Included in an athletes overall race time is the "transition time"- the time it takes to transition from one leg of the race to another. In an effort to help athletes reduce transition times manufacturers developed "multisport apparel", clothing designed to allow an athlete to perform a combination of sports, such as running, biking and swimming, without having to change into clothing designed specifically for each individual sport. The garments that an individual athlete chooses to wear for a particular race, is usually based on the type of race, length of the race, and weather conditions.

Trisuits are one piece body hugging garments that are designed to run, bike and swim in. They are usually made of a polyester/lycra based fabric. The lycra allows the suit to fit snug without being tight or binding. The polyester allows the fabric to wick moisture and breath. Trisuits have a light bike pad that is designed to hold very little water and dry quickly. Wetsuits, if needed, can be worn over the top of the trisuit reducing transition time.

Jammers fit like a second skin. They are usually made of a polyester/lycra based fabric. The lycra allows the jammer to fit skin tight without being tight and binding. Because the jammer fits skin tight, the shorts create very little drag during the swim portion of a race. The polyester allows the fabric to wick moisture and breath. Unlike traditional swim jammers, multisport jammers usually have a lightweight pad for cycling, and some kind of pockets to carry small food supplements in.

Multisport bras are usually compression style sport bras. They can be worn with a matching brief, or as a seperate to be worn with a run short, or other sports apparel.
More Info on Sport Bras

Multisport briefs are padded swim briefs.

Multisport singlets come in many different styles and designs depending on the type of race they are designed for. However, all multisport singlets have several common features:

Singlet fabrics are usually a polyester based fabric designed to wick moisture and breath. Singlets that are form fitting have lycra which allows the garment to fit skin tight without being uncomfortable and binding.

Most multisport singlets have pockets designed to carry food suplements.

Front zippers not only make a form fitting singlet easier to get on, they also allow the athlete to adjust ventilation by raising and lowering the zipper as needed.

Not long ago, running shorts were all extremely short shorts! Most had a side split shell with a brief liner. Today run shorts come in a wide variety of styles.

The traditional side split short has been lengthened a bit, and the splits have become more modest. The old nylon shells of yesterday have been replaced with newer polyester based fabrics that are softer, lighter, and designed to wick moisture away from the skin.

The trend in running is a longer, more modest short. The V-notch style of running short has a longer inseam for those who do not feel comfotable in short shorts. Shells can be nylon or polyester. This style of short is sold with, or without a liner. If the short has an attached liner, it is usually made of a wicking fabric designed to breath and keep moisture away from the body.

For those individuals who really like long shorts, manufacturers have developed the more relaxed fit baggy short. Shells are usually made of a nylon or polyester mesh, to keep the short lightweight and comfortable. This style of short is sold with, or without an attached wicking liner.

The newest trend in running is the form fitting compression style short. These garments are usually made of a nylon or polyester based fabric with lycra. The lycra allows the short to fit like a second skin without being binding.

Trishorts are short legged versions of a bike short that have a minimal pad.

Wet suits are needed when water temperatures are cold, or the swim leg of a race is long. Triathlon specific wet suits differ from traditional surfing wet suits in that they are designed to provide greater freedom of movement. In addition to keeping you warm, wetsuits make you float better. The added boyancy can result in faster times, especially for weaker swimmers.

A good wetsuit should fit like a second skin. It should fit uniformally snug so that it keeps as much water as possible from entering the suit. Most wetsuit manufacturers design their suits for a specific body type, so try on as many as you can, and find the best fitting suit for your individual body.

The rubber that wetsuits are made of come in a variety of qualities, thicknesses and weights. Certain rubbers stretch, and others do not. Many wetsuit manufacturers combine different types of rubbers to achieve greater mobility in certain areas, and greater warmth and durability in others.

Wetsuits can be designed as a full body suit with zippers for access, or a two piece, bib tight and seperate top that simply pulls up over the body.