about zone3
In sport, we’re constantly looking to do more, push harder, dig deeper, be better versions of ourselves. We apply the same attitude to Zone3, creating athlete-approved, performance kit for serious competitors, seasoned athletes, beginners and enthusiasts alike.
Everyone has their reasons for showing up - to train, to improve, to test the limits. At Zone3, we’re here for all of it. We design performance kit that’s built to meet the demands of those who give their all. Whether you're tackling your first race or striving for a new record, our products are made to support your journey, fuel your ambition, and help you feel at home in the water and beyond.
Passion Meets Performance
We swim, we ride, we run. For some, it’s about the thrill, the freedom, the headspace, and the sheer joy of movement. For others, it’s a way of life - an identity shaped by every training session, race, and personal best. No matter where you stand, we understand that drive because we share it.
That same relentless pursuit fuels our innovation in our designs. Every product we create is the result of real-world testing, athlete insights, and cutting-edge design, built to help you move better, feel stronger, and go faster.
If you’re chasing marginal gains, looking for any and every competitive advantage, seeking ways to push beyond your current limits, you’ll find them in our products. But if you just want kit that looks good, feels good, lasts well and helps you get the most out of your chosen activity, it’ll do all that too, athlete-approved and proven performance built in.
For over 20 years, we’ve been on this journey. Learning, refining, and evolving alongside swimmers, triathletes, and endurance athletes across the world. From first-toe-in-the-water to world championship titles, wherever you are on your path, we’re with you - because we’re just like you.
Our Founder
Zone3’s founder, James Lock was a World Champion driven by a relentless pursuit of speed, efficiency, and innovation.
Turning professional, he competed at the highest level for over five years, refining his understanding of what it takes to win.
James saw opportunities for improvement in the products he was using, margins where time could be saved, efficiency gained, and performance maximized.
He started out by creating wetsuits with radical new designs and materials. This included the original Aspire wetsuit, which was literally game-changing. Not just for James and his fellow pro athletes: it turned out everyone wanted a wetsuit that was easier and more comfortable to wear, and allowed them to get more from their sport at every level. Two decades later, those same products, evolved and optimized, remain industry leaders, setting the benchmark for performance swimwear.
Awards & Milestones
Zone3 started as a one-man mission to make better wetsuits. Today, we’ve grown into one of the world’s most trusted triathlon and open-water swim brands — and along the way, we’ve been proud to receive recognition at the highest levels and mark some important milestones in our journey.
- The King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade (2024) – A defining moment that recognised our global growth and the dedication that goes into every product we make.
- The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation (2018) – Honouring the athlete-led design and innovation that remain at the core of everything we do.
- Employee Ownership (2024) – In 2024, we became employee-owned, ensuring the company’s future is guided by the people who live and breathe it every day.
- Product Accolades – From Triathlete magazine naming our Vision Wetsuit of the Year 2024, to multiple “Best Wetsuit” awards in 220 Triathlon, our products continue to set the standard for performance and innovation.
These achievements are more than milestones. They reflect the values that drive us — innovation, community, and a commitment to helping athletes at every level get the most out of their time in the water.
The Foundation
1998 - 2003
Zone3 is Born
2006
Pioneering Products Launched
2009
Recognition Begins
2010
Olympic Presence
2012
Strategic Partnerships and Growth
2013 - 2015
Queen’s Award for Enterprise
2018
Adapting to Change
2020
Continued Demand and Partnerships
2021
Earth Conscious Design
2023
King’s Award for Enterprise
2024
James Lock, a national-level swimmer and runner, earns a sports scholarship for triathlon at Loughborough University. His passion for performance and innovation begins to take shape.
After graduating, James Lock wins a hot desk in the business centre at Loughborough University. Immersed in a world of innovation and surrounded by elite sport, the idea for Zone3 is born. His mission: to create world-class kit built for performance, with insight-driven by athletes, accessible to all.
Zone3 introduces its inaugural products, including the Aspire wetsuit with game-changing 'speed cuffs' engineered to slash transition times by making wetsuit removal faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever before.
The Aspire wetsuit receives a perfect 10/10 review from 220 Triathlon Magazine, marking the start of numerous accolades for Zone3's innovative designs.
Zone3 gains international exposure by sponsoring The Gambia's Olympic team and launches a Harrods-exclusive wetsuit, reflecting its growing reputation in elite sports circles.
Zone3 secures key partnerships, including with the London Triathlon, and experiences significant overseas growth, particularly in Scandinavia and the US with warehouses in the UK, Europe and USA.
Zone3 is honoured with the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, recognizing its dedication to quality and global reach.
The COVID-19 pandemic leads to a surge in open water swimming, with Zone3 adapting to meet increased demand, even creating the breaststroke-specific wetsuit, designed to support natural movement and comfort for swimmers of all levels in open water.
Zone3 experiences sustained demand for its products, bolstered by new partnerships, including with USA Triathlon, expanding its influence in the sport.
Zone3 develops B-Prene with Yamamoto, the world’s first biodegradable neoprene used in a triathlon wetsuit, delivering elite-level performance with a lower environmental impact.
Zone3 receives the prestigious King's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, reflecting its unwavering commitment to performance, innovation, and global community support. The B-Prene Vision Wetsuit wins Triathlete Magazine's 'Wetsuit of the Year 2024'
