My Top 10 Training Essentials

Training for an IRONMAN triathlon requires a lot of gear, and over time you figure out what actually matters and what doesn’t. In this edition, I’m going to walk through my top 10 training essentials and why I keep coming back to them.

This isn’t ranked from most important to least important. Instead, I’ve broken everything down by discipline: Swim, bike, and run each have their own section, and then I’ve got a miscellaneous category for the stuff that just helps me perform better overall.

These are the things I use consistently, the stuff that’s actually made a difference in my training, not just things that look good sitting on a shelf.

Swim:

• Arena Cobra Swipe Goggles ($60) - These are easily my go-to goggles. They don’t fog up nearly as much as anything else I’ve used, and the fit is solid once you get them dialed in. In long sets or open water, the last thing you want to deal with is adjusting goggles every few minutes, and these pretty much eliminate that.

• Arena Pull Bouy ($25) - Nothing fancy here, but it’s something I use all the time. It helps isolate your upper body and clean up your form, especially when you’re tired. It’s one of those simple tools that actually makes a difference if you use it consistently.

Bike:

• Wahoo Element Roam Bike Computer (~$400) - This is basically the control center for all my rides. It tracks everything I care about like power, speed, distance, and keeps workouts structured. It’s also super easy to use, which matters more than people think when you’re mid-ride and don’t want to mess with settings.

• Wahoo Kickr Core ($549) - This is what gets me through winter and bad weather days. Trainer rides are not always fun, but they’re effective. You can lock in specific power zones and get really quality sessions done without worrying about traffic, weather, or anything else. Be sure to check out my previous gear review on the Kickr Core in the Blog section!

• Good Quality Bib Shorts ($80-250) - This is one of those things you don’t cheap out on. If you’re spending hours on the bike, comfort matters. A good pair of bibs can be the difference between a solid ride and a miserable one.

  • For me, I’ve rotated between a few brands that I keep going back to:

    • Rapha Pro Team line is probably the most “race feel” out of the three. Super compressive, very locked in, and feels fast. The chamois is built for long rides and harder efforts, and the overall fit is pretty dialed.

    • Pedal Mafia bibs are a little more relaxed but still high quality. They’re comfortable for everyday training and still hold up on longer rides. Kind of that middle ground between performance and comfort.

    • Santini bibs are what I’d call the most traditional feel. Really solid for long distance stuff, especially with their chamois setup. They’ve been around forever for a reason, and they just work.

    At the end of the day, it’s less about the brand and more about finding something that you can sit in for 2 to 5 hours without thinking about it. Once you find that, you stick with it.

Run:

• Experia Socks ($15) - These are simple, but they work. They’re lightweight, breathable, and I don’t have issues with blisters when I use them. It’s a small thing, but small things add up over a lot of miles.

• Asics Gel Nimbus Series ($160) - This has been my go-to daily trainer. It’s reliable, comfortable, and holds up well over time. Not every run needs to feel fast, and this shoe makes it easy to just get miles in without beating up your legs.

MiscelLANEOUS:

• Normatec Recovery Boots ($700) - These are definitely more of a luxury, but they help. After long training days, especially heavy bike or run sessions, they’re great for recovery. It’s not magic, but it makes a noticeable difference in how your legs feel the next day.

• Powerbar Powergel and Precision Hydration Carb Mix - This is what I rely on during longer sessions. You need fuel if you want to perform well, and this combo has worked consistently for me. It’s easy on the stomach and does what it’s supposed to do.

• Homestyle Rice Krispy’s - This is more of a real food option that I like mixing in. Simple carbs, easy to eat, and honestly just a nice break from gels all the time. Sometimes you just want something that feels like actual food.

Conclusion:

At the end of the day, none of this stuff is overly complicated. There’s a ton of gear out there, but you really don’t need everything. It comes down to finding what works for you and sticking with it.

These are just the things I’ve used consistently and trust in my own training. Stuff that’s held up over time, helped me stay comfortable, and actually made a difference when the volume starts to add up.

Training for an IRONMAN is already demanding enough. The last thing you want is to be thinking about your gear mid-session.

If it works, it works.