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Long course triathlete Jenny Lucas-Hill has been taking the new Zoggs Hypex Pro FS triathlon wetsuit for a splash, testing it out in the sea off the Suffolk coast and in the Main Danube canal in Hipoltstein as she tapered down for Challenge Roth.
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When it comes to entering the triathlon wetsuit market, Zoggs have gone beyond simply dipping their toe in the water. Making a pretty big splash with their vast new range of both triathlon and open water swimming wetsuits. Zoggs have launched a total of six triathlon-specific wetsuits covering different price points and buoyancy profiles. Plus a further four dedicated open water swimming wetsuits. And while we may tend to associate the brand more with pool swimwear and accessories (because who hasn’t had to buy an emergency pair of Zoggs goggles from the reception desk at their local pool at least once in their triathlon life!), I was interested to see how this latest foray into the world of open water and high performance triathlon wetsuits would measure up compared with some of the more traditionally triathlon-centric brands.
I’ve been testing out the Zoggs Hypex Pro FS triathlon wetsuit – a mid-range, neutral buoyancy wetsuit promising superb flexibility and freedom of movement.
Summary
The Hypex Pro FS wetsuit might not have some of the high tech bells and whistles you’ll find on other triathlon wetsuits. There’s no mention of bio-rubber, fancy integrated air bubbles or go-faster catch panels. But the lack of frills certainly doesn’t let this suit down. In fact, it’s incredibly comfortable to swim in. Offering great flexibility and a natural feeling in the water, with no sensation of fighting against the neoprene. It’s also super easy to get on and off, and you can customise the arm and leg cuff lengths – ideal for fast transitions.
Add in what is – in my opinion – one of the best-looking wetsuit designs out there at the moment. And this is a wetsuit that very nearly had me tempted to break the ‘no new kit on race day’ rule at Challenge Roth. Just be aware that focusing on your body position is a must with this wetsuit – the neutral buoyancy profile means you can’t rely on your wetsuit to do the heavy lifting for you.
Initial impressions
First things first let’s talk about the design. The Zoggs Hypex Pro FS triathlon wetsuit is earning itself some seriously strong style points here, with its striking turquoise blue on black design. It gives off a super cool Poison Ivy vibe, which I’m definitely here for.
But design is probably the least important factor when it comes to choosing a wetsuit. Thankfully this isn’t a case of style over substance. Out of the box, the Yamamoto 39 neoprene feels premium, and buttery soft to touch. Zoggs say the Hypex construction improves the ‘neoprene elongation’ and the wetsuit does feel nice and stretchy when you’re handling it, without feeling like it’s going to tear at first use.
It’s really easy to put on, and even on dry land there isn’t any uncomfortable tightness around the neck. At 2mm, the neoprene is slightly thicker around the shoulders than my current race wetsuit of choice (the Sumarpo Vanguard) but the 1.5mm under the arms and along the sides of the core seems to compensate for this and overall – it doesn’t feel at all restrictive to swim in.
FIT
Going by the Zoggs size chart, I was right on the cusp of being either an XS or a S in this wetsuit. And while I think I could have made the XS work, thanks to how stretchy the lining seems to be. I’ve got previous with getting cramp if a wetsuit is too tight around my calves so I decided to go for the S. It fits really nicely, and while it’s not a vacuum-pack fit (I can easily do it up by myself, which I prefer anyway!) so far I’ve not noticed any excessive water ingress – nobody likes the ‘basking shark’ effect.
It’s worth noting that Zoggs have created all the wetsuits in the range with customisable sleeve and leg lengths – with notches marked on the wetsuit. This is a nice touch if you’re between sizes as it makes it easier to cut the sleeves/legs to size, without worrying that you’re going to destroy your new wetsuit. The flip side is that where other wetsuit brands offer in-between sizes to give options for a variety of builds (such as small-tall or sizing designed to fit a shorter, stockier build better). Zoggs currently just have your standard XS-XL sizes.
