Can a $200 Triathlon Amazon Wetsuit Even Compete With My $900 One? | Triathlon Taren

[@papadopoulos1982]

Hi Taren, I usually love your videos. This one ... not so much. I think a sponsored content should not be the basis for a product comparison. It diluted the message and had a negative impact on credibility. I’ll keep enjoying your videos - but please come out early if a product is part of a promotion.

[@newlifestartsnow4444]

Agree!

[@jakou31]

I agree. 😐

[@ezrajordan9020]

So this was really a Roka wet suit ad? I saw the promotion of the (3) three Roka wet suits and the trashing of the Synergy. Why not just say I think you should buy a Roka wet suit because they are great and they sponsor me?

[@realalbertan]

Throw a college swimmer into all of these and the difference is under under 1%

[@realalbertan]

Angle cut the suit. They all come off the same if you cut it

[@NoxiousNoodles]

@@realalbertan Truth. The last triathlon I did I came 3rd out of the water. I happened to know all of the top 5 from my swimming days. None of us had spent more than £150 on wetsuits...

[@ronnieflorentino]

I didn't notice the Roka t-shirt until the end. That explained it all.

[@DonaldR999]

Love your videos and I do love Roka, but “evaluating” wetsuits while wearning a Roka Tshirt.... really man ?

[@jakou31]

sponsored buddy ;)

[@robertoconfessore2698]

Not really a non-biased review... :(

[@Navgator9]

I race in a 50 buck on sale Xterra and finish top 10% in my AG each time. Like most gear it’s (mostly) a gimmick and these companies hire youtubers to push their products. Train hard, be consistent, get faster. Wear a wetsuit to stay warm, make sure it’s your size. Done and done.

[@hubertcazes526]

Damn you're right

[@jakesalvador1583]

I guess I am kind of off topic but does anyone know a good website to watch new tv shows online ?

[@korbynbrysen8131]

@Jake Salvador Flixportal =)

[@jakesalvador1583]

@Korbyn Brysen thanks, I signed up and it seems to work :D I really appreciate it !

[@korbynbrysen8131]

@Jake Salvador Glad I could help =)

[@garylucas7050]

Losing lots of credibility here

[@andrebiasuz]

Taren turned an excelent opportunity to provide beginner triatlhetes with a way-in the sport by testing and even doing a triathlon in the budget wetsuit.... , into a ROKA AD.

[@cedriclemaitre8845]

Used to like a lot the channel. Followed for years…. Now it is a promo/advertisement/business channel. Will give it up. regretfully.

[@StefaanDefever]

Actually shaved 4 minutes of my 70.3 swim in that Synergy wetsuit. The "fit" to me is just better than a zoot double the cost. Everyone should just go out and test swim.

[@timothyconner3337]

I just wanted to read the comments to make sure people were beating him up over this video. Not everyone is sponsored and gets $1000 wetsuits for free. Don’t bash the cheaper gear. This is an expensive sport already. You shouldn’t make people feel bad about having to buy the cheaper wetsuits so they can race.

[@jazznroll5]

I used to watch the GCN channel, but after i watched for the 3rd time, how to climb faster with different presenters and different bikes, i said ENOUGH and unsubscribed. That channel, had a banner at the beginning of the video with the message "includes paid promotion". Of course that was not because they were honest and nice people but due to advertistment regulations in the uk. However they never promoted a product by bashing a competitor's product even it was shit level. Taren, you are FIRST.

[@JohnJCampbell72]

Used a $700 HUUB for about 3 swims and switched to the “cheap” Synergy and found it functioned much better. Agree with one guy above. Review one suit, no need to trash another. Bit disappointed tbh. Must be nice to be sponsored.

[@justinhiggs3889]

this was actually the first thing I thought before I even watched the video

[@HandyAndyHomer]

It’s the T-shirt that made this video review irrelevant. By wearing it you are saying that this video is an advert for ROKA and that all my comments are fully biased. In addition there is grounds for Synergy to complain that this trashes their product from what is an advert rather than a personal review.

[@IronWill]

I'd love to have the money to spend on triathlon gear, but Roka X2 is way out of my price range. I have been using the Orca Sonar for the last couple of seasons and it has been working really well for me (a great mid-entry level wetsuit)!

