Ironman Race Kit: The Wetsuit, Trisuit and Details That Matter
What to race an Ironman in, from the wetsuit to the race belt, with kit developed alongside the Zone3 team of athletes.
Date:
April 23, 2025
Time:
4 min
For an Ironman, the kit that matters most is a wetsuit that saves energy in the swim, a trisuit built for hours in the aero position, goggles you can sight through, and small details like an aero race belt.
This is how the Zone3 range covers each one, and what our athletes have taught us along the way.
An Ironman is a long day, and small things get bigger as it goes on. A collar that rubs for ten minutes in training rubs for an hour on race day. A pad that feels fine on a two-hour ride tells a different story five hours in. The kit that serves you best is the kit you stop noticing.
What wetsuit should you wear for an Ironman?
The best Ironman wetsuit is one that fits well, keeps your body position high and leaves your shoulders free for 3.8km, so you reach T1 with energy to spend.
Two suits sit at the top of the Zone3 range. The Vanquish-X is the most efficient wetsuit Zone3 makes. In independent testing by Loughborough University Sport it delivered up to 10.3% more efficient strokes, and up to 25% reduced physiological load at the same effort, which is exactly what you want over a long swim.
The Aspire is the race-day benchmark, rated 98% by 220 Triathlon in 2025. Both carry Pro speed cuffs for a quicker exit.
Fit matters more than any feature, so the Wetsuit Guide is the place to compare the range and find your size. Check your race's wetsuit rules before the day too, as they depend on the water temperature.
What trisuit is best for an Ironman?
Over a full distance, comfort on the bike decides as much as speed, and no trisuit is limited to a distance. What changes is time in the saddle, which makes the pad the deciding factor.
The Lava is the long-course trisuit, built for sustained time in the aero position, with the Super Tri 2 pad on men's suits and the Tri Comp on women's. Its Premium Italian integrated leg grippers are bonded into an extended panel with no extra seam, and it won 220 Triathlon's Editor's Choice and Best on Test in 2019.
The Aeroforce-X II is the fastest trisuit Zone3 makes. It was developed with aero specialists NoPinz and made in the UK, and its Cytech pad is rated for every distance up to full.
Which goggles work for a long open-water swim?
Over a long swim, goggles need to seal comfortably and give you a clear view every time you sight. The Venator-X is the flagship open-water racer in the Zone3 range, and the Volare is our race goggle, rated 94% and Best on Test by 220 Triathlon. The Goggle Guide compares the full range.
Does an aero race belt make a difference?
Yes. The Zone3 x NoPinz Speedbelt was wind tunnel and track tested, and saves over 8 watts against a standard race belt.
Against a flapping race number the saving is 13 watts. Across a full-distance triathlon, that adds up to around seven minutes. It is used by Casper Stornes and Kieran Lindars.
What our athletes have taught us about race day
We work with athletes at every level, from club ambassadors to professionals at the IRONMAN World Championship, and what they tell us goes into the next version of the kit.
British IRONMAN-distance record holder Kieran Lindars puts real emphasis on his pre-swim routine, with a dry warm-up using resistance bands and banded paddles before he gets in the water. 2025 IRONMAN World Champion Casper Stornes built his title in Nice on careful preparation at every level. Their full routines are in our guide to triathlon training routines, rituals and mental resets.
Get the wetsuit, trisuit and goggles right first, then look at details like your race belt, because over a full distance they add up.
FAQS
What wetsuit is best for an Ironman?
The best Ironman wetsuit is one that fits well and keeps your body position high over 3.8km. In the Zone3 range, the Vanquish-X is the most efficient wetsuit we make and the Aspire is the race-day benchmark. The Wetsuit Guide compares the full range.
Can you race an Ironman in any trisuit?
Yes. No trisuit is limited to a distance. What changes over a full distance is time in the saddle, so a long-course pad like the Lava's is built for those hours.
How much time does an aero race belt save?
The Zone3 x NoPinz Speedbelt saves over 8 watts against a standard race belt and 13 watts against a flapping number, which is around seven minutes across a full-distance triathlon.
What goggles are best for open-water racing?
Goggles for open-water racing need a comfortable seal and a clear view when you sight. The Venator-X is Zone3's flagship open-water racer, and the Volare was rated 94% and Best on Test by 220 Triathlon.
