Inside 2XU's New Range: Triathlon Gear Is Now Mainstreaming
Trisuits and wetsuits are serious equipment, tested in the wind tunnel and built for race days. We explore 2XU's new range and who it suits.
If you have ever watched a triathlon, you will have noticed the athletes all wear the same thing: a snug, one piece suit that takes them from the swim to the bike to the run without stopping to get changed.
It is easy to assume this is kit for elite athletes only. It is not. Think about running shoes. Not long ago, carbon plates and super foams were something you only saw on marathon podiums. Now they are on the feet of everyday runners at the local parkrun. The same shift is happening in triathlon & everyday training. The fabrics, fits and aerodynamic tricks developed for the sharp end of the sport are now being built into suits for people doing their first sprint race, and you do not need to be an Olympic level athlete to benefit from them.
That is the story behind 2XU's new triathlon range. According to 2XU, it is the result of a 20 month development programme that started back in 2023 with one brief: build the world's best trisuit. The result is a lineup that runs from a $220 first race suit to a flagship long course suit, so there is something for a beginner as well as a seasoned racer.
Not just clothing, serious equipment
These suits are closer to equipment than clothing. According to 2XU, the flagship suit went through five prototypes and was tested in two wind tunnels, Silverstone in the UK and the Australian Centre for Sports Aerodynamics in Adelaide. 2XU says the final suit saved 23 watts against a comparable premium competitor suit, which it models at around 11 minutes over an Ironman bike leg.
The takeaway is simple: every panel, seam and fabric choice in this range is there to do a job, from cutting drag to keeping you cool and supported.
The Flagship: Light Speed React Trisuit
Light Speed React Sleeved Trisuit, men's (left) and women's (right). Image: 2XU
The Light Speed React Sleeved Trisuit ($500) is the flagship, built around three core features.
- Aero: ribbing across the arms, shoulders and side panels is designed to disrupt the airflow.
- Cooling: SKIN LITE fabric wicks sweat and cools the surface, with 50+ UPF protection. The Smart Temp tech keeps the fabric surface up to 2.5°C cooler.
- Compression: PWX compression across the lower body, delivers twice the compression power of standard sportswear fabrics to limit muscle oscillation and fatigue.
The practical details matter on race day: rear, side and internal storage pockets, a 10 inch short with silicone grippers, and the TMF Light Speed Tri Chamois, which is designed for comfort in the saddle and minimal bulk on the run. Pick the men's (MT7888D) or the women's WT7726D.
The mid-distance pick: Aero Sleeved Trisuit
Aero Sleeved Trisuit, men's (left) and women's (right). Image: 2XU
If a flagship suit is more than you need, the Aero Sleeved Trisuit ($350) is designed for mid distance racing. It keeps the aero ribbing across the shoulders and side panels, adds a stretch mesh underarm gusset for more flexibility in the swim, and carries a kangaroo style rear pocket for nutrition. Lower body compression is PWX again, with a 9 inch short and the TMF Aero Tri Chamois. The men's suit is MT7883D, and the women's is WT7877D.
The entry point: Core Trisuit
Core Trisuit, men's (left) and women's (right). Image: 2XU
New to triathlon? The Core Trisuit ($220) is the one to look at. It is a lightweight one piece for sprint distances and shorter races, with engineered panelling and flatlock seams to reduce chafing, 50+ UPF fabric, PWX compression with an 8 inch short, secure rear pockets for race day nutrition and a TMF Core Tri Chamois. It takes you from swim to bike to run in one piece, which is exactly what a first race needs. The women's version is WT7405D.
The wetsuits: Propel:2 and Propel Pro
Two wetsuits sit at the top of the range, and both use Yamamoto smooth skin neoprene with a hydrodynamic coating to reduce surface drag. Both also feature Rollbar technology, which keeps buoyancy lower around the perimeter of the suit for snappier side to side rotation, and a floating zip panel for unrestricted movement.
Propel:2 Wetsuit
Propel:2 Wetsuit, men's (left) and women's (right). Image: 2XU
The Propel:2 Wetsuit ($900) is a buoyancy focused suit, designed to keep you balanced and lifted through to the finish. There is an embossed concave water entrapment zone on the arm sleeve to improve the power and feel of the water, plus a lower leg propulsion panel with fast release ankle transition panels for a quicker exit in T1. It suits swimmers who want help staying high in the water. The men's suit is MW7794C and the women's is WW7795C.
Propel Pro Wetsuit
Propel Pro Wetsuit, men's (left) and women's (right). Image: 2XU
The Propel Pro Wetsuit ($1,200) is 2XU's most advanced wetsuit, built for swimmers chasing every last second. It adds flexible, super stretch material and textured centre body panelling with Velocity Strakes to add stability in choppy water. This is the one for serious racers, and the price reflects it. The men's suit is MW7636C and the women's is WW7637C.
The easy add-on: Light Speed Aero Calf Guards
The Light Speed Aero Calf Guards ($80) are the lowest cost way into the aero story. They are made from advanced aerodynamic fabrics to reduce drag and help you move with total control, which makes them an easy add-on for anyone chasing seconds.
Which one is for you
- First race or sprint distance: the Core Trisuit.
- Olympic to half distance: the Aero Sleeved Trisuit.
- Long course racing: the Light Speed React Trisuit.
- Swimming that needs a lift: the Propel:2.
- Serious open water racing: the Propel Pro.
- Small marginal gains: the Light Speed Aero Calf Guards.
If you are training towards a big race, our guide to whether the Garmin Fenix 9 is worth upgrading to is a good companion read, and right now you can get it from Kogan on the BlackFriday Sales
At a glance
- Light Speed React Sleeved Trisuit: long course flagship, $500
- Aero Sleeved Trisuit: mid distance, $350
- Core Trisuit: sprint and beginners, $220
- Propel:2 Wetsuit: buoyancy focused, $900
- Propel Pro Wetsuit: top tier, $1,200
- Light Speed Aero Calf Guards: easy add-on, $80
The verdict
The range is organised: a clear step from first race suit to flagship, and two wetsuits for two kinds of swimmer. The rigorous wind tunnel testing behind this range shows these suits deliver real, measurable results. They are not just for the elite either. Whether it is a training day or race day, a sprint or an Ironman, there is a suit here built to help you go faster and feel better doing it.
