You already pack a transition towel. Most triathletes use it as a foot mat, stand on it for ten seconds, and leave it behind in T1. That towel can do a second job: protect your wetsuit from sand, pavement grit, and sharp folds while the suit sits damp in your gear bag. The change costs nothing and adds no real time to your transition.
At Blue70 we have watched this small habit play out for years. Our suits use Yamamoto neoprene in 38, 39, and 40 cell. The higher the number, the more flexible the neoprene. That flexibility gives the Helix its free shoulder rotation, but it also means the thin arm and shoulder panels crease more easily when you stuff a wet suit into a bag after a cold swim. A hard fold concentrates stress along one line. Repeat that across a race season and you can end up with a crease that never fully relaxes.
The Towel's Original Use Was Marking Your Spot
In early triathlon days, athletes grabbed whatever beach towel was in the car. Thick cotton soaked up water, added weight, and dried slowly. Most competitive triathletes now pack microfiber. A thin microfiber towel folds flat into a gear bag and dries quickly enough to reuse after the race. The first real job of the towel in a crowded transition area was marking space. A bright towel defined the small rectangle where you could rack your bike and lay out shoes without someone else's gear drifting into your spot. That visual marker still helps at age-group races with tight racks.
Wet Neoprene Hates a Sharp Fold
Lay a wet wetsuit flat on a towel, then fold the towel over it once. This spreads the bend across a wider curve instead of one hard line. Slide the bundle into your transition bag. If you keep a thin towel folded inside the bag, it also soaks up water that would otherwise pool in the bottom and weigh down your gear on the run to T2.
The T1 Sequence
- Place a microfiber towel flat next to your bike, half of it where you will stand and half dry.
- Pull the wetsuit down to your hips as you walk out of the water.
- Stand on the towel at your rack spot and finish removing the suit.
- Lay the suit flat on the dry half.
- Fold the towel over the suit once and place the bundle in your transition bag or under your shoes.
This sequence takes no more time than your current routine. The difference is that your wetsuit goes into the bag without hard creases or pavement grit.
What to Look for in a Transition Towel
- Microfiber fabric roughly the size of a bath mat
- Large enough to stand on with dry fabric left for the suit
- A bright color that is easy to spot from the swim exit
- A hanging loop or clip to attach it to your transition bag
- Smooth, low-pile surface that sheds sand more easily than plush cotton
Avoid thick cotton towels on race day. They hold water, get heavy, and stay wet long after you finish. The same towel you use to stand on can wrap the wetsuit before it goes in your bag.
After the Finish Line
When you get back to your rack after the run, use the same towel to wrap the wetsuit before it goes into your bag. That keeps the rest of your gear dry and limits the damp smell that builds when a sealed suit sits for hours. At home, rinse the suit in fresh water, turn it inside out, and lay it flat to dry out of direct sun. Do not wring the suit. Wringing adds twist stress to the neoprene. The towel goes in the washing machine and gets packed for the next race.
What Changes Next in Transition Gear
Quick-dry fabrics, antimicrobial treatments, and packable mats already show up in gear bags. Some include small pockets for race chips or goggles. A towel that doesn't protect the wetsuit is still only a foot mat. The useful improvement is one you make with your hands: wrap the suit before you run.
At Blue70, we build wetsuits for swimming, not surfing or diving. The neoprene is tuned for shoulder rotation and body position in the water. That suit deserves a little protection in transition. For the full care and fitting routine, visit our fitting and wear guide.
