Zone3 collaborated with Loughborough Sport to independently evaluate how wetsuit design impacts triathlon swimming performance. 
 
Three athletes of different experience levels completed four controlled 750 m swims: 
one without a wetsuit, then in the Agile (entry-level), Vision (mid-level), and Vanquish-X (elite). 

1. Swim performance (time to complete 750 m) 
2. Stroke efficiency (distance per stroke and Swolf score) 
3. Physiological load (blood lactate accumulation)
4. Perceived exertion (RPE)

Conducted over two sessions at Loughborough Sport (June 2025)

4 x 750 m swims per athlete (1 non-wetsuit + 3 wetsuit trials)

Fixed perceived effort to maintain comparable exertion across trials

Swim time and average pace

Distance per stroke (efficiency) 

Swolf (time + strokes per length) 

Pre- and post-swim blood lactate concentration

Rating of Perceived Exertion (Borg Scale) 

These results indicate that performance improvements increased progressively with wetsuit tier.

Athletes swam faster and more efficiently at the same perceived effort — suggesting reduced drag, improved body position, and greater hydrodynamic support.

Findings by Athlete Level 

Entry and mid-tier suits delivered the largest gains, improving comfort, body alignment, and energy conservation.

For this athlete, the lower-tier suits did not outperform the non-wetsuit swim. Only the Vanquish-X produced clear gains in speed and reduced physiological load, reflecting the importance of fit, technique, and experience in wetsuit performance.

For experienced athletes, the elite suit enabled greater speed and efficiency without increased perceived effort, supporting its advantage at higher intensity.

True endurance testing requires repeated trials to exhaustion, which was outside the scope of this study. 

However, because athletes maintained the same perceived effort across all swims, improvements in speed, stroke efficiency, and (in most cases) lower lactate accumulation suggest reduced physiological cost — and therefore a potential improvement in endurance capacity.

This was a case study of three swimmers; results cannot be generalised statistically. 
Heart-rate data were incomplete and not included in comparative analysis. 
Intensity control was subjective (perceived effort), introducing natural variation. 
Despite these limitations, the consistency of directional improvements provides reliable, real-world insight into how wetsuit technology influences performance. 

Independent testing at Loughborough University demonstrated measurable improvements in speed, efficiency, and physiological response across the Zone3 wetsuit range. 
Performance benefits scaled with wetsuit tier, with the Vanquish-X delivering the largest gains. 
Individual variation was observed — particularly for the intermediate athlete — underscoring that fit and familiarity play key roles in wetsuit performance. 
While endurance was not directly measured, improved efficiency and reduced physiological load suggest a lower energy cost per stroke. 

These findings provide independent, evidence-based validation that Zone3 wetsuits deliver measurable performance and efficiency benefits in controlled testing. 
Whether chasing your first triathlon finish or marginal gains at elite level, the data shows that design, material innovation, and athlete-driven testing translate into real-world improvements. 

Athlete Approved. Performance Proven.