Jim Joyner

The TYR brand was founded in 1985 by Steve Furniss and Joseph DiLorenzo in California. Steve Furniss is a former Olympic Bronze medal winner and was the captain of the 1976 U.S. Olympic swim team while Joseph DiLorenzo is the owner and president of TYR sports and its sister company Swimwear Anywhere Inc.  TYR was initially formed to serve the growing swimming market. They aimed to serve this market on the basis of suits made to fulfill both fun and performance factor. Now the products of TYR brand are distributed in over 40 countries worldwide. The products of this brand are rich in quality and have been worn by many Olympic Gold Medalists and Ironman World Champions. Ariana Kukros, the World Champion in 2009 and 2-time Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Grevers wore TYR performance swimwear.  We have always appreciated TYR’s fit, and especially the durability of its products.  In our experience, TYR’s triathlon products tend to have a longer lifespan than many other products of similar price points.  In addition to a good line of wetsuits, TYR also makes triathlon shorts, suits, and tops, making it one of the more complete makers of triathlon gear. The TYR wetsuit naming convention is simple. Everything they offer is named a TYR Hurricane, and the higher the Category, the higher-end the wetsuit. A Hurricane Category 5 is the top end wetsuit, while the Hurricane Category 1 is the entry-level wetsuit. Top End:   The TYR Category 5 Hurricane is their top of the line wetsuit. It has a 360 degree core stabilization system, which is actually a panel on the wetsuit surrounding the abdomen and provides a tightening effect. This 360 degree core stabilization system maintains your body position while swimming. TYR Category 5 Hurricane provides free motion to triathletes who do not want to remain constrained around their neck and arms areas. Most athletes prefer this free motion and look for suits that make them feel comfortable. This triathlon wetsuit is similar to the Yamamoto SCR Rubber which is the lightest and most elastic material available in the market. The list price of this swimsuit is around $625. The TYR Category 5 Hurricane has firm fitting wrist cuffs that keep the water away from your wrists and Quick Release Ankle Cuffs allow water to slide from your hands to feet. In a gist, this wetsuit helps you keep moving and does not resist your movement under water. It is not a regular training suit for the first-timer, but if you are an experienced triathlete in search of a suit that should be light and good in performance, you can opt for this suit.  It is in a category with some of the best triathlon wetsuits on the market from other makers like Blue Seventy and Orca, and it holds its own against them. Mid Range   For about $175 less than the Category 5, the TYR Hurricane Category 3 offers triathletes a great wetsuit with many features of higher-end suits in a more affordable package. Like the Category 5, TYR uses the 360 Core Stabilization system on the Category 3 wetsuit, as well as the quick release ankle cuffs and the form fitting wrist cuffs. The major differences between the 3 and the 5 is that you won’t get the same light rubber in areas where stretch and flexibility are key, and the inside of the suit is not lined with the same “jersey fabric” for increased comfort. Another feature that the Category 3 shares with the Category 5 is the catch panel on the wetsuit forearms. Like some other manufacturers are attempting to do, TYR puts thick graded panels on the forearms to provide for a stronger swim stroke for the triathlete. Features such as the neck and zipper are of good quality, but generally comparable to that of other makers’ wetsuits at this particular price point. In short, if you are looking for a high quality wetsuit suitable for longer swims, but without the frills of the high-end suits, the TYR Category 3 Hurricane is worth a look. A strong case could be made that the Category 3 Hurricane is the best all-around combination of performance and value from the TYR lineup. Entry Level   The entry-level TYR wetsuit is the Category 1 Hurricane. The Category 1 is a good all-around wetsuit, with TYR’s base-level neoprene, and the ankle and wrist cuffs of the higher-end suits to aid in fast removal. TYR’s shoulder range-of-motion engineering in the Categories 3 and 5 have also made their way to the TYR Category 1 Hurricane. What you give up with the Category 1 vs. the Category 3 or 5 are two of the key performance features that more experienced racers or those swimming longer distances may look for. Namely, the 360 Core Stabilization System is not included, causing the swimmer to perhaps not sit as high in the water while swimming, and the forearm panels that provide wearers of higher-end wetsuits with stronger strokes are not built in to the TYR.  Still, the Category 1 is a good all-around wetsuit and very suitable for those who are getting into the sport of triathlon.  Depending on what price you can find it at (wetsuits are notorious for being on sale), this is a solid all-around wetsuit that goes head-to-head with other entry level and very comparable suits from other makers, such as the Orca S3 or the Quintana Roo Ultrafull.  

The Volt from Xterra is an absolute steal at an MSRP of $99, which is not much more than what you can rent a wetsuit for these days. The Volt is a sleeveless suit that debuted in 2010 and has quickly become a favorite of triathletes looking for performance on a budget. It’s also filling a niche as the low-cost training suit that more serious athletes are wearing to keep from abusing that ultra-expensive race suit. While perhaps not a suit you would buy for years of use or an Ironman, this suit has its place for the budget-minded. One of the first things that you notice about the Volt is the sleek fit – not what you’d typically expect from a $99 suit. This is probably the key difference between the Volt and entry-level suits from other brands. Instead of adding expense with the latest technical fabrics, Xterra has put fit front and center with the Volt, striving to provide a high end racing fit on an entry-level wetsuit. Where other suits use 5mm Yamamoto neoprene, the Volt uses thinner GKA Neoprene – 3mm in the front and 2mm in the back. The thinner material gives it a sleek fit, although the compromise is reduced buoyancy. That trade-off may not be right for every athlete- however, if you are a strong swimmer or compete in shorter distances, you might not notice or care about the difference. The Volt uses Xterra’s stretchy X-flex liner throughout to provide maximum movement in the suit, which means it’s actually pretty comfortable. The sleeveless design also means that you don’t have to worry about how the suit changes your stroke – always a hot-button issue with full sleeve models. The collar is generous and cut lower than most wetsuits, making it really comfortable as well, at least as far as wetsuits go. While some of the other Xterra wetsuits have a reputation for snug fitting collars, the collar on the Volt sits low enough that it’s not a problem for the majority of neck sizes. All of the Xterra wetsuits, including the Volt, have X-Max Seam Seal technology. Joining fabric panels are glued together end-to-end and then blind stitched from the inside. Xterra claims this produces a more durable seam because the stitch never penetrates through the top layer of neoprene, eliminating the possibility of thread snagging or unraveling. These types of claims are always hard the judge, but it seems to make sense, and this type of flat seam stitching is definitely more comfortable against the skin. The Volt is also coated with Xterra’s X-Slice coating. This is supposed to provide reduced drag in the water. I don’t expect that it’s going to be as slick as the latest SCS coatings from Yamamoto, but then again, it’s a $99 suit. It’s actually pretty amazing that you can even get a coated suit at this pricing, period. All in all, the Volt really looks like a suit to check out, whether as your first suit or as a practice suit. The $99 price point is something new in triathlon specific wetsuits. Early race reviews have been positive, and the Volt as gotten some nice industry press as well. Expect to see a lot more of these coming to a race near you in the upcoming season.