5 Ways Swimmers Stay Warm In Cold Water

5 Ways Swimmers Stay Warm In Cold Water

The last thing any swimmer wants is to dive straight into an icy cold pool, no matter the time of year. Not only is it an unpleasant experience, but its effects can last long after you get out of the pool, following you throughout the rest of your day. This harms your productivity, both in and out of the water. What exactly can you do to protect yourself against cold water during your next swim? Here are a few important tips to follow.

Blow a Few Underwater Bubbles

Learn how earplugs for swimmers can help you stay warm.
Earplugs for swimmers can help keep you warm.

The cold temperature of the water does more than cause discomfort. It can also affect your breathing abilities, which inhibits your efficiency as you swim. Allow yourself to sink underwater and spend a moment there, blowing bubbles. Doing this will make it easier for your lungs to adjust.

Don’t Linger

Once you’re in the water, start swimming and keep it up for as long as you can. Movement generates heat, which will better help you brace yourself against the cold. Now is the best time to practice your strokes and run through drills to get yourself moving easily and vigorously.

Acclimate Yourself

The best way to get used to cold water is to expose yourself to it more frequently. Naturally, this takes a bit of extra planning. You may have to double up on neoprene team swim caps to keep your head warm and your first few swimming sessions will certainly feel unpleasant. However, the more you swim, the easier it will be to perform well in cold water.

Give Yourself the Best Equipment

In addition to wearing two neoprene caps, you may also want to invest in high-quality earplugs for swimmers. This will help protect your body temperature. The same goes for neoprene caps, which are more preferable over latex caps because they are more efficient at preserving heat.

Wear Warm Gear

While you may feel wearing less clothing will better prepare you for swimming in cold water, this belief is nothing more than a misconception. Diving into a cold pool when you already feel cold just makes you feel colder. Instead, dress as warmly as you can prior to hitting the pool. That way, the cold water’s effect on your body temperature won’t be as steep.

On top of all of the tips mentioned above, one of the best ways to brace yourself against swimming in cold water is to simply invest in the best competitive swimming products in Dallas, TX. If you’re in the market for effective swimming supplies, contact us at D&J Sports for details. We want to assist you so you and your team are always prepared.

5 Useful Tips for Putting on Your Swim Cap

5 Useful Tips for Putting on Your Swim Cap

It may seem simple to put your swim cap on. After all, there’s not much to them. However, team swim caps can be much more difficult to put on correctly than they appear, especially for individuals who may have longer hair. When you follow these tips, you can easily put on the custom swim caps without taking up too much time.

Learn how to put on custom swim caps.
Custom swim caps can provide the fit you need.

Stretch It Out

Lace your fingers together  and place your hands inside the swim cap. Once inside the cap, part your hands and stretch out the material so it will easily fit around your head without touching it. This will help reduce any hair pulling you may experience.

Settle the Cap

You don’t have to get team swimming caps in place all in one shot. While stretching it out and pulling it over your head in this position will get it mostly in the right position, you may still need to make adjustments. Tuck in any stray hairs and pull the edges carefully into place to keep your head as hydrodynamic as possible.

Wet Hair and Cap

Custom swim caps are designed to get wet, but many swimmers try to put them on while their hair and cap are both dry. This can make it more difficult. Instead, you should consider wetting down both your hair and the cap before you put your swim cap on.

Use a Ponytail

If you have longer hair, it can be a real challenge to get all of it into team swimming caps quickly and easily. One of the best ways is to put your hair up in a low, loose ponytail so you can easily sweep it up and under the swim cap without too much trouble.

Keep It Even

It’s important to keep your hair even when you’re putting it up in your swim cap. If you don’t evenly spread your hair throughout the swim cap, you could cause an imbalance while you’re swimming. While it won’t slow you down significantly, every fraction of a second counts when it comes to competitive swimming.

If you’re looking for the best team swim caps, contact us. We carry a vast array of styles made from a number of materials so you can rest assured you get the right one to meet your needs.

