With the triathlon prep season in full swing in most parts of the country, so is our equipment testing team. This is the equipment they access regularly.
We’re testing out this year’s latest gear as athletes everywhere prepare for the 2026 season. Here’s what we get regularly. (Photo: triathlete)
Published April 24, 2026 at 12:24 pm
With the start of the triathlon season, we are hard at work testing the latest equipment that will be released on the market. In April, we swam nearly 100,000 yards to bring you The best glasses of 2026 And put The latest and greatest triathlon suits For testing in different bodies of water.
Once a month, we share some of the triathlon or side-by-side triathlon gear we enjoy that doesn’t quite fit into those in-depth reviews. Here’s a look at some of the fun things we’ll be using in April 2026.
Cuktech 30 Ultra Desktop Charging Station
Okay, I know what you’re thinking: a $160 power adapter, isn’t that a bit overkill, Chris? You’re not wrong, but bear with me. I charge a lot of devices as a gear tester/professional journalist/triathlete/geek, and I hate the bowl of spaghetti that my desk drawer has become. It’s one thing to have a million cables for every smartwatch charger ever invented, but it’s a whole different thing to have a pile of wall bricks – all of which have varying amperage outputs that either charge quickly or sometimes don’t charge at all.
And as a triathlete who loves flashy, futuristic desktop gaming (see: ultra-futuristic mechanical keyboard), this Jetsons-style desktop charger powers my laptop — or a super-powerful gaming laptop with DC if that’s your cup of tea — my phone, a bunch of smartwatches, GPS watches, cycling computers, electronic transfer batteries, and anything else my geeky little heart desires. Better yet: There are little LED readouts that show how much power each port is sending out to make sure the thing is actually charging the way it should be.
-Chris Foster, Editor-in-Chief
Roca glasses x1
Every time I need to replace old glasses, I think: “I should try something really new.” But after the new glasses arrived, it turns out I hate them, and I always end up going back to my beloved Roka X1s.
How can I not? They are the perfect glasses: well made, extremely comfortable, and don’t leave me with raccoon eyes. The latter is most important on days when I skip the hour-long swim before meets (fortunately, the meets are on TriathleteSuch absentee behavior is not only tolerated, but encouraged.) And when I really need to get down to business—that is, when my work for the day begins with a starting gun and not a company Slack message—the wide field of view is ideal for open water.
-Susan Lackey, Senior Editor
Chaco Chilos Slices
It’s finally the time of year when walking outside doesn’t require layering or tying up your clothes. It’s sandal season! The slip-on shoes make a short trip outside easy—a quick walk around the neighborhood after lunch, a short step out the back door for yard work, or slow evenings pushing my kids into the swing.
Chaco Chillos are very simple to make. I can put them on and take them off easily (no straps or buckles to attach them), the footbed handles moisture well after swimming, and I can easily wipe them clean of the inevitable mud this time of year.
My narrow feet appreciate that these slides have an adjustable width. I’ve tried a variety of Recovery sandals Which is just too broad and dirty for me. And while I wouldn’t rank the Chilos shoes anywhere near the more luxurious concept of a recovery sandal, they do provide a comfortable footbed for everyday wear.
– Rebecca Pratley, associate editor
