We first brought the Great Ocean RT wetsuit to life in 2024, and we've now brought out the 2026 version, which is very similar to our original RT wetsuit with a few minor changes. The updates include refreshed graphics and some fit improvements. Our first RT wetsuit hit our goal, but like all athletes, you try to make it that little bit better with key input and constructive feedback from customers.
The idea behind the RT wetsuit was to engineer a wetsuit that someone getting into triathlon can use for both training and racing, as well as one that suits the everyday open water swimmer. The RT wetsuit is our cheapest wetsuit, but I don't like calling it an entry-level wetsuit, because it is anything but. It's designed for a purpose. Our SV2 and G2 wetsuits are race-tuned engineering machines, and yes, when you compare them to the RT, they're faster. But the RT wetsuit is superior for training, with higher durability, hi-vis orange graphics and more comfort through the miles. This isn't to say you can't train in the SV2 or G2, but the RT is less an “entry suit” and more a different class of suit altogether, built for the job of getting through the k's, week after week.
Built with Yamamoto 39-cell neoprene
The RT uses Yamamoto 39-cell neoprene throughout, in a balanced 3.0mm and 2.0mm panel layout. It's 3.0mm through the core, hips and legs, which is where you want the buoyancy and the elevated, streamlined body position to come from. It's 2.0mm through the shoulders, arms and underarms, which is where you want the flexibility, so your stroke rotation stays natural instead of fighting the suit with every reach. That balance is also why the RT suits a broader range of body shapes than our race suits, it's a more forgiving fit by design.
The tech that makes it work
• Flexrise Panels — the shoulder and core balance described above, tuned for a neutral, elevated body position from your first session.
• EDO (Easy On/Off) construction — panelling that makes the suit genuinely easier to get on and off, which matters every single time you train, not just on race day.
• RT Glide Coating — a hydrophobic outer skin that reduces water friction, so the suit moves through the water with less drag.
• TRGSWIM Durafit lining — for thermal comfort across a wider temperature range, so you're not limited to the warmest months to get your training in.
• YKK stainless steel zip, bottom-up — a small detail, but a reliable, faultless release is exactly what you want when you're peeling a wetsuit off mid-transition.
Wetsuit-legal, not just training-legal
Even though we've built the RT as a training suit first, it's still legal to race in. It meets World Triathlon and Ironman wetsuit-legal standards, with full coverage and panel thickness within the 5mm maximum. It's recommended for water temperatures between 13°C and 22°C, so it'll cover the vast majority of what you'll swim in across an Australian season. That means the suit you train in all week can also be the suit you line up in on race morning, you don't need to own two wetsuits to get started.
Why hi-vis matters
One thing we didn't compromise on is visibility. Training swims don't come with the safety boats and support crews you get on race day, so the RT's orange panelling is there to make sure you're seen, whether you're doing laps of your local bay at dawn or logging an open water session with the squad. It's a small design choice that speaks to what the suit is actually for: real training, in real conditions, not just a photo on race day.
Who it's for
If you're new to triathlon and want one wetsuit that can carry you through training and your first few races, the RT does that job well. If you're an experienced swimmer who trains most days and wants to save the race suit for race day, the RT is built to take the mileage without breaking down. And if you're simply an open water swimmer who wants warmth, buoyancy and a suit that will last a full season of regular use, this is where the RT earns its keep.
We built the RT because we believe the suit you train in matters just as much as the one you race in. If you're not looking after the k's in between, race day takes care of itself a lot less often than people think.