Every triathlon has two key transitions. T1 is the move from swim to bike. T2 is the move from bike to run. And T3 is what happens when the race is over. Activate West Wales, Loopeto and Triathlon Cymru have teamed up to launch – The Kit Transition Zone, T3, at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea.
As part of the Replay campaign, T3 is designed to help keep sports kit in use for longer, making sport more affordable, reducing waste, and supporting a more sustainable sporting community across Wales.
What is T3?
T3 is the third transition: the moment your sports kit moves on to its next athlete.
Many participants complete at events like IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea and find themselves with equipment they no longer need. Others have unused and unloved gear sitting in cupboards, garages or spare rooms that will realistically never be used again.
Rather than letting quality equipment gather dust or end up in landfill, T3 gives it the opportunity to continue its journey.
From running gear to triathlon clothing, wetsuits, swim accessories and cycling kit, athletes can donate items they no longer use and help someone else access sport.
How will it work at IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea?
Throughout the event weekend, athletes and spectators will be able to visit the T3 donation point located within the Triathlon Cymru area of the expo.
Simply:
- Sort through any kit you no longer use
- Bring it along to the T3 collection point
- Drop it off with the team
The aim is simple: make it as easy as possible for people to give, share, sell or repair sports kit instead of throwing it away.
If you don’t have any kit with you on race weekend, you can still take part by listing items from home through the Loopeto platform at any time.
What can be donated?
We’re encouraging donations of sports and triathlon-related equipment that still have plenty of life left in it.
Examples include:
- Running clothing and accessories
- Triathlon kit
- Wetsuits
- Goggles and swim accessories
- Cycling apparel
- Training gear
- Sports bags
- Other reusable sporting equipment
If it’s sports kit that somebody else could benefit from, we’d love to help find it a new home.
What happens after I donate?
Once dropped off, items will be:
- Checked for quality and suitability
- Professionally cleaned
- Listed on Loopeto’s online platform, either for free or for sale
- Made available for another athlete to access
Some items may be gifted, while others may be sold at affordable prices, helping ensure equipment remains accessible and in circulation.
This creates a simple circular system where good quality kit stays in use rather than becoming waste.
Why does it matter?
Sport should be accessible to everyone, but the cost of equipment can often be a barrier.
At the same time, there is a huge amount of waste in sports equipment. Every year, an estimated 454 tonnes of sports kit ends up in landfill, generating the equivalent of 32,400 tonnes of CO₂ – comparable to the carbon footprint of 32,400 London buses.
Through Replay, Activate West Wales is working to change this by promoting a circular sports economy where equipment is reused, repaired and shared.
By donating unwanted kit, athletes can:
- Help reduce waste
- Keep valuable equipment out of landfill
- Support other people to get involved in sport
- Extend the lifespan of sports products
- Contribute to a more sustainable sporting community
Replay: Keeping kit in play for longer
T3 forms part of Replay, Activate West Wales’ campaign to transform how we think about sports kit.
Working alongside Loopeto, we’re creating opportunities for clubs, organisations and individuals to keep equipment moving from one participant to the next.
The principle is simple: when a piece of kit has finished its journey with one athlete, it can begin a new journey with another.
Just like every race has a T1 and a T2, every piece of sports kit deserves a T3.
Get involved
If you’re attending IRONMAN 70.3 Swansea, take a look through your old gear before you travel.
Bring along the items you’ll never realistically use again and help give them a second life.
To find out more about Replay visit here.