4 Ways to Put on a Swim Cap Without Pulling Your Hair Out

4 Ways to Put on a Swim Cap Without Pulling Your Hair Out

Hair pulling doesn't have to be an issue in team swim caps.
Team swim caps don’t have to pull your hair.

Just because you’re a swimmer doesn’t mean you have to crop your hair short to keep it under your swim cap. However, long hair can pose a challenge when it comes to putting on team swim caps. These swim caps can easily pull the hair, causing you pain and discomfort. The good news is there are several ways to put on custom swimming caps to reduce and even eliminate this problem.

Stretch the Cap Out

Using your hands, it is often best to stretch your team swimming caps out as far as you can. This allows you to draw the cap over your head without touching your hair as much. When it’s down as far as it can go, gently ease the edges down and adjust them as necessary to tuck in any loose strands that may have escaped.

Get Your Hair Wet

Wet hair can actually make it easier to get team swim caps on your head as painlessly as possible. This is because you can more easily mat your hair down on your head so you don’t have to stretch the cap out as far. Leave-in conditioner can also help make your hair smoother so it’s easier to position your swim cap.

Ask Someone for Help

Asking a teammate, your coach or a friend to help you put on the custom swimming caps can also be more effective. This is because they can approach the whole project from another angle and may be able to more easily stretch out the cap to fit over your head. It also means you have an extra set of hands to help position the cap.

Consider a Different Cap

Team swimming caps are made from a number of materials, each of which has its own benefits. Some of them will pull your hair much less than others. You may have to purchase caps made from several materials before you find the one that works best for you. However, once you do, you will be pleased you don’t have to go through that discomfort every time you jump into the pool.

If you’re looking for custom swimming caps to finish off your swim ensemble, contact us. We carry a vast array of swim caps made from various types of materials, many of which can be customized to best suit your needs.

How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear

How to Prevent Swimmer’s Ear

One of the biggest issues swimmers experience when it comes to their comfort in and out of the water is swimmer’s ear. While there is swimmer’s ear treatment readily available that is easy to use and provides fast, effective relief, there are also things you can do to prevent it in the first place. The following tips will help reduce the occurrence of this condition and keep your ears clear and feeling great.

Swimmer's ear treatment can be fast and effective.
There are many effective swimmer’s ear treatments.

Wear a Swim Cap

It may seem like it goes without saying, but swimmers who wear team swim caps will experience swimmer’s ear less often than those who don’t. Be sure to wear a swim cap that fits well and covers your ears properly to prevent water from getting into them.

Consider Ear Plugs

If you are still experiencing frequent swimmer’s ear, even while wearing team swim caps, you may want to consider wearing ear plugs as well. There are a variety of options from which to choose, allowing you to find the most comfortable fit for you. This can also be an excellent alternative for those who either don’t need to or don’t want to wear swim caps.

Clean and Dry Your Ears

When you’re drying off after your time in the pool, do you ever really pay attention to your ears? If you’re like most people, you likely don’t. However, you can help prevent the development of swimmer’s ear simply by drying out the outer canals of your ears after you spend time in the water. Keeping them clean also allows for proper drainage, channeling water out of your ears, rather than in.

Use Ear Drops

Sometimes no matter what you do, you are still prone to getting too much water in your ears, causing ear aches and other issues. This is why there are ear drops formulated specifically for drying out the ears and keeping them healthy, regardless of how much time you spend in the water.

Swimmer’s ear treatment can be a thing of the past when you learn how to eliminate the problem altogether. If you are able to prevent swimmer’s ear, rather than having to treat it later, you can better enjoy your time in the pool.

If you’re looking for effective swimmer’s ear treatment and prevention methods, contact us. We carry everything swimmers on all levels require.

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Next Swim Meet

6 Ways to Prepare for Your Next Swim Meet

You’ve got your racing swimsuits and your team swim caps packed and ready to go for your next meet. From the outside, this may seem like all you need to be concerned about. However, there are several other things you should do to ensure you are fully prepared for your next event so you can perform your best. The following tips will help.

