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Born Bound's latest release - the Skärvatten Pro tri suit - has been credited by elite triathlete Kieran Lindars with helping him save a whopping 14 watts on the bike. But do those aero gains come at the cost of comfort? Or have Born Bound managed to strike the perfect balance? TRI247's resident long distance AG triathlete Jenny Lucas-Hill has been putting it to the test during her winter Zwift races to find out.
After being suitably impressed with Born Bound’s OG tri suit – the Skärvatten – I was interested to see how their latest release, the Skärvatten Pro would compare. Particularly after Kieran Lindars mentioned that the tri suit played a huge role in helping him save vital watts on the bike – contributing to his career-changing 2nd place finish at IRONMAN Frankfurt earlier this year.
Born Bound have worked closely with leading high performance cycling apparel brand, Nalini, in the development of the Pro version of their Skärvatten tri suit. Completing rigorous testing to make the suit as aero as possible.
But will all that aerodynamic performance come at the cost of comfort and/or durability? Triathlon race season is very much over here in the UK (with much of the country covered in a dusting of snow as I type). So to suitably put this women’s aero tri suit through its paces, I turned to the next best thing: my weekly Zwift Racing League efforts. Because if anything was going to highlight any points of discomfort – red lining it on the turbo trainer week in and week out would certainly do it.
Summary
The Born Bound Skärvatten Pro tri suit puts performance front and centre, without cutting corners on comfort or durability. Rigorous testing as part of pro triathlete Kieran Lindars’ 30 watts project suggests this suit will be fast on the bike, saving Lindars 14 watts. You’d be hard pressed to find a more cost effective way of saving watts. I’ll need to wait until next race season to test out the impact on CdA myself. But so far in testing those watt-saving aero gains haven’t come at the cost of comfort.
The tightness around the quads I mentioned in my review of the original Skärvatten tri suit isn’t an issue here as the fabric on the shorts has more stretch. And the upper body of the suit fits like a second skin, without being restrictive. It’s also been lightweight and breathable enough to wear during intense indoor training sessions without overheating. All of which means this tri suit would be ideal for long distance racing as well as the short and spicy stuff.
The design is stronger than the subtle stylings of the OG Skärvatten – some will love it, others might prefer the more dialled back navy. And you’ve still only got two rear pockets, so long distance racers will need a race belt with nutrition storage if you want to carry everything with you on the run course. But overall, Born Bound have done an excellent job at bringing a new aero tri suit to the table – without an inflated price tag to match. In fact, this suit comes in a little less expensive than the original Skärvatten!
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Initial impressions
The most notable difference between the new Skärvatten Pro tri suit and its predecessor is the far bolder design. Where the OG suit from Born Bound was an all-over navy affair with understated detailing around the shoulders. The Pro is more of a stand out tri suit, featuring a print that’s sort of snake skin meets floral. It’s not necessarily a design I would have chosen, but it’s actually grown on me since the first unboxing. And for those who want a tri suit that’s easier to spot on the race course, it’ll tick that box.
The other main difference is the fabric on the lower half of the suit. I mentioned the slightly unforgiving coated fabric on the shorts of the Skärvatten suit. The shorts on the Pro version are softer and stretchier which bodes well for comfort over the longer distances. The pad is also reassuringly plush – similar to the pad on the TRI-FIT GEO I raved about earlier this year.
Overall, while this suit might have a focus on aerodynamics it certainly doesn’t seem to have cut corners on the comfort front. And despite coming in at a lower price point than the OG Skärvatten – it still very much feels like a premium suit too.
FIT
I’ve been testing out a size small in this tri suit, and like the original Born Bound Skärvatten suit I’d say it’s very true to size. At 163cm and a UK size 6/8, the size small in this suit fits closely enough to give all the aero benefits it’s designed for, without feeling restrictive.
I’ve also found the Skärvatten Pro a touch comfier around the legs compared to the original suit, because the material on the shorts has a little more stretch. You do lose a bit of that compressive feel, but for long distance racing you don’t really want any tightness squeezing on your quads.
Overall, any concerns that an increased focus on aerodynamics would mean getting into this tri suit felt like trying to get into shrink wrap were quickly put to rest. It fits well and the aero gains haven’t come at the cost of freedom of movement.
