Founded in 1990, De Soto Triathlon Company (De Soto Clothing Company, Inc.) has established itself as the most visible brand of apparel at any triathlon around the world. Founded by triathletes, Emilio De Soto and Dan Neyenhuis, the San Diego-based company leverages over 25 years of experience in international triathlon competition in every product it designs and creates, thereby selling the most innovative products used in this popular endurance sport.

De Soto makes technical garments for men and women designed with comfort and style, most of which can be used for swimming, biking, and running, eliminating the need to change. De Soto also offers a complete line of workout apparel, accessories and gear all of which transcend well into many other sports and exercise.

During the first year of business, De Soto shared an office and warehouse with Quintana Roo, which at the time was owned by Dan Empfield, the inventor of the triathlon wetsuit and triathlon-geometry bicycle, and more recently the triathlon news site Slowtwitch.com.

Throughout the 1990's the majority of products designed by De Soto have become the original concept and basis for the products developed by competitors today. From the transition pack, to the trisuit and tri shorts with thin cycling pads, to tri jerseys with zippers, and run shorts with pockets...even the mesh running cap, were developed first by De Soto.

In 2001, De Soto introduced the T1 Wetsuit, a revolutionary two-piece wetsuit designed not only to keep you warm in cold water, but also to correct your body position making swimming more efficient and faster. The two-piece concept allows a customer to buy a separate top and bottom to optimize proper fit. It also offers a modular method of purchasing pieces to either accommodate for varying water temperatures or simply to replace or upgrade to a newer model without having to buy a completely new wetsuit. The popularity of the T1 has grown progressively and is commonly referred to as the MAC of wetsuits in a PC world of one-piece wetsuits. De Soto remains the only company making a production two-piece wetsuit. The innovations continue to flow as new products are added to the T1 Wetsuit line each season.

In 2004, the company moved to its current location, a 30 year old building the company bought and has remodeled on the inside with vibrant colors, soft lighting, fresh ocean breezes from sliding glass doors (instead of air conditioning), and a south facing balcony to enjoy the mild year-round San Diego climate.

The De Soto Custom Team Apparel Program was announced in 2006. De Soto now offers a collection of their most popular garments customized with designs and graphics for teams as well as events. Every year there are hundreds of races, clubs, private, corporate, and university teams purchasing apparel with their unique graphics.

De Soto has a product line of approximately 75 different styles designed with original and unique features including innovative fit, functionality, fabric, colors, and manufacturing technology. Competitors continue to look to De Soto to preview new trends.

De Soto customers are comprised of a small, sophisticated group of people who are athletic, professionally driven with high discretionary incomes, and do their research before buying any product. They play as hard as they work, and they enjoy all the gifts this wonderful earth has to offer. De Soto remains a small company with energetic, enthusiastic and friendly employees. Some are triathletes, some are not. The work environment, though casual in attire and filled with music, is extremely creative, constructive, and active.

The success of this Company has always been measured by customer satisfaction. No company in the world responds to the needs of their customers faster and with more care and consideration than the De Soto team. Priorities at De Soto are the utmost quality product and customer service, both on the retail and wholesale level. These simple philosophies are the rule:

1. The customer is always right.
2. Make the customer glad they are our customer.

The Founders:

Emilio De Soto
The Cuban-born (now American citizen) is the front man of the company. He has a degree in Mechanical Engineering (University of California, Santa Barbara), and an MBA in Marketing (San Diego State University). He credits his apparel knowledge to the experience he gained when he was sponsored by an apparel company during his career as a professional triathlete. He is now racing in a record-breaking 27th consecutive season of triathlon competition and competes at the world championship amateur level. Emilio is also a certified coach and fitness trainer. He enjoys trail and beach runs, ocean swims, surfing, paddling, camping and snowboarding, which he spends a significant amount of time doing each winter in Canada.

Dan Neyenhuis
Born and raised in Southern California, Dan is also an alumnus of the University of California, Santa Barbara where he played water polo. He is a successful entrepreneur and has owned multiple restaurants, catering companies, and other businesses. Dan is an accomplished age-group triathlete, waterskier, and a 20-year veteran of helicopter skiing.