[@acrelake]

I bought a cheap 50-60 dollar Neosport, 5mm/3mm w/sleeves as my first wetsuit. I'm a sub 20 1650 pool swimmer and busted out fast times for 3 years with it; leading a lot of races. I then "upgraded" to a triathlon specific 5/3 wetsuit, and gave my old one to an up and comer. Saw my open water times stay the same, it was less buoyant and was having trouble with sizing, shoulder mobility, wear issues,and really hard to get off. I miss my old wetsuit and am thinking of getting a new one. More expensive, more technology is not necessarily better unless it feels good while swimming. I was still swimming the same speeds, with a lot less comfort, and losing time in transition and pre race, with less money. Definitely try different models in the water if at all possible, they feel different dry.

[@jazznroll5]

...this version has 7% more buoyancy than the previous and the next will have 5% more than the current and the next after the next 10% more than the previous and the next after the next after the next 9.5% more than the previous...mmmm i think buoyancy in wetsuits and stiffness in bikes are sleeping together...

[@L.O.K.I]

Totally agree, at one point wet-suits will become anti-gravitational and used by NASA for space exploration.

[@jazznroll5]

@@L.O.K.I ...i like the way you think...

[@404notfoundXx-m5k]

Considering he is sponsored by Roka... I doubt he would pick the none Roka one.

[@lexington476]

Try, but Roka does make good stuff. And the 20% off code doesn't hurt either.

[@matthewheitzman6272]

Why wouldn’t you compare it to a comparably priced roka? You’re comparing apples to oranges... compare it to the comp so we have an idea how much improvement we can get out of spending an extra 100$ on the lower roka

[@KenDeBoer82]

I had a Synergy for about 8 years before it finally wore out. While I do agree that it was a bit stiff and rubbed my neck, I never had any issues of baggy cuffs.

[@phildo6371]

I hope Roka sponsors you. After watching this video I canceled my Synergy order and went with the Maverick Comp 2. Thanks for what you do!

[@JohnnyG734]

All suits are different. There was definitely a world of difference between my Synergy Suit and my Huub Aegilis. Granted, it was Synergy's top of the line $800 dollar suit, and was totally outclasses by a suit only marginally more expensive. Only a small handful of "expensive suits" are actually worth it, and even then, when it comes to a "seconds faster per dollar" amount, they actually aren't a lot better. The price makes it more comfortable, but really won't make you magically faster to where you can just not train. If it does, maybe by a minute or two in an Ironman, and last time I almost qualified for Kona, the top 5 finishers at the North American Championships were spaced out over 45 minutes. So unless you are a pro literally counting on seconds to win the whole thing, a $900 wetsuit really won't get you any more of an age group win than a $300 would, it just might make your similar time feel a bit more cozy. Yeah, the Maverick X is one of them along with the Huub Aegilis and the Debauer are amazing and make it easy to move your arms, but.... by the actual drag measurements are so small, any speed gained is moreso from comfort than from buoyancy. On that note, time to give a quick math lesson on how misleading "10%" is... 10% of buoyancy of a 135lb seems significant. That suit won't do that. 10% more buoyance of a ~2lb suit is more along 0.2 lbs of force (or whatever unit you want to measure from) of added buoyancy. Assuming a 135lb triathlete, who (let's be generous) has flawless form and is floating along the top with 25% of his body on the surface means his perceived water weight is 135 * 0.75 = ~85lbs. 0.2lbs of improvement over (a perceived) 80lbs worth of triathlete is really more along the lines of 0.0024%. By the way, that's the percentage of improvement you would feel going from the Roxa Maverick X2 to a cheap, discounted Roka Maverick X. Less if you weigh more than 135 and even less if you have imperfect form and are more like 80-90% submerged while swimming like most of us. But don't mind me, just a physics major, it's not like I know what percentages mean. #misleading

[@JohnnyG734]

And by the way, I don't always use my Huub Aegilis wetsuit. Most the time, I like to pass the people in the high dollar wetsuits in my #Synergy Quick John ($165, sleeveless, cutaway above the knee). And I beat them in transition too because I can get it off in 7 seconds easy, so don't go bashing Synergy, they have high quality stuff for a great price point -my Synergy Elite tri shorts are cheaper, and quite frankly better than Huub, De Soto, 2XU, and blueseventy's products. And likely many more. Synergy makes great stuff, they just don't upcharge a ton like everyone else does.

[@0SKBooth0]

I would think any neoprene wetsuit should float you just fine. If your legs are still sinky, that’s something more to work on when swimming.

[@ericj1385]

Very nice and honest review of the differences between the suits! I'm approaching my very first triathlon in a week and wanted to know the benefits of a wetsuit...thx!

[@slminguy1]

Can you compare it to the Xterra Wetsuits? They have a higher retail price but with their sales, they are more enticing

[@ronak2018]

Xterra wont sponser or pay him, so i doubt we'll see one with xterra suits !!

