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From the circumference of your biceps to the nature of your sweat, there isn’t a tiny detail that goes unnoticed when designing a custom tri race suit with Mauna Apparel. So naturally, I had to see what the hype was all about.
The process began with a short, but detailed phone call—measurements, preferences, and anticipated race conditions all came up.
“We have over 200 fabrics to choose from, but the top performing ones are about 20-30 different fabrics, and we suggest from those 20-30 fabrics, based on what [athletes] tell us” said co-founder Gonzalo Duarte.
After providing a mood board and submitting my measurements to the designers, Mauna brought it all together in record time—16 days to be exact. However, normal production time is between 30 and 40 days, so plan ahead.
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Mauna Apparel Custom Tailored Suit Review: The Basics
A quick-to-dry suit made with four-way stretch fabric, Mauna’s custom kit meets all the basic needs: The back pocket, which appears small, surprisingly holds up to six Maurten gels; the sleeves are longer, which is something I requested, but still short enough that they didn’t negatively impact my performance.
The top portion of my suit unzips all the way, permitting air flow on hotter days. However, I was convinced that unzipping it would be unnecessary given how lightweight the material is.
Note: This was a feature I selected during the consultation, more options are offered.
The fabric, while thin, isn’t see-through. Although lighter colors might lead to different results. For the base colors, I went with teal blue on top and black on the bottom—a simple, but classy pairing. The Mauna Apparel custom suit also boasts UV protection, chlorine resistance, and is water repellent.
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Mauna Apparel Custom Tailored Suit Review: The Good
Admittedly, when I first unwrapped my very own custom suit, I thought it was too small. After a few minutes of wiggling into the pre-measured kit, I concluded that the off-season holiday cookies had finally caught up to me.
Like a second skin, comfort was the theme of my 45-mile test bike ride from San Luis Obispo, California, to the small town Cayucos where I ordered one of Hidden Kitchen’s famous blue corn waffles.
Although I can’t attest to the UV protection, as I couldn’t get in an open-water swim, the suit was adaptable in the water, with minimal tugging in the shoulders. I even managed to hold a faster-than-normal pace during my pool workout.
A week later, I hopped on the trainer for my Saturday ride, a foolproof workout I was bound to sweat through. While I wouldn’t recommend wearing a race kit for a trainer session, the suit’s fabric seemed to work harmoniously with my body. Most noticeably, I could feel the steam emanating off my back, which I attributed to the breathable, mesh-like fabric.
And while looks aren’t everything, the design of the custom tri suit exceeded my expectations. Not only did Mauna work one-on-one with me to bring my ideas to life, but in-house designers made tweaks to improve them during the mock-up phase.
What I liked most about the design process is that there are no limits. For example, I requested a rainbow band around the arm sleeve, which Mauna perfectly executed. It’s undeniably one of my favorite aspects about the suit.
For those who are sponsored, there’s also an option to add brand or team logos.
During exercise, what impressed me most about the kit was the level of compression in the shorts. While some compressive fabrics leave imprints or squeeze into parts of your body, the Mauna kit has a soft and smooth finish that feels, and looks, super chic.
Unique to other brands is the option to choose the kind of chamois you want. I went with a hybrid chammy that gradually gets thicker, a feature that stood out most on the bike. The chamois, unlike those in tri kits I’ve worn in the past, is most padded where common pressure points are, making long rides more tolerable in a tri kit.
As I mentioned earlier, the pockets appear small, but hold a good amount of nutrition. One tiny detail that struck me as genius, is that the rear pockets are not connected, making it easier to grab a gel—an important spec for carb-fueled workouts.
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Mauna Apparel Custom Tailored Suit Review: The OK
Mauna’s tailored kit program certainly offers a top-tiered experience, but it comes with a hefty price. While some are willing to pay $450, I fear this luxury is inaccessible to those racing on a budget. Depending on performance goals, athletes might consider more affordable designs that Mauna offers.
When my suit arrived, I was somewhat disappointed by the stiff fabric left untrimmed around the zipper. Strapped for time, a quick at-home alteration with scissors sufficed. Thankfully I didn’t have any issues with it during my workouts. Therefore, I’d consider this a minor flaw.
After a sweaty session, the sweat-soaked kit clung to my skin. This is a great feature if you’re looking to improve aerodynamics, however, it could make changing during a race more difficult. On the bright side, I don’t see a reason why anyone would need, or want, to change out of a custom kit mid-race.
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Conclusions
Overall, Mauna’s customized kit is incredibly comfortable and looks sleek. I was most impressed with the breathable, yet supportive fabric. Having worn Zoot, 2XU, and Pactimo previously, I found this tri suit to be exceptional in comparison albeit more expensive.
To say the least, having a one-of-a-kind suit designed that’s specific to your body is a confidence-boosting upgrade that’s no longer only available to professional athletes.
The only thing that would make this kit better is a perfectly executed race day while wearing it.
