A Guide to Choosing Swimsuits

In the swimwear market, much of the advice and many of the consumer guides for swimsuits focus solely upon recreational swimwear. With a minimal amount of effort, women can quickly find hundreds of tips for selecting, sizing, and fitting a new fashion swimsuit or bikini to their unique body figure; such information can easily be obtained by conducting an online search or picking up any fashion magazine in early spring.
However, competitive, fitness, or serious swimmers often need similar advice on selecting, sizing, and fitting a competitive swimsuit, but have a considerable amount of trouble locating it. The world of swim wear fashion advice and swimwear tips has largely left serious swimmers to their own devices when choosing a swim suit. While the appearance of a swimsuit may not be as compelling an issue in competitive swimwear as it is in fashion swimwear, its fit and functionality are still just as important, if not more important.

Whether you have been swimming competitively for years or have just taken up lap swimming as a means of acquiring greater overall fitness, odds are you have had some unanswered questions and concerns when choosing a competitive swimsuit for your serious swimming pursuits. Below is a guide to shopping for and fitting a swimsuit designed for serious competitive swimming.

Shopping – What to Look For
Competitive swimsuits can run upwards of several hundred dollars, based upon the brand name and model of the swimsuit. While this figure may be out of the price range of some swimmers, it is still important for every serious swimmer to purchase a quality piece of swimwear. Competitive swimwear is designed for different reasons and purposes than fashion swimwear, and these differences should be evident in the design and fabric of the swimsuit. Here are some general tips for selecting the best quality swimsuit product for your money.

·Brand Names
Brand name may be more important than you think. The fact that brands such as Speedo and Jantzen have stayed on the market for several decades testifies to the quality of the swimwear they produce. However, newer brands like Tyr Swimwear have made a serious entry into the market. Before purchasing a swimsuit, be sure to do a little research on the brand you are leaning toward. Read some information about the company and see what past customers have had to say about the swimwear. A little consumer research can go a long way toward ensuring a quality, long-lasting swimsuit.

Swimsuit Function
Keep in mind the reason you are buying the swimsuit when browsing through stores. If you are selecting a swimsuit for casual lap swimming, speed facilitation may be less of a factor for you than swimsuit longevity. You may be able to cut some costs by looking at brand-name swimsuits designed without the latest innovations. If speed facilitation is your major requirement, be sure to compare brands and research product claims before purchasing. The advertising claims of the swimwear manufacturer may be more fancy words and big names than actual swimwear innovations.

Swimwear Sources
Do not assume that you need to buy a brand-name swimsuit from a high-end sports store or directly from the manufacturer. Many second-run fashion stores carry brand-name swimsuits that did not sell initially due to unpopular cut or color. If functionality and longevity are more important to you than appearance, these stores may provide better, more cost-effective swimsuit options for you.

Swimsuit Materials
Pay attention to the fabric of the swimsuit. Purchasing an expensive, brand-name swimsuit and quickly losing it to chlorine degradation and fraying would be very unfortunate, indeed. Well-made competitive swimsuits should contain a high percentage of Lycra/spandex material and should be treated for chlorine resistance. While no treatment can result in complete chlorine resistance, some sort of chlorine treatment can greatly lengthen the lifetime of your swimsuit. If you are unsure of the chlorine resistance of a particular swimsuit, feel free to ask the salesperson or call the manufacturer regarding this important concern.
With all of these thoughts in mind, you should now be ready to shop for and buy a competitive swimsuit. Once you acquire that swimsuit, feel free to dive in and swim to your heart’s content, knowing that you purchased a competitive swimsuit at the best value and with the best fit.