Hi Guys,
Hope you’ve all had a great month.
It’s very rare that I get this excited about writing a product review, but I really couldn’t wait to put this one out there for you to read. For the past couple of weeks, I’ve been working with Orca to test their latest 2025 triathlon range of wetsuits. We were put in touch by a pro triathlete friend who waxed lyrical about how good these suits are and thought it would be a good idea for us to meet up.
To say I was impressed with the suits I tested would be a huge understatement. The performance of all the suits was nothing short of incredible. What was also impressive was the thinking and technology that went into their design. To summarise: the suits are designed with different types of swimmers in mind, based on their body type and how they sit in the water. They also have a varied selection that can work for all budgets.
There are three different wetsuits available under their top-of-the-range 2025 lineup, which is the APEX range:
- The Flow (Most advanced – combined buoyancy & flexibility) – £749
- The Flex (More neutral buoyancy / most flexible) – £599
- The Float (The most buoyant suit) – £499
There’s also a slightly cheaper range called the ATHLEX range, again with all three types of suits:
- The Flow – £399
- The Flex – £299
- The Float – £249
The first wetsuit I actually tested was the Apex Float suit, but this was the 2024 model (I tested the 2025 suits a few weeks later when they became available). It was love at first swim—from a speed and “moving through the water” feel perspective—but the wetsuit size was clearly too small for me, as I was getting fatigued in the shoulders. The suit just felt too tight. I’m 5’10” and weigh 72 kg. The size they sent was a 6, but I definitely needed a 7, as I have quite wide shoulders.
For the first swim, I just swam easy 100s and was averaging about 1:22–1:25 with surprising ease. This was about 6–8 seconds faster than my usual easy pace. I also gave the suit a proper test on a different day and swam 1.9 km at 70.3 race pace. This came out at 28:50 (1:31/100m) at an RPE of 7/10.
Despite the size issue, the wetsuit otherwise felt incredibly smooth, stable and balanced. I thought it might have too much buoyancy for me, but it was actually perfect. I didn’t even need to think about my legs. I just knew it could feel so much better if it were just a little bigger—which proved to be right when I tested the 2025 range. (That’s why I’ve included the times I swam in it) Just shows how crucial finding the right wetsuit size is.
I then finally got to test the 2025 Apex Float, Apex Flow, and the Athlex Float. The performance was astounding from a speed perspective. Most importantly, they felt incredible to swim in. What I mean by that is they felt completely stable, and my body position felt horizontal with no need to do anything with my legs whatsoever.
From a speed perspective, I’ll be honest and say that all three suits were equally fast. I tested them all over 100s and couldn’t believe how easy it was to swim under 1:20/100m at a moderate intensity. What was very interesting was how different the suits felt to swim in. It’s not easy to describe, because these are subtle feelings and sensations that may differ from one swimmer to the next.
All I would say is that the Apex Float felt incredibly stable, balanced, smooth, powerful, and fast—like driving an Aston Martin V8. There was hardly any shoulder tightness and, like with all the suits I tried, relatively little rubbing or aggravation in the neck area, as they sit nice and low on the neck. I honestly believe this suit will become the go-to suit for most swimmers (performance- and cost-wise), especially those who may need extra support in the legs. The extra buoyancy makes you feel like you are absolutely flying across the surface of the water with such ease.
The Apex Flow has all of the above, but what stood out was how flexible it is in the shoulders. To be honest, I’ve never felt anything quite like it—there is almost no tension at all. It almost feels like you’re not wearing a suit. Another noticeable difference was underwater. I could come into a bent-arm catch with such ease—it actually felt better than when I swam without a suit, which really baffled me at first! I think this is due to the panelling system under the arms and the fact the suit is tapered in thickness from shoulder to elbow to wrist. As it gets thinner, the material changes, which seems to allow for an incredibly snappy bent-arm pull on the water. It feels amazing. I also sensed slightly less buoyancy with this suit, but still more than enough to support my legs and keep me from even thinking about them.
