An Ex-Pro Runner’s Guide: Triathlon Tech and Gear That Actually Matters

Coming from running into triathlon may seem like a natural progression in some ways. They’re both primarily aerobic-focused endurance events that reward hard work and consistency, they each have vibrant, welcoming communities, and they are both the epitome of type 2 fun.

But in other ways, the sports are very different. For one, triathlon has a couple of extra disciplines involved. But the thing that really rocked my world when I started was just how much stuff is involved!

Even the most kitted-out runner has five or six pieces of equipment: shoes, clothes, a GPS watch, a heart rate monitor, a foot pod, and some sunglasses. Not all of those are even entirely necessary. If you have some sneakers and an old pair of gym shorts, you can get going.

Triathlon, on the other hand, has a shopping list that rivals that of an overeager child’s Christmas wish list. I’m not going to bother listing all the gear; instead, I am going to highlight a few key gear and tech add-ons that I have found worth adding to my own triathlon gear locker.

Start Here: A Good Watch Goes a Long Way

First and foremost, across all disciplines, it’s worth having a good GPS watch. One of my first purchases when I got into triathlon was upgrading mine.

My previous watch struggled with open-water swimming, and I found it frustrating trying to track my progression without reliable data. I upgraded to a Garmin Fenix 6X and have not looked back. A good watch can also double as a passable bike computer and serve as a home base for all your training data.

The Swim

With swimming, I’ll assume a wetsuit, swim cap, and goggles are must-have starter items. I would also recommend adding a few “pool toys”: a pull buoy, paddles, fins, and a snorkel. These can add variety to your pool training while helping you isolate and work on specific aspects of your stroke. For example, a snorkel removes the variable of breathing and allows a clearer focus on your catch, while fins or a pull buoy can help lift your hips and promote a flatter body position in the water.

The Bike

On the bike, there are about eight million potential upgrades and add-ons. You could spend all your time and money just tweaking this and that on the bike if you so please. But there are two or three key things that I believe are worth the upgrade.

If you do not have a tri-specific bike, clip-on aero bars are a worthwhile addition. I am a big proponent of optimizing position on the bike, and aero bars allow you to adopt a more aerodynamic position which, over the course of a ride, can take minutes off your time. The caveat is that they take practice, as they can feel uncomfortable and awkward at first. But once you get used to them, they will help you fly on the bike.

Another upgrade I would highly recommend is a power meter. Training with power adds a level of precision that is hard to replicate otherwise. I’d argue that, aside from the watch, a power meter is one of the most effective training tools in the sport. With enough experience, it becomes much easier to dial in what is sustainable on race day. Get on the bike, lock into your numbers, and go.

The final upgrade is not a piece of gear, but it is just as important: a proper bike fit. A good fit can reduce injury risk, improve comfort, and put you in a more efficient, power-producing position. It can completely transform how you ride.

The Run

One super simple and cheap upgrade is a pair of quick elastic laces for your shoes. Tying your shoes off the bike is annoying and wastes valuable time in transition.

And I will add one final recommendation, though I don’t believe it’s absolutely necessary, and that is carbon-plated shoes. Carbon-plated shoes have taken the running world by storm, and they do improve speed. But fitness still matters most, and I believe that a decent pair of light, comfortable running shoes works just fine.

What Matters Most

It is easy to get swept up in the endless stream of gadgets, upgrades, and marginal gains, but at the end of the day, consistency and hard work will always matter more than carbon this or aerodynamic that.

A good watch, a few key swim tools, a comfortable and efficient bike setup, and gear that removes friction from training and racing will take you a long way.

Combine a few of these upgrades and pair it with a big engine and you’ll rip.

Rob Watson is a former professional runner and a current triathlete focused on the 70.3 distance. He is also the Head Coach of Mile2Marathon Vancouver: visit https://mile2marathon.com for more information.