The entry-level tri suit with a serious amount of performance for the price point – TRI-FIT VANGUARD review

When you hear ‘entry-level’ or ‘budget-friendly’ in reference to triathlon gear, it can be easy to assume that’s code for fine, functional, but nothing particularly special. But challenger brand TRI-FIT are never ones to settle for just “good enough”. After all, founder Dan Evans created the brand after getting frustrated on his own search for the perfect tri suit that would tick all the boxes.

So it’s perhaps no surprise that their new entry-level tri suit – the TRI-FIT VANGUARD – punches way above its weight for features and performance, at a pretty wallet-friendly price point. In fact, after testing it out over the last couple of months, I think this could be up there as one of the best entry-level tri suits out there for the 2025 season. Read on to find out why!

Key features

RRP £125 GBP / $170 USD / €146 EUR	Ultra-lightweight and breathable upper body fabric
Elastic Interface® IBIZA Tri Pad	Quick dry mesh material on the upper body
Full front access design with YKK zipper	Two rear pockets
Laser cut leg hems with silicone grippers	Sizing: XS-XL women’s / S-XXL men’s
Women’s suits available in black, wine red and plum	Men’s suits available in black, navy, dark grey

Summary: the TL;DR overview – Budget-friendly tri suit that packs in plenty of performance beyond the price point

This isn’t your typical entry-level tri suit. There are some small compromises compared to TRI-FIT’s top end suit, of course – they’ve had to bring the price point down somehow. But in practice, you’re still getting a serious amount of performance for your money. And the result is a tri suit that could quite easily contend with other significantly more expensive suits out there.

Pretty much every box is ticked on the comfort and practicality front – the TRI-FIT VANGUARD could certainly see you through an Ironman race. Essentials like the chamois pad and the fit are just as good as the high end models. And the mono-colour designs lend a sleek, high-end look, that’s anything but ‘my first tri suit’. If you’re on a tighter budget, the VANGUARD is going to give you plenty of return on your investment.

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In-depth review

So that’s the headlines. But if you want a deeper dive into all the features of the TRI-FIT VANGUARD tri suit, keep reading…

First impressions

For me, hearing something referred to as an ‘entry-level tri suit’ brings up memories of my first ever race suit. Made with old school swimming costume style material, with scratchy leg grippers that didn’t really stay put on my – at the time – scrawny little quads (9 years of tri training has sorted those out!). And a chamois pad that somehow made my saddle feel more uncomfortable, rather than less. So the first thing to establish here is that the TRI-FIT Vanguard is leaps and bounds away from a cheap and cheerful ‘entry-level’ tri suit.

The fabric feels premium. Small details you get on higher end suits like a soft zip guard at the chest and aero pockets have been retained. And the chamois pad looks and feels very similar to the one you’ll find on TRI-FIT’s more premium suits. In fact, I had to go and get my TRI-FIT EVO 2.3 out of its off season hibernation spot to compare the two side by side to really see just how TRI-FIT have been able to bring the price point down for their entry level version! An impressive start.

Comfort and fit

The fit of the TRI-FIT VANGUARD is consistent with the other two tri suits I’ve reviewed from the brand (the GEO and the EVO 2.3). At 5ft 4 and a size 6-8 a size S fits me perfectly. The VANGUARD has the full front access zip (essentially it means the top section unzips like a cycling jersey) which gives a bit of extra wiggle room for taller athletes, too.

On the upper body, you’ve got an ultra-lightweight and quick-drying mesh material. This isn’t quite as soft against the skin as the material on the EVO 2.3 but it’s still perfectly comfortable. The shorts are made from a silky smooth fabric, and the silicone leg grippers keep the hems in place without creating any hint of sausage legs. As mentioned, the chamois pad is very similar to the one you’ll find on the EVO 2.3 – there are some subtle differences, so I think it might be a tier down in Elastic Interface’s offerings but still with their signature balance of padding and support without being obstructive.

Features and performance

So far the lightweight fabric on this tri suit has performed really well in my testing. I wore it for a few sessions in my first block of Kona heat prep and the material dried quickly afterwards, despite the sessions being total sweat fests. I’ve also ended up doing some unintentional heat prep sessions on the treadmill (i.e. I’ve been too lazy to carry the fan out to the garage and promptly regretted my life choices) and the tri suit did a good job of keeping me at a relatively comfortable temperature considering I had absolutely no breeze to cool me off!

As predicted, the chamois pad has done a great job of providing enough comfort on the bike. Though, with my main race not being until October this year, my longer rides are currently only around the 3hr mark. Still, several of those have been on the turbo trainer thanks to some turbulent weekend weather lately. And those of you who’ve ever had to spend more than an hour riding on the turbo will know that any minor discomfort you’d be getting on the road presents itself with gusto indoors. So that’s a pretty good indication that the pad on the VANGUARD will be able to cope with Ironman distance racing as well as shorter stuff.

If you saw my TRI-FIT EVO 2.3 review last season, you’ll know I treated myself to the upgrade from the GEO purely for the extra pockets. But if you’re not quite as pocket-powered as I am, the two rear pockets on the VANGUARD will serve you perfectly well – I’d say there’s definitely room to carry at least 4 gels (maybe more) without any bouncing or risk of lost nutrition.

So what’s the compromise? TRI-FIT VANGUARD vs the TRI-FIT EVO 2.3

As I’ve said, you’re getting a remarkable amount of performance for the price tag with the TRI-FIT VANGUARD. But if you’re trying to decide between this and the EVO 2.3, I thought it might be useful to map out the key differences. I do think the VANGUARD will be perfectly capable of seeing you through every distance up to the full Ironman – but the EVO 2.3 has a few added extras that might be worth the upgrade, depending on your preferences (and your budget!)

Less focus on aerodynamics

On the VANGUARD, the upper body fabric is designed with mainly comfort and cooling in mind. The second skin fit means this is still going to be fairly aerodynamic. But at the lower price point, you’re not getting the higher tech aero materials that you’ll find on the EVO 2.3 – which has been carefully engineered to optimise airflow and minimise drag as much as possible. The EVO 2.3 gives you both cooling and ultra-aero features.

Slightly different materials and finish

I’d say the fabric on the VANGUARD, while still premium quality, isn’t quite as silky soft against the skin as that on the EVO 2.3. And the internal seams on the VANGUARD are a little more pronounced compared to the EVO 2.3. It’s often little details like these that are taken care of in the more expensive options. The grippers on the shorts feel very similar (if not the same) between the two suits, though anecdotally I’d say the shorts on the VANGUARD feel slighlty less compressive than the EVO 2.3

Pockets

Aside from the aero fabric, the main thing you’re going to get if you choose to upgrade from the VANGUARD to the EVO 2.3 is pockets and plenty of them! Which might not be at all relevant to you if you race shorter distances, or you don’t mind using a race belt with nutrition storage on it. The VANGUARD gives you two rear pockets. Whereas the EVO 2.3 has two rear pockets, two hip pockets, internal pockets and an IceDrip pocket at the nape of your neck – which I found super helpful for Ironman racing last season.

The Verdict

Overall though, even with those small compromises to bring the price point down. You’re still getting a huge amount of bang for your buck with the TRI-FIT VANGUARD. And for the things that really matter – comfort, fit and performance – no corners have been cut. I think it’s one of the best entry-level tri suits you’ll find this race season, and has potential contend with some of the higher end suits out there too.

Ratings