Product Overview
NU is a Spanish company, born from the creative mind of Xavi García Carabí , a former professional polo player and current triathlete, trailrunner, and swimrunner. Xavi endeavors to create products that not only complement the athlete in the sport they are pursuing, but also become so seamless and comfortable that you don’t even notice them. NU currently develops and sells a series of swimrun wetsuits, calf/thigh/shoe floats, headbands, race shirts, and a swimrun-specific sports bra. The NU Triton 2.0 wetsuit is an evolved version of the Triton with more built-in flotation in the chest and thighs and an easier-to-access back pocket with zipper. Swimrun Labs took this wetsuit to the deserted islands of the Sea of Cortez in Mexico for open ocean swimming and technical trail running complete with rocky scrambles. We look forward to further testing this wetsuit at the 2020 ÖTILLÖ Catalina race.
Disclaimer: Nu provided this product to Swimrun Labs at no cost for testing purposes; however, Swimrun Labs did not receive any payment from NU or its competitors to write this product review.
Specs
- Features: Front zip, centered back pocket with zip, removable sleeves, whistle
- Material: Yamamoto 38 & 39 neoprene (1.5mm under arms and between legs, 2mm sleeves, 8mm leg and chest panels)
- Color: Black with bright yellow accents
- Weight (dry): 29 – 53 oz. (depending on size)
- Sizes tested: small and medium (also available in XS, L, and XL)
- Cost: $277 (includes tax) + $35 (international shipping)
Initial Impressions
- Fit: For a unisex suit, this wetsuit fits various body types surprisingly well. The female testers did notice a minimal amout of excess fabric bulk in the crotch; but with the neoprene only 1.5mm here, it was negligible. Female testers also noted gapping around the neck.
- Sizing: As a 5’6″, 137 lb. female, the sizing chart indicates I am a small; however, the medium fit perfect without any water seeping in on the swims. However, it did seem long in the torso which would explain the gaping neckline. I may race in the small for Catalina.
- Aesthetics: The bright yellow accents on the sleeves and side panels are great for visibility in the water.
- Perceived value to the swimrunner: For the features this wetsuit provides (strategic flotation, removable sleeves, large storage pocket), the mid level price-point is a great value for the more competitive or experienced swimrun athlete looking to upgrade an entry level suit.
Testing Results Breakdown
With the additional flotation panels on the front of the thighs and chest, we did not expect this wetsuit to perform so well on land. But the 1.5mm neoprene between the thighs and at the hip crease makes this wetsuit barely noticeable during the run, particularly on uphill climbs where we tend to really feel an excess or bulky neoprene at the hips. With padding comes insulation which is great for colder weather races. However in the deserts of Mexico with air temperatures between 75-80 degrees F, the testers were anxious to cab down after a mile or so. And here’s where this suit has some room for improvement (see Performance in Transition below).
The NU Triton 2.0 wetsuit excels in the water. For swimrunners who are more runner than swimmer, the fixed flotation panels on front of the chest and each thigh provide the needed buoyancy to achieve better body position in the water. For swimmrunners who are more swimmer than runner, the added flotation makes swimming without a pull buoy possible, or swimming only with calf floats. The 1.5mm neoprene around the shoulders also provides great flexibility for effortless mobility and range of motion. As previously mentioned, the neck fit was not perfect and allowed for water entry at the neck and thus added drag. That said, the water entry stopped right at the neck, and did not flush through any other parts of the suit- a testament to the truly versatile fit.
To cab down in this wetsuit not only requires all hands on deck from your race partner, but also requires mild shoulder dislocation. While cabbing down efficiently in a front zipper-only wetsuit is never easy, the tight fit at the sleeves to prevent water seepage on the swims makes this suit slightly more challenging than others. The zipper length is also just a bit shorter than other suits we tried, likely another contributing factor to our cab down difficulties.
As this wetsuit has yet to be tested for an entire race season, we cannot give this suit a valid durability rating. However, it did hold up to the multiple rock scrambles without a nick or tear.
Overall Summary
- Buoyancy
- Shoulder comfort
- Pocket size and accessibility
- Comfort on runs
- Value
- Difficult to cab down
- Neck fit
Bottom Line
NU has paid attention to detail with this Triton upgrade, making a suit that excels both in the water and most notably in the freedom of motion it provides on runs. For those more competitive swimrunners considering racing without a pull buoy or for a little extra flotation on the swims, this wetsuit is a great option.
Still not enough information? See how this wetsuit compares to the best out there from our friends at World of Swimrun.
The Swimrun Partner: Through Sea and Forest ‘Til Finish Do We Part