Blueseventy PZ4TX Tri Swimskin Men's

The governing body's tendency to keep a tight lid on what is and is not race legal in a triathlon can make successfully navigating an event a taxing endeavor before you even hit the swim. Racing bans certainly sent Blueseventy to the drawing board, but after countless prototypes and some Peterman esque dabbling in various exotic materials, the New Zealand based manufacturer finally produced the second generation in its USAT and WCT race legal swimskin line, the PZ4TX Tri Swimskin. Blueseventy has always put a premium on science over snake oil and proven results over fanciful marketing claims, and the PZ4TX reflects that. The Swimskin comprises four different materials, each serving a location specific function with an eye toward helping to propel you into T1. It leads into the water with a material that, though its low weight is a welcome subtraction, justifies having the pole position by dint of its hydrophobic properties. Since it shrugs off water, it both reduces drag and doesn't immediately add weight at the start of the swim, which translates to a more efficient swim that doesn't pull your torso and shoulders down. The latter benefit is especially helpful for beginning swimmers, but even the veteran water dogs among us will appreciate the help in maintaining form. The swimskin's back is divided in half, with the upper portion putting emphasis on gentle compression and heat reflection. This reduces fatigue and keeps the fit tight while also keeping the temperatures down. If the temperatures are high enough that you aren't using a wetsuit, then overheating can be a serious issue in longer events. The lower panel also does its part in this regard. It's made from a high stretch material that accommodates the less stretchy, more compressive areas of the suit while also facilitating temperature regulation during warm swims. Besides tying the suit together, the side panels serve two functions primarily. First, they're textured to improve hydrodynamics by guiding...