Fads in Triathlon: Why You Don’t Need Gadgets, Gimmicks, or the Next Big Supplement
Triathlons demand endurance, strength, strategy, and mental grit. Athletes constantly push their limits. Unsurprisingly, the market is flooded with gadgets, supplements, and so-called “miracle” products looking for an easy profit. Promises of performance enhancement abound, but how much of it is genuinely useful—and how much is just marketing hype?
Let’s explore some common fads and why they often fail to deliver real value.
Gadgets Galore: When Data Overwhelms Development
In today’s tech-driven world, athletes are bombarded with high-tech gadgets claiming to optimise performance. But just because a device looks impressive doesn’t mean it’s necessary. Here are a few examples you have recently seen ads for in your Instagram feed:
- At-Home Metabolic Gas Analysis Masks
These at-home devices promise to reveal how well your body burns fats versus carbohydrates during exercise. They’re pricey and provide data that’s neither accurate nor actionable for most athletes. Real metabolic efficiency comes from consistent training and smart nutrition—not the numbers from a single test using an expensive gadget. - “Smart” Insoles for Injury Prevention
Certain “AI-powered” insoles claim to enhance foot mechanics to prevent injuries and boost performance. While good footwear is essential, many of these insoles offer no more value than sticking to gradual training progression. It’s just more unnecessary, wild data to contend with. Rather than learning to read your body, you’re chasing illusive and useless data on a watch. - Wrist-Worn Swim Stroke Gadgets
Devices that measure swim stroke efficiency sound appealing, but what do they measure? What actionable feedback do they offer? It’s more data, a greater mental load, and more to concern yourself with during the little time you spend in the pool. Any swimmer would see far better results by refining their stroke through focused training rather than relying on unproven technology. - AI-powered “metabolic testing”
Some platforms promote themselves as accessible solutions for field-based aerodynamic and metabolic testing, boasting precise metrics like drag coefficients (CdA), rolling resistance, and metabolic profiling. However, these tools rely heavily on theoretical calculations, simplistic assumptions, and averages rather than actual measurements. Environmental factors compromise all reliability, making consistent results impossible. Although marketed as “easy to use,” the setup is overly complex and the system requires specific gadgets, meticulous protocols, and perfect conditions. These factors often lead to user error and frustration. The metabolic results the platform provides are not based on any direct measurements, but instead rely on assumed averages, offering no insight into how an athlete’s physiology actually functions. These oversights make the results misleading and impractical for meaningful application. For athletes and coaches seeking actionable insights, traditional methods or regular field testing remain far superior to these unreliable and overpriced platforms.
The issue with gadgets and gimmicks isn’t only the cost; it’s also the dependency they create on excessive data. These – often wholly inaccurate and unusable – data often distracts from what really matters: consistent, deliberate training.
The Supplement Industry: Marketing Magic or Overpriced Basics?
Triathletes are constantly pitched supplements promising enhanced performance, faster recovery, and better endurance. The reality? Most of these products are repackaged basics with inflated price tags.
If you’ve been on Instagram, you’ve seen the constant stream of ads for products like AG1. It’s a daily supplement that promises to cover a lot of your nutritional needs with just one scoop. Marketed as the ultimate “solution” for endurance athletes, AG1 combines a mix of greens, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics in one powder, promising better energy, improved recovery, and enhanced immunity. Marketed as a one-size-fits-all solution, AG1’s core ingredients are easily found elsewhere at a fraction of the cost. It’s a textbook case of premium pricing driven by branding rather than performance enhancement. AG1’s higher price point and heavy marketing spend are designed to make you feel like you need it in your daily routine - but you absolutely don't.
The supplement industry thrives on marketing the same ingredients in new, shiny packaging. All scientific evidence points out that you don’t need supplements if you eat a normal diet.
The Sugar Rush (for Profit)
Even within triathlon-specific nutrition, most “performance-enhancing” products boil down to variations of sugar. Take energy gels, for example—they typically contain a blend of glucose, fructose, and occasionally electrolytes. These same ingredients are found in many other formats, such as energy drinks or sports chews. What sets these apart? Often, it’s nothing more than clever branding, flashy packaging, and celebrity endorsements, which drive the inflated prices. Another common tactic is selling these sugar mix powders in individual, single-use sachets, making them appear more premium and convenient.
The joke that is sports nutrition, with huge, huge margins, is made clear by how accessible it is to start your own nutrition brand—bulk manufacturers offer you everything from product formulation to labelling and design, starting with a purchase of just 250 kg of a basic glucose/fructose mix. Essentially, much of the sports nutrition market is simply repackaged, basic ingredients marketed as innovative, and sold at a premium due to effective marketing, rather than any actual advancement in performance.
Here’s a look at how sports nutrition pricing can skyrocket for little added value. A simple DIY approach can offer precisely the same ingredients at a fraction of the price.
Example Table: Premium Vs Bulk Alternatives
Product
Branded Sachet (per use)
DIY Bulk Alternative (per use)
Savings (%)
Sports Gel
£1.50–£3.00
~£0.20
~80%
Electrolyte Mix
£1.00
~£0.10
~90%
Recovery Powder
£2.00
~£0.50
~75%
Ice Baths and Recovery Fads: Are They Worth It?
Ice baths have long been touted as a recovery miracle, promising reduced muscle soreness and faster recovery times. While there’s some evidence that cold-water immersion can reduce inflammation temporarily, the benefits are significantly overstated. If you like doing cold water immersion because you like doing a hard thing with friends or love the rush the cold water gives you, go ahead by all means, but it can’t in all honesty be touted as a recovery or health miracle worker.
Other tools, like compression garments or pricey gadgets, also promise benefits but often fall short of their claims due to limited scientific backing. Instead, the best recovery methods remain:
- Adequate sleep
- Proper nutrition
- Gradual adaptation to training loads
Recovery isn’t about quick fixes; it’s about giving your body what it needs to adapt and grow stronger.
The Real Secret to Performance: Stick to the Basics
At Sense Endurance, we believe that triathlon success doesn’t come from chasing fads, gadgets, or expensive supplements—it comes from mastering the fundamentals.
When athletes master the fundamentals, they’re not distracted by the next big thing, and they aren’t waiting for a quick fix. Instead, they remain focused on what works: smart, thoughtful training, proper recovery, and trusting the process. This mentality keeps athletes from burning out because it’s built on consistency and confidence in their own abilities, rather than relying on external solutions.
- Smart Training: Consistent, intentional effort beats any gadget. Refining your swim stroke, improving your cycling biomechanics, and running with efficiency are the real game-changers.
- Proper Fuelling: Forget pricey “superfoods” and trendy supplements. A balanced diet with simple carbs, lean proteins, and healthy fats powers your training and recovery better than any overpriced powder or pill.
- Effective Recovery: Quality sleep, proper nutrition, and smart pacing trump ice baths and fancy recovery tools. Long-term gains come from allowing your body the time and space to adapt.
Our coaching philosophy prioritises simplicity and consistency. By focusing on strength, endurance, and efficient movement—not distractions—you’ll unlock your true potential. Trends will come and go, but the fundamentals are timeless.
Let go of the noise, embrace what truly works, and watch your performance improve. Simplicity is your secret weapon. That’s the Sense Endurance way.