The MP Xpresso jammer is the first suit released from a partnership between Michael Phelps and AquaSphere. The suit is comparable with top-of-the-line suits from many well-established manufacturers. Worth trying on, at least.
Description
The MP Expresso Jammer is the result of a partnership between suit manufacturer AquaSphere and Michael Phelps, the most decorated olympian of all time. AquaSphere is not a well-known swimwear brand, despite being on the sport equipment scene for over 18 years and having considerable experience in the triathlon and rec swimming space. In fact, the MP Xpresso Jammer is, currently, their only tech suit. Despite being a newcomer, AquaSphere have produced a good product, worthy of being considered alongside Speedo’s LZR Racer X and Arena’s Powerskin Carbon jammers.
AquaSphere was originally established in Genoa, Italy in 1998. The Xpresso jammer was designed and manufactured in Italy. The company now has offices in California. Michael Phelps partnered with AquaSphere in August 2014. Phelps said, “I really wanted a suit that allows me to have a better range of motion and that allows me and my body to move naturally through the water.” He calls the MP Xpresso the most comfortable and fastest suit he has ever worn.
The Xpresso is constructed using Aqua Sphere’s proprietary Exo-Foil Fabric. The fabric uses two different fabrics to give extra compression. The Exterior uses 56% Polyamide and 44% Elastane. (Polyamide is also known as Nylon while Elastane is known as Lycra.) Nylon provides a comfortable fit and absorbed less water than other appropriate fabrics, like polyester. Lycra (AKA Spandex) is the material that gives technical suits stretch and compression.
This suit has one of the highest amounts of Spandex of any technical suit on the market, which helps form a great fit. The Speedo LZR Racer X, for example, is constructed using a 65% Nylon / 35% Lycra material. The Arena Powerskin Ultra jammer has slightly higher Lycra content, constructed using 50% Nylon / 47% Lycra / 3% Carbon fiber.
While Lycra provides great compression and is very water resistant, it is not a comfortable fabric. A fabric constructed from 40-50% Lycra is not soft on the skin. Aquashere, therefore, use a 77% polyamide and 23% Elastane blend for the suit’s lining. The higher nylon content adds extra comfort to the suit. The result is a comfortable suit, which compresses the leg muscles yet provides a good range of motion.
The MP Xpresso is constructed using panels that, according to AquaSphere, “follow the femoral artery,” which delivers blood to the lower legs and feet. AquaSphere call this feature Aqua Core and claim that these panels increases circulation, helping with muscle recovery.
The Aqua Core panels are joined using bonded seams, which deliver a much lower profile than traditional ditched seams, therefore delivering less drag on the swimmer. This type of construction has become common in high-end tech suits.The MP Xpresso also uses silicone leg grips to provide a tight fit.
The suit is available in black & yellow, black & silver, blue & black and a USA flag edition.
All-in-all, the Michael Phelps Xpresso jammer delivers a solid feature set. Swimmers using the suit compare it to many other high-end tech suits from reputable brands, like Speedo and Arena.
Ratings & Reviews
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