Searching for LTR With Quality Swimgear
September 12, 2013 2:42 AM Subscribe
Can you guys please help me find swim gear that works? Everything that I buy is crap. Do they even make stuff that's good? Or is it just understood that it's all garbage and if you're a serious swimmer, you have to buy new junk every month or two?
Today, the wrist watch I bought solely for the purpose of wearing while swimming laps broke. It was some 50 dollar thing I got at REI, where I specifically asked for a watch that I could use while swimming.
I also noticed that my swim goggles (Aqua Sphere Vista---recommended here on the green) were starting to really leak.
Earlier this month, I thought I saw evidence to indicate that the somewhat embarrassing swim trunks I bought were starting to erode. I thought this was from wearing them in the sauna and having my butt scrape against the hot wood, but then, while reading Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother, the author spoke about buying a chlorine resistant swimsuit. This confirmed my worst fears. I don't want to have to keep buying new bathing suits because the checmicals in the pool are hungry.
The bathing cap I was wearing was making my head so damn hot. I can't stick with it. Okay, fine, actually I lost it, but I hated it anyway.
I owned this wetsuit for about a month. It was warm enough, but it didn't fit my body right. I'm on the shorter, thinner side, and this thing just let in way too much water. I'd get out of the water with these cantaloupe sized pouches of water in my suit.
Can you kind folks please tell me what swim stuff to buy? I need new 'Speedos,' a new watch, a new swim cap, new goggles and a new wetsuit. I'm sick of having stuff that breaks!
Today, the wrist watch I bought solely for the purpose of wearing while swimming laps broke. It was some 50 dollar thing I got at REI, where I specifically asked for a watch that I could use while swimming.
I also noticed that my swim goggles (Aqua Sphere Vista---recommended here on the green) were starting to really leak.
Earlier this month, I thought I saw evidence to indicate that the somewhat embarrassing swim trunks I bought were starting to erode. I thought this was from wearing them in the sauna and having my butt scrape against the hot wood, but then, while reading Alison Bechdel's Are You My Mother, the author spoke about buying a chlorine resistant swimsuit. This confirmed my worst fears. I don't want to have to keep buying new bathing suits because the checmicals in the pool are hungry.
The bathing cap I was wearing was making my head so damn hot. I can't stick with it. Okay, fine, actually I lost it, but I hated it anyway.
I owned this wetsuit for about a month. It was warm enough, but it didn't fit my body right. I'm on the shorter, thinner side, and this thing just let in way too much water. I'd get out of the water with these cantaloupe sized pouches of water in my suit.
Can you kind folks please tell me what swim stuff to buy? I need new 'Speedos,' a new watch, a new swim cap, new goggles and a new wetsuit. I'm sick of having stuff that breaks!
Do you swim really frequently? Costumes do degrade in chlorine, but I usually get at least a year's wear out of them - if you swim very frequently, you might just have to accept that they're going to wear out more quickly, or pay out for more robust, anti-chlorine kit.
On the bathing cap, you can get caps that are made out of the same stuff as swimming costumes. I use one of these, which suggests they're known as 'mesh' caps. Because they let the water in, they keep your head cooler, and they don't pull at your hair the way the latex and silicone ones do. Obviously, they don't keep your hair dry, but I just want a cap to keep the hair out of my eyes, and they do the job for that.
Wetsuits really vary in their cut. You can get a lot of information about that by reading the customer reviews on sites like Wiggle, but your best bet is to try and find a way of trying one on in the water, not just in the shop, before you buy. Borrow from fellow swimmers, hire one, or if you're lucky you might find a Tri shop that holds swimming events where you can try their suits on.
posted by penguin pie at 3:14 AM on September 12, 2013
On the bathing cap, you can get caps that are made out of the same stuff as swimming costumes. I use one of these, which suggests they're known as 'mesh' caps. Because they let the water in, they keep your head cooler, and they don't pull at your hair the way the latex and silicone ones do. Obviously, they don't keep your hair dry, but I just want a cap to keep the hair out of my eyes, and they do the job for that.
Wetsuits really vary in their cut. You can get a lot of information about that by reading the customer reviews on sites like Wiggle, but your best bet is to try and find a way of trying one on in the water, not just in the shop, before you buy. Borrow from fellow swimmers, hire one, or if you're lucky you might find a Tri shop that holds swimming events where you can try their suits on.
posted by penguin pie at 3:14 AM on September 12, 2013
Swimwear: you could always swim in a chlorine free pool... Wearing your swimming wear in a sauna?! Not sure that will help things :)
Swim watch: get the Garmin Swim. Good build quality and lasts well. Do not push the buttons underwater or you will get condensation inside the display, and do not wear it in the sauna!
