Importance of equipment:

• Problems with equipment can crop up at any time. However, by choosing good quality equipment and keeping it properly maintained, you can reduce the risks.
• Some material details, such as weight or streamlining, can allow you to gain time without any additional effort.
• Using comfortable equipment that is suitable for your morphology reduces risks of injuries.

Choosing, preparing and maintaining equipment:

• For races, use only equipment that has already been tested and adjusted during training.

Swimming:

• Choose a wetsuit that is not too tight and that leaves no empty spaces.
• The wetsuit must be new enough so that the neoprene material has not lost any of its original buoyancy.
• A sleeveless wetsuit is slightly more comfortable but provides less protection against the cold and is slightly less streamlined. It also provides less buoyancy.
• After each use, rinse your wetsuit in warm water and dry it (not in the sun).
• Your goggles must be new enough so that the antifog treatment is still effective.
• Tighten your goggles sufficiently so that they do not move during the bustle of triathlon starts.
• Using an additional swimming cap is effective to protect against the cold.

Cycling:

• The choice of bicycle is based on financial, technical and aesthetic criteria.
• A good bicycle must be light-weight, rigid, aerodynamic, sturdy and beautiful.
• Your bicycle must be adjusted to give the best compromise between comfort and aerodynamics.
• When you change your bicycle, make sure the new one is adjusted exactly the same way as the old one in order to avoid injuries.
• If you are a beginner, seek the help of someone competent to adjust your bicycle.
• Clean your bicycle regularly.
• Lubricate your bicycle chain regularly.
• Your shoes must be comfortable but tight enough (generally, tighter than running shoes).
• Choose shoes that are easy to put on for quick transitions.
• The helmet must be of good quality. Do not forget to wear your helmet whenever you cycle, as it could save your life.
• Cycling glasses protect your eyes from the sun, dust and insects.
• Do not neglect comfort when choosing your glasses.
• Your clothes must be suitable for the weather conditions.
• When it is cold or raining, your clothes must wick away perspiration and keep out the wind and rain.
• Wear several thin layers rather than one thick layer.
• During very hot weather, apply sunscreen and cover your shoulders and the back of your neck.
• Your cycling clothes should be washed often enough to prevent skin irritations.

Running:

• Your running shoes must be suitable for your running style and morphology.
• You should find a compromise between their weight, stability and cushioning.
• Gains made on weight result in losses in terms of stability and cushioning.
• The ideal solution is to have at least two pairs of running shoes, a light-weight pair for races and another more stable pair with good cushioning for training sessions.
• To save time during transitions, replace the laces in your racing shoes with elastic laces.
• Your shoes' cushioning and stability will not last forever, so you should change your shoes regularly in order to avoid injuries.

Conclusion:

• Neglecting your equipment increases the risks of sustaining injuries or having equipment problems.