Comfort & PERFORMANCE
Given how comfortable this wetsuit felt on dry land, it’s perhaps no surprise that it’s also ultra-comfortable to swim in once you’re in the water. The thinner 1.5mm neoprene panels along the side of the torso and underneath the arm pits give a good level of flexibility that makes it easy to turn the arms over and get good rotation, without feeling like you’re fighting against the wetsuit.
The neoprene around the back of the neck is also pretty soft, which has meant so far – even while sea swimming – I’ve not had any issues with back of the neck chafe. The neutral buoyancy profile means this wetsuit feels really ‘natural’ to swim in – and performance-wise, I did feel like I was swimming better than usual as a result. I’m one of those strange anomaly folks who is way faster in the pool, non-wetsuit, than I am in open water. The Zoggs Hypex Pro FS is the closest I’ve felt to my pool swimming self while in open water, which I really liked.
Usually though, I’d opt for a wetsuit with more buoyancy in the legs for Ironman distance racing. I tested this suit out while tapering down for Challenge Roth, so I’ve only swum up to a max of 40 minutes at a time in it so far. So while the neutral buoyancy made it easier for me to kick more naturally and therefore swim faster, I’ll need to use it for some of my longer swims as I head into my next training block to see if once fatigue kicks in, I end up suffering from the dreaded sinky legs. With neutral buoyancy, comes the need to really fine tune your body position – there’s no hiding.
All that being said, I liked the feel of swimming in this wetsuit so much that I did very nearly consider breaking the ‘no new gear on race day’ rule to wear it for Challenge Roth. It was only the lack of buoyancy in the lower body, and the lack of longer swims wearing it in training, that meant I still favoured my trusty Sumarpo Vanguard in the end. The good news is that if – like me – you have a bit of a co-dependent relationship with buoyancy. Zoggs have also released a wetsuit at a similar price point (the Predator Pro) which has more buoyancy in the legs, and comes loaded with the added buoyancy of the Aerodome technology which I really like on the Sumarpo Vanguard.
DURability
Obviously it’s a little early for me to be delivering a verdict on durability, given that I’m only a few weeks into testing out this wetsuit. But so far, I’ve not encountered any issues. The zip feels sturdy, and the neoprene – while super stretchy and soft to touch – doesn’t feel flimsy.
And even while putting the wetsuit on and taking it off in a hurry – there’s nothing like the brisk easterly breeze coming off the North Sea first thing in the morning to make you take a somewhat unceremonious approach to wetsuit removal. So far I’ve managed to avoid putting any nails through it. So far, so good on the durability front.
VERDICT
The Hypex Pro FS triathlon wetsuit is a strong newcomer to the triathlon wetsuit scene. It’s comfortable, flexible and the ease of removal means it’ll certainly perform well on triathlon race day.
I expected not to like swimming in it due to the neutral buoyancy profile, but so far I’ve been pleasantly surprised with how good this wetsuit has made me feel in the water. For shorter swims, it’s not an issue at all – but I need to test it out over longer distances to see if I slip back into my old lazy-legs habits. Aside from the buoyancy profile, my only other concern with this wetsuit is whether the thinner 3mm neoprene will mean I get colder, sooner during longer swims. Again – time (and water temperature) will tell. Like for like, with a wetsuit such as the Sumarpo Vanguard I reviewed earlier in the year – you’re not getting quite as many features for your money with the Zoggs Hypex. But for style points – the Zoggs Hypex Pro wins, no contest.
Overall, for comfort, performance and style – the Zoggs Hypex Pro FS is ticking a lot of boxes. And if you’re a swimmer who doesn’t like the unnatural, ‘swimming downhill’ feeling of wearing a high buoyancy wetsuit, the Hypex Pro will certainly be a great option. I’ll be testing this out further during my longer swims as I build up to my next Ironman distance race in a few weeks to see if I could consider racing in it. The confidence boost of wearing a wetsuit that makes you feel like you’ve turned up to the start line dressed as super hero could surely shave off a few seconds from the swim split, right!?
