Castelli PR 3 vs Zone3 Aeroforce X II: Which Elite Tri Suit Should You Buy?
Both suits are built for the same job — non-drafting, middle and long-distance racing where every watt of drag matters — but they get there in different ways. Castelli’s PR 3 replaces the PR 2 as the brand’s flagship, while Zone3’s Aeroforce-X II was developed with aero specialists NoPinz and wind-tunnel tested at the Boardman Performance Centre. Here’s how they actually compare.
At a Glance
- Castelli PR 3 — 183g, 50-denier upper (the lightest fabric Castelli has used in a tri suit), minimalist KISS Tri Pad chamois, £280 at Tredz (RRP £400)
- Zone3 Aeroforce-X II — 199g (men’s M), Cytech Italian chamois, laser-cut arm/leg holes with silicone grip (no stitched seams), £349 direct from Zone3
Castelli PR 3
Developed with input from Laura Philipp, Paula Findlay and Rico Bogen and refined through more than a decade of Castelli’s aero suit research, the PR 3 is built around ribbed shoulder and sleeve texturing, minimal seams and extra-long leg openings that lie flat against the thigh. The KISS Tri Pad chamois has deliberately low volume — enough to protect against chafing over a full-distance bike leg, without the bulk that makes running in a suit uncomfortable. Practical touches include an integrated rear pocket, an asymmetric GPS pocket and an internal neck ice pocket for hot-weather racing.
Zone3 Aeroforce-X II
The Aeroforce-X II leans hardest into pure aerodynamics: laser-cut, unstitched arm and leg holes finished with a lightweight silicone grip, a low-profile neckline to reduce chafing at race pace, and a Japanese-sourced flexible zip that stays aero on the bike without restricting hip movement on the run. Its Cytech chamois is designed to work across every distance from sprint to full — reviewers have noted it’s on the minimal side for very long days in the saddle, which is a deliberate trade-off for a suit built primarily around outright speed.
Which Should You Choose?
If chamois comfort on a full-distance bike leg is your priority, the PR 3’s KISS Tri Pad and lower price at Tredz make it the easier recommendation — it’s also currently discounted well below its £400 RRP. If you’re chasing the most aggressive aero package specifically and are racing shorter or are comfortable with a minimal pad, the Aeroforce-X II’s wind-tunnel-tested cut is hard to beat. Neither suit is a beginner’s first tri suit — both are priced and built for athletes who already know their event distance and race position well enough to benefit from marginal aero gains.
For a broader shortlist across price points, see our best triathlon tri suits for men and best triathlon tri suits for women roundups.
This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support The Triathlete.