Goggles: you shouldn't get leakage after a few months, but on that pair you will get leakage whenever you smile (or at least I would...). Go for something smaller, that just covers your eyes. You *will* get more fogging over time. You can't do too much about that (rinse afterwards with tap water, and you can buy an anti-fogging solution). Speedo vanquishers are very popular - but you won't get peripheral vision.
Swim cap: for warmth or for dryness? If you don't care about your hair getting wet, try a lycra cap. Or no cap.
posted by devnull at 4:41 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Swim watch: get the Garmin Swim. Good build quality and lasts well. Do not push the buttons underwater or you will get condensation inside the display, and do not wear it in the sauna!
Goggles: you shouldn't get leakage after a few months, but on that pair you will get leakage whenever you smile (or at least I would...). Go for something smaller, that just covers your eyes. You *will* get more fogging over time. You can't do too much about that (rinse afterwards with tap water, and you can buy an anti-fogging solution). Speedo vanquishers are very popular - but you won't get peripheral vision.
Swim cap: for warmth or for dryness? If you don't care about your hair getting wet, try a lycra cap. Or no cap.
posted by devnull at 4:41 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Small sidenote, but don't forget you can return that watch to REI; their return policy is designed for stuff like this that failed quickly. I would bring it back, explain how quickly it died, tell them you want to return it and ask for other suggestions. Maybe take their top responses, and do some googling for reviews?
posted by inigo2 at 4:58 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by inigo2 at 4:58 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
I find the main thing that helps swimming gear last is to get a bit OCD about getting all the chlorine out. Rinse everything immediately and thoroughly when you get out, and then wash clothing with detergent as soon as you get home. I definitely wouldn't wear it in the sauna.
posted by tardigrade at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by tardigrade at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Try Barracuda goggles or Speedo double-gasket goggles. Some people lick the inside of the lens before getting in to reduce or avoid fogging.
If you are using a heavily chlorinated pool and swimming many times a week, yes, you will need a new suit a couple of times a year. Cap, too. Swim Shops of the Southwest sells "grab bag suits" -- you get what you get. Some people wear two of their old, practically transparent thin suits in layers during team workouts.
posted by jgirl at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2013
If you are using a heavily chlorinated pool and swimming many times a week, yes, you will need a new suit a couple of times a year. Cap, too. Swim Shops of the Southwest sells "grab bag suits" -- you get what you get. Some people wear two of their old, practically transparent thin suits in layers during team workouts.
posted by jgirl at 5:48 AM on September 12, 2013
Regarding swimwear, Zoggs are excellent. Their swimsuits (and I assume trunks) are all chlorine resistant and genuinely so: I have two suits both of which are over two years old, I swim twice a week for long sessions and the older one is only just starting to go (and I am not that great at remembering to rinse then promptly).
With wetsuits, try on as many different brands as you can to find a good fit. In the UK there are several companies offering short term hires (eg a couple of weeks) which might be a good way to properly test the fit. If you're willing to invest the money you can get custom fit wetsuits which may be a good idea if you're an unusual shape.
posted by *becca* at 6:44 AM on September 12, 2013
With wetsuits, try on as many different brands as you can to find a good fit. In the UK there are several companies offering short term hires (eg a couple of weeks) which might be a good way to properly test the fit. If you're willing to invest the money you can get custom fit wetsuits which may be a good idea if you're an unusual shape.
posted by *becca* at 6:44 AM on September 12, 2013
I came in to recommend the Timex Ironman 50-lap watch (I have the women's; this is the men's), but I see you've had back luck with Timex. If you're willing to try again, the 50-lap version has lasted for almost 18 months for me so far.
For Googles, I like the Speedo Vanquisher (which devnull mentioned above). They last longer when I rinse them out with fresh water immediately after getting out of the pool.
For swimsuits, yeah—they wear out. A friend recommended Sporti to me. The overall quality's not quite as good as more expensive swimwear, but the value is better (more swim time per dollar), and it's cheap enough that replacing it doesn't feel like a hassle to me. FWIW, polyester is supposed to last a lot longer than lycra.
posted by rebekah at 7:52 AM on September 12, 2013
For Googles, I like the Speedo Vanquisher (which devnull mentioned above). They last longer when I rinse them out with fresh water immediately after getting out of the pool.
For swimsuits, yeah—they wear out. A friend recommended Sporti to me. The overall quality's not quite as good as more expensive swimwear, but the value is better (more swim time per dollar), and it's cheap enough that replacing it doesn't feel like a hassle to me. FWIW, polyester is supposed to last a lot longer than lycra.
posted by rebekah at 7:52 AM on September 12, 2013
Swim caps tear and get nasty. Many swimmers use the latex (not silicone) kind that cost $1-2. It is a disposable item.
