Blueseventy

Fusion Full Wetsuit - Women's

Some of us aren't, believe it or not, professional triathletes, so we have to strike a balance between performance and affordability. Lucky for us, Blueseventy understands our predicament and made the Fusion Women's Wetsuit, which brings features from both the top-shelf Helix and race-ready Reaction to create an impressive suit without the cringe-worthy price tag. The Fusion isn't designed for beginners, by any means, but it doesn't have the eye-watering feature array of the Helix. It does, however, boast the same ultra-thin S-Grip forearm panels, which are designed to increase awareness of arm positioning, in turn boosting power, enhancing technique, and reducing injury risk. And, like its big sisters, it focuses on buoyancy and flexibility, the characteristics most important to serious triathletes.

To that end, Blueseventy coated the entire Fusion with SCS, a hydrophobic friction-reducing layer that lets you cut through the water like a hot knife through butter (it also gives the suit a sweet shiny finish). Thin 1.5mm gusseted underarms improve fit and ease core and shoulder rotation, while the single-seam tube legs maximize flexibility and offer quick removal when you're in the transition zone. Blueseventy also sealed the inner seam with liquid taping, which increases durability and lets you cut the legs to your preferred height. 

Buoyancy is perhaps the most important wetsuit feature for triathletes, as it reduces the percentage of your body that's actually moving through the water, in turn minimizing drag and maximizing efficiency. The Fusion boasts a thick 5mm lower-body panel and 3mm upper-body panel, concentrating buoyancy around the hips, lower torso, and upper hamstrings, which helps you achieve an efficient and powerful "downhill" swimming position (as well as a natural roll when breathing) so you can focus on propelling yourself forward and not on raising yourself up and out of the water.

To finish things off, Blueseventy outfitted the Fusion with a thin neckline for easier breathing and a lowered collar that reduces chafing and keeps the traditional rear zipper from digging into your neck. Additionally, the silicone cuffs sport an Aquaseal gasket, which prevents unpleasant water entry and and won't catch when you're removing the suit, saving you valuable transition seconds.