British wetsuit and apparel brand, Zone3, has been working on its latest high-tech product since early 2014 – a product designed in response to the ever-growing popularity of Swim-Run events.
The rising popularity stems from the success of the ÖTILLÖ, the first event of this kind started in 2006, which has become infamous amongst Scandinavian athletes. The event involves teams of two racing together from island to island (Ö till Ö). The teams swim between the 26 islands and run across them.
Combining 65K of trail-running and 10K of swimming, the event offers a challenge for competitors looking to push themselves
Zone3 note that the ÖTILLÖ series has become so popular and started to sell out so quickly, forcing event organisers to establish a qualification process for those looking to enter the famous event in Sweden each year. (The annual Swimrun World Championship, the prestigious ÖTILLÖ event in the Stockholm archipelago, takes place this year on 7 September.)
In response to this demand, Zone3 has developed its new Evolution wetsuit, which has been carefully designed to ensure that the product is fast, functional, buoyant, comfortable and most importantly, suitable for both swimming and running meaning that no kit changes are required.
The suit incorporates high stretch leg panels and a front chest zip for lung expansion and breathability, features that help to maximise performance on the run. Zone3 believed that no product on the market was suitable for such an epic challenge and claim that the Evolution is the first of this type in the world.
The suit has been designed in collaboration with a previous winner of the famous ÖTILLÖ race and three other leading Swim-Run Swedish athletes. Features include:
- Yamamoto 1.5mm SCS shoulders and arm panels for flexibility.
- A built in silicone band on the inside just above the elbow so the suit is designed to be cut by the user if desired.
- 5mm Yamamoto #39 SCS back and side panels for upper body buoyancy.
- 2mm front and back legs with high stretch lining designed for free flowing running. These seams are glued only and not stitched helping to minimise any chaffing from the thread.
- Higher durability backside panel for durability on rugged terrain.
- Front zip with cord for easy access and breathability / temperature control during the run.
- Pro-speed silicone coated arm cuffs allowing the suit to be taken off more quickly.
- Bright colours for visibility
- Two internal pockets on the front and one large external pocket on the back.
- Each suit comes with 8mm thick calf sleeves for added buoyancy support on the swim.
Positioned as a unique garment for those taking part on any swim-run training or racing, the Evolution wetsuit retails at £345.
Zone3 is the official sponsor of the UK’s official Ö till Ö training sessions along with the Loch-Gu-Loch event in Scotland.
www.RaceZone3.com
www.otilloswimrun.se/story
www.lochguloch.com