Look for a suit that has a chlorine resistant label. Also, there are different types of suits. If it has a name mentioning endurance, dura-something, training, etc. then that is intended to be a long term workout suit. Racing suits are only meant to be worn a handful of times.
Goggles are a matter of trial and error. For people who want a tight fit, I would recommend Swedes. The band will give way after a few months but you can replace it with a bungee cord and it will last years.
As for watches, I could talk about open water trackers but those devices are not for pools. I would suggest either learning how to use the pool's pace clock or bringing a mini-pace clock of your own.
I don't know anything about wetsuits. I have swam in open water down to 60F and never used them. At triathlons, people seem to like 2XU and Zoot.
posted by 99percentfake at 7:58 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Look for a suit that has a chlorine resistant label. Also, there are different types of suits. If it has a name mentioning endurance, dura-something, training, etc. then that is intended to be a long term workout suit. Racing suits are only meant to be worn a handful of times.
Goggles are a matter of trial and error. For people who want a tight fit, I would recommend Swedes. The band will give way after a few months but you can replace it with a bungee cord and it will last years.
As for watches, I could talk about open water trackers but those devices are not for pools. I would suggest either learning how to use the pool's pace clock or bringing a mini-pace clock of your own.
I don't know anything about wetsuits. I have swam in open water down to 60F and never used them. At triathlons, people seem to like 2XU and Zoot.
posted by 99percentfake at 7:58 AM on September 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Avoid Dicks/Sports Authority, etc. The stuff there is meant to last a season. You need to go to a dedicated swim shop, one that provides equipment for the local year-round swim teams, because those are the folks who are using their equipment in the same way you are. Ask the proprietor which stuff s/he gets the least complaints about -- you can be assured that if 150 kids are ordered to buy a specific suit and that suit falls apart after 100 hours in the pool, the parents will complain. If you are in NJ, I can wholeheartedly recommend Ultimate Swim Shop in Metuchen for this. The woman who runs it is a real character, and will quite candidly tell you what items to avoid.
I had an Ironman watch rot off my wrist after about a year of use. I recently started using a Garmin Swim, but it is too soon to tell if it is an improvement.
Oh, and a good tip I picked up for keeping your goggles clear is to rinse them with baby shampoo. It works, and is tearless!
posted by apparently at 9:28 AM on September 12, 2013
I had an Ironman watch rot off my wrist after about a year of use. I recently started using a Garmin Swim, but it is too soon to tell if it is an improvement.
Oh, and a good tip I picked up for keeping your goggles clear is to rinse them with baby shampoo. It works, and is tearless!
posted by apparently at 9:28 AM on September 12, 2013
I'd bring that watch back to REI and try another one. I've put in many miles with an Ironman. As devnull said, don't push buttons underwater. I don't know of any watch that does that well.
posted by advicepig at 1:06 PM on September 12, 2013
posted by advicepig at 1:06 PM on September 12, 2013
Googles leak unless you get a good tight seal which means they need to really fit. I do best with child sized googles. I'm not petite in any manner, but the kids googles work for me. You need to keep trying stuff until you find the perfect fit.
Suits. Yeah, they disintegrate. Best case is buy them on sale. I've been a competitive swimmer since I'm 5 years old. Tyr reversible suits hold up the longest, but not really all that well. I just accept that suits aren't going to last.
If you're not a standard size, then I suggest looking at De Soto 2 piece wetsuits.
posted by 26.2 at 2:15 PM on September 12, 2013
Suits. Yeah, they disintegrate. Best case is buy them on sale. I've been a competitive swimmer since I'm 5 years old. Tyr reversible suits hold up the longest, but not really all that well. I just accept that suits aren't going to last.
If you're not a standard size, then I suggest looking at De Soto 2 piece wetsuits.
posted by 26.2 at 2:15 PM on September 12, 2013
I'd go through a suit once every 3-4 months when I swam competitively. Speedo brand. Washing the suit in the bathroom sink and spinning it dry in a centrifuge we had installed in the locker room immediately after changing helped them last longer.
Rubbing toothpaste on the inside of your goggles every once in a while after the factory anti-fog wears off can serve as a cheaper solution than using anti-fog chemicals. Works for diving goggles for scuba as well. Just not as long-lasting.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 3:38 PM on September 12, 2013
Rubbing toothpaste on the inside of your goggles every once in a while after the factory anti-fog wears off can serve as a cheaper solution than using anti-fog chemicals. Works for diving goggles for scuba as well. Just not as long-lasting.
posted by Thoughtcrime at 3:38 PM on September 12, 2013
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posted by goodnight at 3:12 AM on September 12, 2013