What to Carry in Your Trisuit Pockets | DTR

Carry gels, chews or a small soft flask in your trisuit pockets, and nothing you will not reach for within the next hour. DTR trisuits have two rear pockets, so the job is to load them for the bike leg and the first part of the run without bulk, bounce or a pocket you cannot get into at speed.

What fits in a trisuit pocket?

Gels, chews, an energy bar cut in half, a soft flask and a lightweight windproof layer when the forecast needs one. Rigid items bounce and press into your back in the aero position, so favour soft, flat items. Keep the heaviest item low and centred, and the one you will need first on the side you reach with your stronger hand.

How much should you carry by race distance?

It scales with how long you are out. In a sprint, one gel or nothing at all, because the bike is short. Over Olympic distance, one or two gels cover the bike. For long course, pockets take your first hour of nutrition and the rest lives on the bike or at aid stations. The sprint, Olympic and Ironman kit guides cover the full list for each.

Pockets on the bike or on the run?

Load them for the bike, then restock on the run. Anything you take on the bike is easier to reach from rear pockets than from a bento box in a hard effort. On the run, a gel in the pocket is usually enough between aid stations, so top up in T2 rather than carrying everything from the start.

How do you stop pockets bouncing or chafing?

Pack flat, pack snug and do not overfill. A half-empty pocket full of loose items moves; a pocket with two gels pressed together does not. If you feel rubbing, check the fit of the suit first: how a trisuit should fit explains what to look for, and chafing prevention covers the rest.

What should stay out of the pockets?

Keys, phones and anything hard or sharp. Phones are rarely allowed on course in a race and pressed against your back they are uncomfortable. Leave valuables in your bag, and note that wet items, such as a gel that has leaked, are better wrapped in its sachet than loose.

Trisuit pockets versus a jersey

Rear pockets on a trisuit are smaller and sit lower than the three on a road jersey, which suits a race where you carry less. For the jersey equivalent see cycling jersey pockets, and for the race-morning list the transition kit checklist.

FAQ

Do all trisuits have pockets?

No. Many race suits skip them. DTR trisuits have two rear pockets.

Can you fit a gel and a soft flask in a trisuit pocket?

Usually yes, if the flask is small and soft. Test it on a training ride before race day.

Is it allowed to carry food in your suit in a race?

Yes in almost every race. Rules on litter and aid-station drop zones apply, so check the athlete guide.

Choose your race suit: the DTR trisuits are at /collections/trisuits.

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DTR — performance cycling and triathlon apparel, designed and developed in Ukraine.