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Swim Skins & Speed Laces

with the prospect of a non-wetsuit swim, I wanted to check in with the smaht people on what to do on a swim skin. I have a sleeveless xterra skin, but the EN tri top is sleeved. Should I be looking at a full sleeved model? if yes, which one(s)?

speed laces? what do most people use for getting their kicks on and out of the tent?

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  • Following. As trisuits have improved, I question whether swim skins really provide any advantage. Many new tri suits are just as compressive and made of the same hydrophobic fabrics as a swimskin. So as long as you are wearing a ONE piece trisuit, and it is relatively new, why wear a swimskin at all?

  • Thomas Gerlach (is he the author of Science of Tri?) on swim skins:

    My DIY toggle-based speed lace system:


  • @scott dinhofer - I use speed laces for HIM and shorter triathlons. For IM races, I've stopped using speed laces because I want to make sure my shoes and shoe tongue are positioned and tied (tightness) just how I like. Even with the speed laces, I still find myself having to adjust the tongue anyway so they're not very speedy for me. However, I've never timed both methods to see how much time I'm giving away.

    Swimskin - Yeah, I bought into the hype and upgraded from a sleeveless to a Roka Viper X Short Sleeve swimskin (EN discount + sale = 30% off). I figured my swim could use any advantage no matter how minor and I don't know if the advantage is real or perceived. I also don't know if I actually or how much I swim faster. You can always do your own testing, something like 5x100 with tri suit/no swimskin, 5x100 with swimskin over tri suit with sleeves exposed. Also when comparing, don't forget to account for the additional time spent taking off the swimkin.

  • I use lock laces and leave them fairly loose cause that's the way my Newton's fit me. I don't have to tighten them and there is stretch if my feet swell a little. I have the xterra sleeveless as well and have used it over the sleeved EN kit without problems. I may upgrade to Viper X short sleeve.

  • @scott dinhofer I use stretch laces with a toggle. That way I can adjust them for swelling or when shoe gets wet.

  • I use @Al Truscott lace system.

    Swimskins- I have lots of OWS data and pool data, IMO based on my data, yes they are faster than trisuit, yes full sleeve swimskin is faster than sleeveless swimskin. Difference really is negligible but measurable, but seconds do count. I wouldnt buy a sleeved suit but then again your gonna want it in KONA :-)

  • a. you run in 4%s, right? Good frickin luck re-lacing these. But when you do, yes, it's a few seconds saved, and you're in a game of seconds. But be warned, it's kinda like changing a tire with numb hands.

    b. The best way to take the aero out of a aero sleeved trisuit is to wear it during the swim. It stretches the bejeezus out of the shoulders, and you get wrinkles and loose(er) fabric where the entire additional $200-300 that you spent for the go-fast-ness of the sleeved suit is negated. Even thought the fabric is still wearable, these things are perishable, even after a few wears (one pro tested a loss of 6w after a single digit number of wearings.) Worse when it's getting all twisted via a reach and pull, with all the twisting in exactly where it should be smooth and very tight.

    Best practice is to roll it at the waist and roll up in T1 while's you're on the go. No lost time. The sleeved swimskin is option, and Stover / A3 tested the Rkoa sleeved to be faster than sleeveless, I think the bigger idea is just make sure whatever you run is tight and compressive. If you've raced a few seasons in it, it;s probably not giving you a lot beyond bare skin.

  • Agreed on the challenge relacing the Flyknit Vaporflys. I found it helps to use the old lace to hold open the eyelet while sliding the new lace in. One bonus with the Lock Laces is I don’t even need to cinch them down; the additional tension on the Flyknit is enough to keep my foot from moving around. I have noticed that they can be hard to put on quickly with bare feet (no issues with socks).

    I’ve also gone to Inmaker silicone laces on my Giro Empire bike shoes. I use them for all my rides, and haven’t had any issues with the looser fit.

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