The Best Budget Triathlon Products

By Karen Parnell

As we head to the end of the year apart from thinking about the holidays we may be thinking about next year and new challenges. Many people will be thinking about doing their first triathlon or moving from a Sprint triathlon to an Olympic, 70.3 or Iron distance event. Your old mountain bike and hand me down wetsuit may not cut it so how can you meet your goals on a limited budget?

For the non-triathlete you can use this blog for some great gift ideas for the triathlete in your life!

The Bike

You many have done a sprint or super sprint distance triathlon on your trusty old commuter or mountain bike but maybe it won´t be the best choice for a longer distance. You may not even have a bike and want to give your first triathlon a good shot, so you need to find a good bike that won’t break the bank.

Photo by jose luis Umana

Download FREE 31 Indoor Bike Sessions for Zwift, Rouvy or TrainerRoad

A second-hand road bike on Facebook marketplace, Ebay or your local bike shop could be an option. You can do most distances on a road bike so I would suggest focussing your search here. The most important thing is to get a bike that fits. A good bike fit at a cycle shop is worth considering even on a second-hand bike. This is performed by a trained mechanic, and they will ensure you are riding your bike in the most comfortable, efficient and aerodynamic position but the frame size needs to be right for you.

The length of a bike is determined by its “top tube length”. A bike’s top tube length is the horizontal distance between the head tube (where the handlebar stem sits) and the seat tube.

As a rule of thumb, you can find the correct top tube length for a road bike by adding your torso and arm measurements together, dividing the result by 2 and then subtracting 15cm (or 6 inches). If in doubt go to a bike shop and sit on a few bikes and ask their advice on size. Then look for listings of used bikes with the size you have arrived at.

If you can´t afford a bike fit then you can do it yourself but bear in mind you may need to change a few parts like the stem, handlebars and saddle. Here´s a good guide to an at home bike fit.

You will also need to consider what pedals and shoes you will need. I wrote a guide to pedals for TRI247 which may help you decide. You can buy second-hand pedals but just make sure they are not to beaten up! For shoes you can get some great cycle shoes in Decathlon or on Amazon that won´t break the bank.

Decathlon ROADR 100 cycling shoes for less than €50

Fizik unisex shoes on amazon.com for $40

Unisex cycling shoes on Amazon.co.uk for £49.99

Running Shoes

As with the bike side of things you will need to get a pair that works for you. I would suggest going to a good sports shop with a running shoe specialist who can work out if you need a stable, neutral or pronation type shoe and even what brand if it best for your feet shape and running style. Doing this now in December is a good idea so you have a chance of picking up a top brand for a good price in the January sales.

Photo by João Godoy

Download you FREE 10k running plan

One strategy is to seek out an older model of a shoe. Often the differences between the latest release and last year’s model might only be cosmetic, but the price will be significantly lower. By searching brands’ websites and third-party retailers like Runners Need sales page, Sports Shoes, Wiggle and Amazon, you’ll be able to find a top brand shoe for a bargain price. Another great place I use is Sports Pursuit.

I love the ASICs triathlon specific Tri Noosa shoes which have lock laces, anti-slip soles, bright colours and designed for a quick change in transition. Again, if you go for an older model you can pick up a bargain. You can find low-cost ASICs on their outlet site or get last years version on Amazon.

Decathlon do their own range called Kenji and Kiprun and are worth a look and you can also try them on easily and run up and down the isles a few times to see if they suit!

ASICS Gel Noosa 15 from the outlet store on Amazon

Swimming Kit and Wetsuits

It´s always best to use a proper swimmer’s wetsuit rather than a surfing wetsuit. The swimming one will put your body in the best horizontal position to swim, have shoulder fabric to enable you to move your arms properly and designed for speed in the water.

Photo by jose luis Umana

Download your FREE Swim Workouts for Triathletes Book

As with all of your kit you should try before you buy. Managed open water swim venues sometimes have loan wetsuits that you can try out in the water to see what brand works for you. They may also have loan wetsuits you can borrow for a fee for the whole season. Many of the top brand suits have budget ranges and also ex-demo suits so if you have found the wetsuit that suits you, you can shop around for the best deal. I have first-hand knowledge of HUUB, Xterra, Yonda and Orca and they have all been great for my races over the years. I know I have recommended Decathlon for bike shoes and running shoes, but I would not recommend their wetsuits. The fabric does not stack up with the well-known brands above and don´t seem to last very long. They may design better ones in the future but for now I feel it is a false economy. You can get a suit from HUUB for €159 or less in the sales and Orca for €119 so no need to get a ultra-low cost unbranded one.

