When it comes to competition swimwear for women and men, fabric matters. While recreational swimmers give little thought to the material from which their swimsuits are made, those who swim competitively need to focus on every detail to ensure optimal swimming conditions. However, not everyone needs the same fabric. The one you choose depends on your overall swimming goals.

Lycra

One of the most favorable material used by many brands of competitive swimwear is Lycra. This is a soft, comfortable fabric with a history of holding its shape for longer periods of time. This material includes Spandex fibers, which are well known for their elasticity. Most competitive swimmers can get up to six months of regular wear from competition swimwear made from this fabric.

Polyester

Polyester offers many of the same advantages of Lycra. However, most brands of competitive swimwear don’t use polyester by itself. In fact, one of the most popular swimwear fabrics today is known as PBT polyester. This is partially due to the fact 100 percent polyester is not as comfortable. The PBT polyester fabric also absorbs less water and dries quickly for greater convenience. The addition of Chlorban to this fabric provides UV protection and a long-lasting, comfortable fit.

Nylon

Nylon is a third option from which many competition swimmers may choose. This fabric is either used alone or in combination with Lycra fabric. This material is lightweight, yet offers one of the greatest strengths in competition swimwear, which means your suit will last much longer. Unfortunately, nylon has a history of fading and losing its shape over time.

The Latest Fabrics

If you look at any brand of competitive swimwear, you will find some of them offer some amazing new options when it comes to swimwear fabrics. For instance, Arena offers a revolutionary fabric that contains actual carbon fibers to improve strength and keep the suit light. The Speedo Fastskin fabric also offers incredible benefits to swimmers. Whether you are looking for competition swimwear for women or men, you will find something that best suits your swimming style and helps you maximize your performance.

The type of fabric you choose for your competition swimwear can play a role in your abilities in the water. Before you buy your next swimsuit for competition, make sure you understand the differences between the fabrics so you can make the best choice for your needs.

If you are looking for the best brands of competition swimwear, contact us. Our swimwear retailer offers all the options you need to become more effective in the water.