[@travistial]

I'd like to see this as well. This weekend I was debating between getting the Xterra vortex which is their top of the line, on a memorial day sale for a similar cost to the Roka Maverick comp II with club discounts. Ultimately went with the Roka.

[@mlegrand]

Xterra makes solid suits. Their sales techniques annoy me a little. They’re always some crazy deal if you’re in a Tri club, USAT or have blood pumping in your body. “You qualify for a discount”. 🤦‍♂️

[@lexington476]

Have two Xterra suits myself.

[@lexington476]

@@mlegrand yeah, just about any Triathlon Club gets a crazy discount that is where I got mine yet.

[@tonyaustin4629]

Thank you for the review; I learned a lot. I am looking at the Roka now. :-) Suggestion: You are dropping your right elbow into the water first when you pull with your right arm. (It is an acting air brake.) Your body almost stalls. (see video) Hands have to come in first. Never the elbow or a flat arm. Come in with your thumb at a 45º angle and bend your wrist more downward on your pull. You will save 1/4-second per right arm stroke or 2-seconds a lap. :-)

[@arentjanlinde6159]

Sorry guys, but this is just snobby. I get it . I get it. But be honest, how many years of swimtraining did it take you, before you would be able to control your body in the water and really benefit from a more expensive suit? It took me a lot of years.

[@jackwright3098]

What do you mean by this? I'm a newb.

[@carlosamadorl]

This Taren guy just turned in to a pretentious preek, after 2 or 3 years he really believes he turned in to a coach writin books and gettin a bunch stuff from sponsors makes him believe he gets it for the same reason the pro s do.

[@arentjanlinde6159]

catherineamway , I must say no to this. I’ ve never considered Taren to be pretentious. I’ve been following him because he is down to earth. He is not about cutting corners, and has always put in the work himself. I’m proud of his journey and the way he achieved his goals in the sport ( a chubby weightlifter and curler) ( full ironman finisher in a , i bow my head , great time) and in transition in his work. This item, I considered to be snobby

[@arentjanlinde6159]

Seth Harris , sorry for the late response. In swimming you really have to get a feel for the water. If I look back. I would say I swam like a dog. And ofcourse even a dog with a wetsuit would float a little better. But it is still a dog in the water surrounded by all these elegant dolphins. Don’t get me wrong. A high end suit with thicker layers of rubber exactely where you need it can be a gamechanger . It makes your body float as it should float. But in reality. all non professional swimmers practise little in their wetsuit. And all the benefits go straight out the window after the start of the race. There is stress and chaos. Body position is higher than in the pool. And a lot of energy goes into funny flapping feet in the air. And by the time you figured out how to swim properly in your suit, the first real technical swimmers are already running towards their bikes. I found this item snobby because for 229 you can buy an excellent suit. I swam all my half triahlons in my 75€ euro Arena suit and came out of the water in 30 minutes. It was swimming technique that got me there.

[@jackwright3098]

@@arentjanlinde6159 awesome, thanks for the response. Yes I've done two short Triathlons (sprints) so far and it's truly amazing how quickly the technique you worked on goes out the window the second your goggles get kicked off your face. I've been training for my first half Ironman in September but it's not looking like it's going to happen. Not to mention I haven't been able to swim this entire time. Pretty bummed. Swimming is hard. Lol.

[@dylann957]

"Just a sea of people in this" Hahaha, I see what you did there

[@feuervogel1984]

I have an Orca TRN from wiggle, don’t know if it’s available in NA. 150€, best wetsuit I ever swam in and I had some from all price ranges...

[@NoxiousNoodles]

I adore that wetsuit. Nothing more is required and anyone who tells you otherwise is either a bad swimmer, caught in hype or sponsored.

[@torontocycling]

Was it even Synergy Endorphin in the video or the cheapest model Synergy Volution??

[@Craobh151]

Very snobby review!!! I wonder did you get that ROKA wetsuit for free🤨 And doing a review while wearing a ROKA T-shirt .. 🤔🤔🤔

[@jakou31]

That's sponsored. ... Like a Pub in your TV...

[@alkaline48]

Anyone be able to help me? I can get a maverick x (older model) for only 30 dollars more than the comp 2. Is that worth it?? I've heard issues with the maverick x ripping and tearing.