For your goggles then I would choose a brand that won´t leak and last long time rather than a cheap pair which can be a false economy. I use Zoggs predator flex that cost around €24 and have had the same pair for 5 years! I use Cressi anti-fog to keep them clear and the rubber soft to extend their life. Cressi anti-fog is reef safe so won´t pollute the places you swim.

If you are venturing out for open water swimming early in the year then you may need a changing robe to keep the heat in and wind, cold and rain out. Primark do a parka made from recycled materials for outdoor use which looks exactly like a dryrobe but for a fraction of the price (€50). It only comes is black but for a functional piece of kit does it matter?

Primark "dryrobe" parka

Sports Triathlon Watch

Training with heart rate and tracking your swims, bike rides and runs are essential if you are serious about meeting or exceeding your new year goals. The most common way to track your sessions, indoor and outside are sports watches. Sports watches can be pricey, and some are close to a €1000!

The good news is that there are some great devices on the market that will do everything you need at a great price. One such device is the Timex IRONMAN GPS watch which costs around €100 and is packed with features. The Timex smart watch has GPS training, heart rate monitor, 50m water resistance and Bluetooth connectivity. You can track your progress in the Timex Smart App. You can share your victories with Strava, Facebook, Instagram, Google FIT, Apple health, RunKeeper and more.

Another option could be the Coros Pace 3 which is very light weight, has Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, heart rate monitor, 50-meter water resistant and connects to the Coros App. It´s price around £219 on Amazon and supports all of the triathlon training profiles. I swapped out my Garmin Fenix watch for the Coros Pace 3 it's that good!

Coros Pace 3 - budget price but packed with features

Training Plans

Now that you have all the kit and signed up for your target race next year you need to start training! Many people simply google and find a free PDF downloadable plan and work with that up to race day. Others seek out a local triathlon club and if you need peer motivation and training sessions you don´t need to plan or think about then this is a great option. The plans and sessions may be general to suit those in the club doing any race from a super sprint to a full Iron distance race. Clubs are also a great place to get tips on training and racing.

Another option is to use a training App like Final Surge or TrainingPeaks and purchase a training plan. Final Surge full version is free to athletes and TrainingPeaks basic is free for athletes. If you search on these websites, you will probably find a plan to suit you based on your level, time to train and target event. This will give you structure to your training and a plan from a top coach for as little as €20!

You can also download a free plan like this one written by a Level 3 BTF Coach:

Download my FREE Sprint Training Plan

Conclusion

Triathlon has the reputation for being an expensive sport and yes you can spend a lot on a bike, wetsuit, training and more but you can also do it by purchasing last seasons kit and good second-hand gear.

You can even train with a training plan from a top coach for the cost of a meal out!

Would you like a free training plan? Claim your free plan or e-book.

Would you like to talk about your training? Get in touch here.

Karen Parnell is a Level 3 British Triathlon and IRONMAN Certified Coach, 8020 Endurance Certified Coach, WOWSA Level 3 open water swimming coach and NASM Personal Trainer and Sports Technology Writer. 

Karen is currently studying for an MSc in Sports Performance Coaching at the University of Stirling.

Need a training plan? I have plans on TrainingPeaks and FinalSurge:

TrainingPeaks

FinalSurge

I also coach a very small number of athletes one to one for all triathlon and multi-sport distances, open water swimming events and running races, email me for details and availability. Karen.parnell@chilitri.com

Get your FREE Guide to Running Speed and Technique

Get your FREE Swim Workouts for Triathletes E-book

Get your FREE Open Water Swimming Sessions E-Book

#blog #chilitri #triathlon #budgettriathlon #besttriathlonproducts  #swimmingtrainingplan #cyclingtrainingplan #runningtrainingplan #swimming #cycling #running

This website uses affiliate links which may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. which may cover part of a cup of coffee for me to fuel my training.