What was also remarkable: I tested this suit over 3.8 km at Ironman pace (RPE 6/10) and swam 56:59 (1:30/100m pace). All I can say is—it felt like driving a Ferrari. Swim excitement levels were off the scale. I was also faster for less effort over double the distance compared to the 2024 suit that was too small for me.
Could I choose between the two suits? Absolutely not. They both felt amazing, but in different ways. I would happily give them both a 10/10 for fit, performance and feel.
I also tried the Athlex Float suit which, for its price, had the same level of performance speed-wise as the two more expensive suits. The only difference was that it felt a bit tighter through the shoulders while swimming. Apart from that, it gets a firm 9/10 overall.
I also tested their Orca Killa 180 swim goggles. I’m about 15 sessions in, and I never thought I’d say this about a pair of goggles… they haven’t fogged up or leaked at all! The visibility is also crystal clear and sharp and they seemed to fit my face perfectly. They look super cool and come in a range of colours. Again, they get a full house 10/10 from me for performance, fit and clarity of vision.
I have to congratulate Orca on producing such an outstanding range of triathlon kit. It’s no wonder many of the top pros are using these suits—Hayden Wilde, Ashleigh Gentle, Josh Amberger, to name but a few. Like I said excitement levels were off the scale as I was testing them—this rarely ever happens. They seem to have put tremendous thought and consideration into their entire product range so there’s something for everyone, with options to suit most budgets.
I was so impressed with their kit, I also placed an order for their top-of-the-range Apex Dream Kona Trisuit. I’ll write a review of this once I’ve tested it.
Race results
Kenanga Port Dickson Olympic Triathlon (Malaysia)
- Vicki Hill
- Splits: Swim 23:47 / Bike 1:05:19 / Run 44:08
- Total Time: 2:16:53
- 1st in the 50–54 category / 4th female overall
That’s 4 wins from 4 for The Pocket Rocket! What more can I say, other than what a sensational start to the season. She just continues to go from strength to strength with each race. She has a hot date in the Philippines with the Subic Bay 70.3… the question is…can she make it 5 from 5?
Venice 70.3
- David Magyar
- Splits: Swim 44:01 / Bike 2:49:11 / Run 1:40:52
- Total Time: 5:29:17
- 60–64 category
Huge congrats to ‘The Cuban Cigar’ (or should it be The Cuban Missile?) for this outstanding performance in Italy. A new fastest overall time over the distance, including new bike and run PBs. Loving your work as ever, DM — a race performance to be proud of.
The Outlaw
- Marcus Franklin
- Splits: Swim 31:05 / Bike 2:49:52 / Run 1:52:43
- Total Time: 5:25:20
- 35–39 category
Huge congrats to Marcus for completing his first 70.3 — and doing it so well! An absolutely brilliant first-time effort. A just reward for showing such discipline and self-control pacing-wise to achieve this result. Bodes well for the future.
Mallorca 70.3
- Peter Hicks
- Splits: Swim 31:31 / Bike 3:02:53 / Run 2:02:09
- Total Time: 5:47:21
- 25–29 category
Things didn’t quite go to plan for Peter in Mallorca, where his stomach quickly went south on the bike. We’ve all been there and know how debilitating that can be. Just super proud to see him battle through and get to the finish line. Sometimes, you have to show true grit and push through the best you can — and he showed real character in doing just that.
The Dorney Lake Triathlon (Sprint)
- Andrew Reardon
- Splits: swim 14:51/ bike 29:28 / run 20:58
- Total Time: 1:08:48
- 1st 45-49 category / 9th of 161 overall
A tremendous age group win for Andrew as he starts his 2025 build. Biking power and speed were off the scale with this one as he decimated the field. Just the boost he needed going into a busy summer of racing. The brutal Wales Triathlon comes next!