Comfort & PERFORMANCE
Born Bound have pitched the Skärvatten Pro tri suit as being the ultimate choice for ‘marginal gains nuts’. Which means you know a huge amount of time and effort has gone into maximising performance. The brand have worked closely with Nalini – an Italian apparel brand who engineer cycling race suits for the pro peloton – to create a tri suit which aims to outperform the fastest competitor suits.
As you’d expect from the latest suits we’ve seen hit the triathlon market in recent years, this means you’ve got a mixture of textured fabric and smooth fabric to optimise airflow. But what’s interesting is that Born Bound have been able to achieve their aero gains without having to resort to a double-layer construction. This means that where other aero tri suits can feel overly restrictive and lack breathability, the Born Bound Skärvatten Pro easily stretches and moves with you. The brand have conducted rigorous aero testing on the bike. And according to their data, they were able to save PRO triathlete Kieran Lindars 14 watts compared to another (unnamed) brand’s acclaimed aero tri suit.
Unfortunately I didn’t have the Skärvatten Pro when I did my recent aero testing with Body Rocket, so I can’t speak to how much it impacted my CdA. But I have been putting in some fairly tough turbo trainer rides wearing this suit – including several hideously sweaty Zwift races. So what I can speak to is the comfort and breathability.
The first time I wore this suit I went all in and ended up being on the turbo trainer for 2hrs once I’d done my warm up, a team time trial race and a long cool down. Given that I’ve run out of chamois cream, this could have been a regrettable move. But thankfully the tri suit was comfortable from start to finish. The fabric is super soft, lightweight and breathable enough to withstand the demands of indoor training. The pad is ultra-comfortable and definitely ideal for long distance racing. And while I was concerned the sewn seams on the leg grippers might chafe or dig in, they weren’t an issue at all.
So far, I’ve been really impressed with how this suit has performed from a comfort perspective. The proof will be in the watts when outdoor TT bike season rolls around again next year.
DURability
While the fabric on the Born Bound Skärvatten Pro is nice and lightweight, it doesn’t feel flimsy. Other ultra-aero tri suits have well and truly focused on performance over practicality which just isn’t realistic for age-groupers who need their kit to last. The seams aren’t taped like those on the OG the Skärvatten tri suit, but they still feel plenty sturdy. And key stress points like the front zip and the attachments for the rear pockets are reinforced.
I’ve been throwing the tri suit in the washing machine with the rest of my laundry and it’s come out perfectly fine each time. As ever, a full season of wear will be the only way to truly tell how durable this suit is. But so far, it seems like gear that’s built to last.
VERDICT
From a pure comfort stand point, the Born Bound Skärvatten Pro out performs it’s predecessor. Which isn’t to say the OG suit is uncomfortable at all, but a few of the little bug bears like the lack of stretch on the shorts and the slightly tight leg grippers have been resolved by the Pro version. And the lightweight material makes the Pro feel like a tri suit you could comfortably wear for a full Iron distance race. The chamois pad is super supportive, too. If you’re someone who’s wasted precious time in T1 getting changed into cycling bib shorts because you can’t stand riding long distances in a tri suit. Give this Born Bound tri suit a go.
What you gain in comfort and aero performance, you do lose in additional features compared to the original Skärvatten – such as the taped seams and silicone dimples on the outside of the pad to help you stay situated on the saddle. But it’s not often a brand brings in an aero upgrade that’s actually less expensive than their first release. At $295/£230, this is still a premium suit – but if it can save you as many watts as Born Bound’s testing protocols suggest, you’ll struggle to find a better price-per-watt saving.
If I’m being picky, I’d like to see a few more designs/colourways available to appeal to a wider range of tastes. And, as ever, as a long distance triathlete who likes to carry all my gels rather than relying on aid stations/wasting time grabbing a special needs bag/having my race belt bursting at the seams. I want more pockets! While I appreciate hip pockets would probably negate some of the aero gains, some internal pockets on the front of the suit could be a consideration for future iterations to make this truly long-distance friendly.
Overall, Born Bound have done a great job of balancing comfort with aero performance here to create a tri suit that can certainly contend with many of the mainstream brands.
