At Zone3, our community of Ambassadors and Athletes - from first-time triathletes to world-class competitors - are more than just wearers of our kit. They’re the heartbeat of our brand. They test it, race in it, push it to its limits and then tell us what works.
It doesn't matter if you're gearing up for your first sprint triathlon, chasing a new PB at your next Ironman, or cold water swimming through winter, you want to find the best triathlon kit or best open-water swim gear for you!
And what will help? Getting trusted opinions from those who are putting it through it's paces.
Our Athletes and Ambassadors reveal the kit they swear by: the wetsuits that help them not just 'survive the swim' but smash it, the trisuits that power them through the bike and run, and the goggles that deliver crystal-clear vision no matter the conditions.
Front Pack Swimmer
"This season I’ve absolutely loved racing in my Zone3 Aspire wetsuit. I made the switch mid year and immediately felt the difference, coming out with the front chase pack in both 70.3 swims in 27 minutes.
The flexibility of the material works perfectly with my shoulder mobility and longer limbs, giving me great freedom in the stroke while still providing the buoyancy and support I need to stay efficient in the water.
It’s helped me feel comfortable, streamlined and confident from the moment I dive in and I’m excited to keep pushing that momentum forward, hopefully lifting my swim performance to another level next year." @Laura Addie - Pro Triathlete
Seeing Clearly
"This year I have absolutely loved the Volare goggles.
I have done every race in them this year including the Ironman 70.3 World Champs, as well as all my training swims and never had any issues. Goggles can very often be unique and its often really hard to find a pair that fit your face perfectly and don't fog up. These have been great for me, super comfortable and barely noticeable which is exactly what I want from a set of goggles!
The range of lenses is also important as I've used both the clear and mirror lenses depending on the conditions which has meant I've had no issues with sighting in any of my races." @Matthew Collins - Pro Triathlete
Consistently swimming quicker
"2025 was a slightly unconventional season for me following knee surgery in January. While it limited my racing, it also gave me the opportunity to really double down on swimming rather than my usual triathlon-heavy focus.
That meant I was able to make full use of Zone3’s swim gear throughout the year. My standout piece of kit remains the Zone3 Vanquish X wetsuit, as it has for many seasons now. Coming from an open-water swimming background, the flexibility around the shoulders and arms is unmatched, allowing me to maintain a natural, powerful stroke without restriction. I put the Vanquish X to great use at the London Swim Serpentine, where I took first place in the Fast Wave, and it also helped me secure a top-10 overall swim split at IRONMAN 70.3 Duisburg.
Another piece of kit I was particularly excited about this year was the Zone3 Short Sleeve Swimskin. While all of my races ended up being wetsuit-legal, I spent a lot of time testing it at London Fields Lido. Having tested many swimskins over the years, I usually see gains of around 1–2 seconds per 100m, but with this swimskin I was consistently 3–4 seconds per 100m faster, making it comfortably the fastest swimskin I’ve ever used. The fit, compression and hydrodynamics are exceptional, and it’s a piece of kit I genuinely can’t wait to race in next season." @Alex.Lorca89
Holds it all
"Even out of season when transition zones feel a long way away, I have found the ZONE3 Transition Backpack to be a game changer.
When you’re off to the pool, it’s big enough to carry all your training toys and it’s got a separate “wetsuit compartment” where I chuck my wet kit when I’m done.
It doubles up as my work bag on office days - it’s the only backpack I’ve found that’s big enough to hold my laptop, run kit, towel and all my meals and snacks for the day. On these days, the “wetsuit compartment” gets repurposed to keep my trainers safely away from the rest of the clean contents of my bag.
It can also be used for race day - as a transition bag - holding all the different kit you need for a triathlon in pocktes that keep things separate and easy to find." @Alex Lambert
Swimming out from the crowd
"For me, my favourite piece of Zone3 kit has to be the Limited Edition Vanquish X Gold. It just fits perfectly. The thin neoprene panel around the shoulders eliminates any aches you might get when swimming long distance as it doesn't restrict you at all. Plus it stands out - being gold!
I swam the Swansea 3k swim in it this year (turned out to be 3.8k) and placed overall first Male. It was a very very lumpy swim making it a lot more effort, so much so that the Swansea Triathlon was cancelled the next day. So I was super happy with my result!" @Dan Evans
Clearly Sighting
"My favourite, and most used bit of kit this year has to be the Volare Goggles. From early morning swim sets in the pool, to weekend lake swims and through to race day.
We all know that goggles are an essential bit of kit for swimming but what I really love about the Volare goggles is the snug fit and all around vision so I can clearly sight in open water, they’re comfortable on my eyes for those long training days but still streamlined for race day.
I mix between the clear lenses and tinted depending on weather and visibility in open water." @ChloeDooley
Kit to Keep You Swimming Through Winter
"The Ti+ swimsuit is faultless to swim in – it has become my ‘go to’ suit year round. I’ve worn it in freezing temperatures and for the 5.25 miles of Coniston and it has not let me down.
It helps retain heat without the neoprene squeeze! This suit is sleek – a black slinky fabric with a titanium infused thermal lining. It still feels and looks like a high quality swimsuit, with great flexibility and comfort. Not only has it kept me warm in winter it has also protected my neon body in the summer months with its UPF50+ protection.
I can’t count how many times I have worn and washed this suit over the last 18 months and it is still in great condition.
The downside is that I wear it so much all my photos look the same!" @Livs_is_livs
"I particularly like the flexibility of my Yulex swimwear. I have the original blue Zone3 Yulex swimsuit and more recently the new two tone blue vest and shorts.
I love having the option to wear something a bit warmer for many reasons: I might be feeling a bit tired, not on top form, or perhaps swimming with a swim buddy who has a higher cold tolerance than me and can stay in longer. So wearing Yulex keeps my core warm and can extend my swim time. Especially important as I swim all year round in the Thames, in all weathers.
I also have the gloves and boots, which I wear for every swim in the winter, they are so soft and warm.... and more importantly really easy to get on and off.
My biggest swim adventure this year has been a self-organised swim holiday in the Isle of Skye at the end of October, with my swim buddy. We swam 12 times; in lochs, waterfalls and the sea. In temperatures ranging from 7 to 11 degrees. We both have Yulex kit and found it invaluable to get the most out of our swims and also to help prolong our waterfall swims where the temperature was the lowest.
My most joyful swim was the Agatha Christie event swim in Torquay in September. A 1 mile swim from Beacon Cove in some really quite choppy water (which meant it was shortened to a 500m swim). My Yulex suit helped my buoyancy and boosted my confidence that I wouldn't be too cold. I think the Hercule Poirot moustache added to the theme and style of the day!! It ensured that our swim group made the cover of the Torbay Weekly too." @Sue Wilson
"I absolutely love my Zone3 Thermal Aspire wetsuit. I swim all year round in the chilly North Sea (Sunderland) and this keeps me protected from the elements, along with the Thermo-Tech gloves, socks and hood, which enable me to stay in the water longer as the temperatures drop.
I wouldn't be swimming during the colder seasons without!" @Martin Weight
