ERO Sports has stated on numerous occasions it's by far the fastest tri suit he has ever tested in his tunnel. There are some cycling skin suits that are faster but as he said, "Have fun swimming and running in those."
- It was very comfortable to wear on the run. I did unzip it for most of the run just to get a little more cooling but it's stays pretty cool for a mostly black suit. I didn't notice the shoulders at all. Definitely didn't feel tight or like it was pulling down on my shoulders. Like I stated earlier, the fabric is sort of soft and stretchy once it's on.
- I did pull shorts over the Octane for the run. While there is a "pocket" it's not very big and I carry a little snack baggie with sunscreen, salt tabs, Aquaphor and Chapstick plus I like to grab gels and Gu Chomps along the way so I needed the pockets in the run shorts to carry that. No biggie.
- It wasn't super hot at IMFL but it wasn't cool either. I think it hit 80. I did a training ride in 100 degree heat and it was fine.
You can see my IMFL pics here: Bob's IMFL FinisherPix
Shoulders can't be covered in Kona, so those using the PI or similarly sleeved suits had worn the bottom only during the swim, and folded up the top with it tucked into their swimskin. In t1, they just pulled on the top and away they went.
@ Dave - this is a one piece suit so the only way I think you could wear it in a non-wetsuit swim is if the shoulders roll up AND STAY UP. It's probably not a good option for warm water. For the two piece suit options with sleeves, you risk losing the time savings in T1. But Luke McKenzie managed somehow. I would like to have seen his transition. I think he was wearing an unbranded Champion suit that I expect will come to market this year.
Could you buy both and return one?
I didn't do a great job of explaining - sorry. Luke McKenzie (and, Marino Voenecker, when he wore a one-piece in 2012) put on the one-piece at the race start, but left the torso unzipped and kinda hanging loose around the waist - basically, they had only the shorts part of the unitard. They reportedly tucked the loose top part behind then and then used a swim skin over the suit. In t1, they were able to just take off the swim skin and pull up the top part of the one-piece to the torso, zip up, and they were on their way.