The Dorney Lake Triathlon (GB Sprint qualifier)
- Tony Jarvis
- Splits: swim 13:40/ bike 31:28 / run 20:32
- Total Time: 1:08:31
- 45-49 category
- Toby Dean
- Splits: swim 13:05/ bike 31:35 / run 47:17
- Total Time: 1:35:37
- 50-54 category
Great to see the boys putting themselves out there at the incredibly tough Dorney Lake qualifiers. Both put in terrific performances for very different reasons. Tony hasn’t raced for a long time so to see him back out there racing hard and well was a joy to see. Toby on the other hand only planned to do the swim and bike due to a calf injury. He walked the run but out in the 4th fastest swim and the fastest bike in his age group. Plenty more to come this year from these two.
Ultra-Swim 33.3 (Croatia)
- Dominic Herbert
- Total Time: 9:46:14
- 5th in the 50–59 category / 12th male overall
To say that the 33.3 swim in Croatia was a character-building experience for Dominic would be a huge understatement. The conditions across the five days were challenging, to say the very least — even for a swimmer of his calibre. But, as he always does, he battled on and completed every day.
UTMB – Ultra-Trail Snowdonia – 25km (1330m of elevation!)
- Kendra Marsh
- Total Time: 3:15:35
- 1st in the 50–54 category / 9th female overall
What a girl! Huge congrats to swim squadder Kendra (and New Levels Coaching) for this incredible performance on one of the most brutal run courses out there.
What I’ve been watching & reading this month…
One of the most fascinating podcasts I have ever had the privilege to listen to. In a revealing episode of The Diary of a CEO, Chris Eubank Jr. delves into the personal and professional challenges surrounding his April 2025 victory over Conor Benn. He discusses the intense pressure of upholding his family’s boxing legacy, the emotional strain of a strained relationship with his father, and the grief of losing his brother, whose son he now raises. Eubank Jr. also shares insights into the fights near cancellation, his hospitalization afterward, and the mental resilience required to persevere through adversity. This candid conversation offers a profound look into the complexities of identity, legacy, and personal growth beyond the boxing ring.
The Way Home by Mark Boyle is a warm, thought-provoking memoir about his bold choice to ditch modern technology and live off-grid in the Irish countryside. From building his own cabin to foraging and lighting fires the old-fashioned way, Boyle shares the joys and struggles of a simpler, slower life. It’s a charming and often funny reminder of how freeing it can be to unplug and reconnect—with nature, with ourselves, and with what really matters. Pure escapism and a joy to read.
Another book I’ve been reading this month has been about British runner Seb Coe, one of the greatest middle distance runners the world has ever seen. The book is called – Running My Life – The Autobiography: Winning On and Off the Track. It’s a fascinating insight into his journey from being young a boy who loved running to winning Olympic gold and setting multiple world records along the way. It also charts his journey to becoming a politician and then the becoming the President of the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF). What really peaked my interest was reading about his great rivalry with Steve Ovett. I fondly remember back to that time where the nation was divided on these two incredible athletes, you were either in Team Coe or Team Ovett. What a wonderful time the 80’s were for British Middle distance running. This lead me onto watching this nostalgic documentary below called The Clash Of the Titans – Ovett versus Coe which brought back some terrific memories. Well worth watching.
Team out & about this month
After smashing it at training camp and celebrating a podium, it was time for the stag and hen do! Brilliant to see these two triathlon lovebirds swapping race kits for party gear and letting their hair down before the big day. Bring on the wedding!
Our swim squad super model doing what she does best, making some old skool Team Nagi kit look good!
Guess the flying daredevil swim mermaid? (she can also do this off bar tables)
After victory, come the spoils of war
A Scotsman well and truly in his element, eating mountains for breakfast
Team Nagi swim ladies (and a few hubbies + future swim squader) on the prowl. I’m sure it wasn’t long after these amphibious creatures were in that water.