[@cooperstravels5725]

Hi Taren, it would be helpful for you to swim without any wetsuit so we see the impacts of the cheap wetsuit vs no wetsuit vs high end wetsuit. Thanks

[@dukenukembubblegum7311]

Bob Cerull wouldn’t matter, he would purposely make his Roka perform better. He obviously has no integrity after doing a review like this. “Buy wetsuits from wetsuit people, not Amazon” he had no intentions of doing a fair honest review, only making the one sound perfect, and the other terrible

[@jiujitsuman05]

Would you consider comparing other brands? Xterra sits in a similar price range to that Amazon wetsuit.

[@viewsbyusher]

I think with the backlash from this the cheaper wetsuit might actually get a bump in sales. Amazing reviews on Amazon. Basically best suit for beginners. Also tested in Canadian waters. Fact I am looking to get my first wetsuit this year.

[@mijazz1781]

Garbage comparison and conclusion. I don't have a swim spa and don't get free use of $1000 Rokas, but I bought the same $200 Synergy for pandemic swimming ten weeks ago. I have used it over 50 times and have logged over 150k yards in lake temperatures as low as 48 degrees. The Synergy wetsuit is fantastic - great fit, durable, warm, no rubbing, and best of all - CHEAP and AFFORDABLE. I understand you promote Roka, but why trash Synergy after 15 minutes in the swim spa?

[@ironman140.6]

The beginning of the end - a pity, typical ex-financial investor, think people are gullible....they aren't.

[@Jay-Garcia101]

Well being that you are sponsored by Roka. No one should expect you to thrash them. Its a very biased review when you think about it. No doubt Roka is 100 % better.

[@MPDerksen]

Unsub. I can get ads elsewhere. The slide from interesting fellow athlete to corporate hand puppet is a bummer.

[@praveenksapkal]

Nice review, and good advertisement of roka.

[@geoffleblanc4958]

Can you do a vid on how to properly measure and purchase a Roka suit so that it fits when it arrives?

[@ericgasparro2545]

I have an Orca 200 euro wetsuit, it’s three years old, no tears and fits great. Unless you really want to, don’t feel like you have to spend nearly 1K on a wetsuit!

[@thomaspesch8109]

Did I miss the comparison of the X(2) and the MX....?

[@tednruth453]

Losing all respect.

[@dewaynescott5114]

Whats with the code expiring and winners being announced May 1st 2019. Come on man.

[@tailsdblack463]

As a guy who just likes wetsuits to swim in but certainly did not have the budget for a roka thanks to a semi fixed income i did choose the synergy volution wetsuit, wish i could get better but beggars cannot be choosers.

[@rasmusbrandt-christensen6570]

Would like to see a comparison between the Amazon one and the Maverick Comp 👀

[@kyleirving5198]

This is like watching Harley review a Harley

[@latex87000]

975$ wetsuit is better than 200$...Thank for the "review" . Everyone have 975$ for a wetsuit... Seriously... Make a review with another expensive wetsuit not with the cheaper...

[@mattlockleadership2246]

Yep, own goal here. Also the US price you mention for the cheaper ROKA wetsuit is very different to the UK price. Makes me think ROKA's UK price points are taking the piss.

[@ethanlaursen9187]

did Roka tell ya to make this?

[@Olavmann]

Sponsored, are we?😂

[@j.j.thomas9569]

You literally said cheapest wetsuit, and there was a $160 dollar wetsuit next to it. I have done an Ironman and quite a few 1/2’s in a second hand zone 4 I bought for £100 (reduced from £300). Perfectly fine. Taren, you are losing credibility, receiving an dislike from me and an unsubscribe. Particular disheartening when covid is effecting so many people’s finances...

[@stijndeklerk]

It would have been of intrest how true to size these were. The Roka (tri) suites I tried in the past, I had to go a size up.

[@sk1ppercat912]

stijndeklerk could also be the way suits are “meant” to fit. When I got my last race suit from poli my friend had to pull me into it. But if you aren’t comfortable having you body squeezed so tight your eyes bulge out of your skull then there’s nothing wrong with going up a size. Just not how the suits are supposed to fit in the eyes of the manufacturer.

[@elclaudiosanchez]

I just want to finish the Malibu triathlon, the Synergy suit for half mile swim will work😅

[@haroldhdknoxstreet-glide5331]

Awesome comparison 😎 my bike short body is more than the 229.-$ so I believe a wetsuit in that price category can’t stand a test really. However the ROKA comp seems fairly well...for the bug (at least for amateurs) 950-975 is more the PRO thing Just my thoughts 💭

[@patosiegl7920]

I qualified for my first 70.3. Worldchamps in 109,9€ Speedo Protos wetsuit. Swam 30:40 in it. Roka you're welcome

[@ryanvargo]

It says the giveaway entry ended on May 1st 2019 and your code expired July of 2019.

