By Melissa Bell
Most of my friends know I can’t stand wearing a triathlon kit; more specifically the shorts truly bother me. It’s true: I have always preferred a swimsuit for triathlons – something about growing up a swimmer makes you think when you put on anything else it will not only be uncomfortable but also cause too much drag in the water. These preferences have changed in recent years, being part of a great triathlon team and having to convert to a triathlon top and bottom. Now that I’ve switched I’ve tried a variety of tops and bottoms in an attempt to find the most comfortable.
When the Blueseventy products came to me I was a little hesitant. I had not yet found “the one” outfit for me. I gave it a shot, however, as I absolutely love my Blueseventy swimsuit, speedsuit and wetsuit. I was shocked at the realization of how well it fit! Blueseventy is a company with the motto “70% of the world is covered in water’’ so I have liked them from the beginning, knowing that swimming performance is their motto.
The Performance Tankini fits nice and snug around the chest, which allowed me to feel comfortable while swimming. Normally, tops are a little loose on the neck, causing me to feel like water would seep down and collect. Not this one; it was snug and still flexible enough to allow for full range of motion when swimming, mainly due to the lower pressure elastic on the shoulders. The built-in shelf bra suited my needs just fine. The midsections of most tri-tops tend to fit more “boyish” figures and for me they are often really straight and too tight. The Performance Tankini allowed room for my midsection and hit the curves appropriately and the material was a nice stretch that didn’t grab anywhere, i.e., I couldn’t see my love handles in this top at all! And it was a little longer than most tops with the same welded low-pressure gripper they use on their shorts on the bottom of the Tankini. This may sound funny but when you are running in the top it stays down and doesn’t ride up and reveal too much midriff. There is one rear pocket in the back to allow for training or race needs. The pocket construction is tight so it won’t allow water in while swimming. Last, there is an open area on the back that allows for more breathability.
Triathlon shorts are my nemesis. Being blessed with cycling thighs, it is incredibly hard to find a pair of shorts I like, ones that don’t squeeze too much on my cyclist quads. To worsen the shorts experience, I am allergic to some types of elastic on many brands of shorts. I usually have to wait until right before the race to put shorts on, then remove them immediately post-race; otherwise I risk getting an annoying rash. Probably too much information but it’s one of the reasons I really like the Performance Tri short from Blueseventy, as it has a lower pressure gripper on the leg, which alleviates my skin allergy and also eliminates sausage legs. Yep, we ladies know about sausage legs, and these shorts do not let it happen; I was jumping with joy! The comfort of the mid compression was nice, too, as my legs had free range of motion to both ride my bike and run. I finally found shorts that I am comfortable in and could wear around post-race. The shorts are a little long, with an eight-inch inseam, so they tend to come down closer to my knees. I’m not one to worry too much about the length but I know some women are. The one issue with the shorts, as with all other women’s cycling/triathlon shorts that I have, is the chamois. When it’s a women’s specific chamois, too much tends to be on the rear, whereas I would prefer more in the front for when I’m in the aero position. I do shorter distance races so it’s not a problem for me but I would love one day for a company to realize when women are in the aero position the padding in the chamois needs to be adjusted.
I was won over by this outfit from Blueseventy. The Performance Tankini and Performance Shorts are a great option at a great price. Both retail for $65 (each), and these days such prices are not too high for quality pieces of technical apparel. This is the first year I’m super excited to race in a triathlon top and shorts!
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Melissa Bell is an ASCM registered clinical exercise physiologist and store
manager of the Charlotte Inside-Out Sports store. She’s been active in the
triathlon community since moving to Charlotte in 2003. When she’s not
running, riding or swimming she’s enjoying vegan cupcakes at the local
deli.