[@matthewbuxton3744]

I have to agreed with the other comments, I usually like your vids but this just seems so bias and not a very honest review! I've actually swam in a Synergy wetsuit and think they're pretty good! Also, you clearly didn't buy the Synergy wetsuit yourself as you haven't even referenced the correct suit - You can clearly see two side by side when you pull up Amazon - One wetsuit called Endorphin "Which you circle" for $229 and the other called "Volution $159 - which is actually the one used in your video" - The names are down the arms!!!

[@NoxiousNoodles]

I don't mind you making promotional material, you've got a family to feed after all, but at least disclose it in the description.

[@robanddana79]

Thanks. You give loads of good advice. Question how does the Roma MX fair compared to the other Roka’s?

[@pavelkucera5563]

Hi guys, I am little bit scared, that we don't need any wetsuit. My background is from swimming and If you look at championships in open water, they swim ,,just,, in swimsuit distances from 3K to 15K in paece about 10/11 minutes per 1K. So dont be Barbie and lets swim, swim hard and swim a lot!

[@hayes6262]

So unless your rich dont bother lol

[@JG-il1df]

Matthew Hayes or if you make videos on KZbin to get free shit.

[@mikedaknight8854]

That's been the opinion of many triathletes I've met unfortunately. If you show up with a £100 wetsuit, £1000 bike and some trishorts with cycle Jersey (because I find that more comfy and save some £££), you don't belong

[@george83815]

When my TT bike, wet suit and trainers cost less than the roka suit....

[@realalbertan]

The X is no better than the Arena Carbon Suit which costs less

[@mlegrand]

Great video!!! I love the idea of showing the cheaper option vs lower pricing options. I wonder if there is another cheap option that is even better.

[@akiratablet2281]

Wow another advertising video. Good job!

[@gabrielminville738]

Roka all the way! Cheaping always costs more in the long run.

[@jakou31]

i have a 210€ wet suit and it's enough for my lvl ^^'

[@jimmyreddy63]

"mission drift"

[@robertreagles2684]

Pretty apparent who you are sponsored by...this channel has changed quite a bit in the last couple years.

[@jakobmeibeyer]

Well, nice Video, but for me this was more of an Roka Advertisement... Not a single word about any other brand like Sailfish, Huub and so on... For sure, this was not a comparison between different top end brands but for me it did sound a bit like "yeah every Pro is wearing Roka and if you want to be a good swimmer there is no other choice than Roka"... But that's just my opinion, overall great video!

[@Jay-Garcia101]

Hope Roka doesnt drop you cause of this BS review!

[@levinabrowne6692]

What a shame. It makes me think twice about the other reviews of his I've watched. If you skip to the end, Taren is clearly getting a kickback from Roka.

[@aalvarez853]

I did finish my IM with a 300 dollar wetsuit sale. Lol

[@YellowMafia]

Enjoy most of your videos but agree with everyone that this is a very biased review considering you are sponsored by ROKA. If you really want to add value it would be more use comparing entry level wetsuits and then comparing mid level wetsuits and finally comparing high end wetsuits. But again seeing that you are sponsored by ROKA its unlikely that you'd say anything negative about any of the ROKA suits even if they are better buys at the different price points.

[@0808dre]

Hey Taren - Till when is the promo code valid? (site states two contradictory dates 26/05/20 and December 2020)

[@omgimontheinternet]

Purchased a sleeved and sleeveless comp 2. Thanks T

[@reactionsok]

May just want to add a disclaimer that you are sponsored by Roka. You’re only doing a disservice to you and your channel.

[@bradwjensen]

Or be a REAL Iron MAN and don't wear gear for compensating gains?

[@lexington476]

Well well well what do you know, what a coincidence... I was thinking today that I might think about getting a new wetsuit... As I was at the beach fighting to get my very dry wetsuit 😀. Didn't really end up swimming very far I couldn't get my head in the coldish water. My question is, do you think the Roka Comp is a good suit for someone with a plate on their clavicle?

[@MrAtomicskier]

Bs advert for Roka. Equipment doesn’t make much difference for most of us. We aren’t that good!!

[@ShaunakKar]

Bit disappointed with the way this was put Taren! You can do much better instead of dissing another brand.

[@pedromongebravo479]

Taren,... not a great one this time. If you fall down the rabbit hole you’ll loose many of us.

[@ibbjos08]

Bro, your acting like a straight up shill, lol.

[@karolpierwszy]

XD

[@teddyjordan8266]

LIKE 👍