You need to prepare more than buying racing swimsuits.
Racing swimsuits are just part of your pre-meet preparations.

Bring Extras

One swimsuit and one swim cap may be all you need, but there are situations where you may need to change. Perhaps something gets misplaced in the locker room. Maybe your swimsuit or cap develops a tear. While you may not need the extras, it never hurts to bring them along so you are always ready in the event of an emergency.

Pack Ahead of Time

You’ll have a lot on your mind before the race and you don’t need to leave something important behind. Most swimmers will pack their swim backpack a day or two before the meet to ensure they have everything they need. This includes snacks for energy, your competitive swimwear and other swim gear.

Give Yourself Time to Warmup

It’s never a good idea to show up at the meet right before it begins. You need to have plenty of time to change and go through your warm-ups so your body is ready to go when it’s time to race. Always arrive with plenty of time to stretch and get ready. A good night’s sleep and eating properly is also important to prepare.

Watch Your Diet

The last thing you want when you hit the pool is to experience problems due to what you’ve eaten. Be careful not to eat anything known to give you stomach issues or to cause any other type of problems. Consider eating high in proteins and carbs to give you energy.

Clear Your Mind

Stress and worry can have a major impact on how your body performs. In the week or two leading up to the race, it’s important to clear your mind of anything that could put an additional strain or stress on your mind.

Set Goals

It may seem like most swimmers would strive to win their meet and while this is often the case, it can be beneficial to set other goals as well. Not everyone is going to win. However, if you have other objectives in mind, such as improving your race time, you are more likely to feel good about yourself, regardless of the outcome.

If you’re looking for the best competitive swimwear in Dallas for your next meet, contact us. We carry everything you need to train well and do your best every time you hit the pool.

5 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Wear Swimming Caps

5 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Wear Swimming Caps

There are various reasons swim team caps are essential.
Swim team caps are essential for a number of reasons.

It may seem like team swim caps aren’t the most important element of competitive swimwear in Dallas, TX. However, there are many good reasons competitive swimmers are wearing these caps. If you’ve been tempted to skip out on wearing a swim cap, the following reasons can help you see their importance.

Reduced Resistance

One of the most important reasons competitive swimmers wear team swim caps is to reduce the resistance they experience in the water. In order to help swimmers move as quickly through the water as they can, it’s essential to eliminate any possible resistance. Hair is one of the biggest causes of drag. Rather than shaving their head, custom swimming caps can be the perfect solution.

Cleanliness

It isn’t uncommon for loose hairs to fall from your head at any given time. If those hairs come loose in a swimming pool, the drains can quickly become clogged, which can cause a number of issues. Wearing caps can help reduce the amount of hair that ends up in the pool, ensuring a clean, safe swimming experience for everyone.

Protection

Pools are filled with chlorine and other chemicals to ensure the health and safety of all swimmers. However, these chemicals can wreck havoc on your hair, damaging it severely, especially due to prolonged exposure. Wearing swim caps can be the ideal way to protect your hair. When used in conjunction with washing, you can help keep your hair as healthy as possible, regardless of how much time you spend in the water.

Identification

Another key factor for competitive swimmers is being able to tell who is on which team. Team swim caps are the perfect way to easily identify swimmers while they are in the water. For triathalon swimmers, the brightly colored swim caps they wear can help identify them in the open waters.

Warmth

Although those who typically swim inside don’t need to stay warm, those who swim outdoors can benefit from wearing swim caps for warmth, especially in colder, open water situations. Heat escapes fastest through the head so wearing a swim cap can help slow down this process.

It can be tempting to skip out on the custom swimming caps, but they can serve a vast array of benefits. In fact, they are just as important as competitive swimwear in Dallas, TX. If you’re looking for the biggest selection of caps, contact us. We can help you choose the right one for you.

How to Take Care of Your Swim Cap

How to Take Care of Your Swim Cap

Learn how to take care of team swimming caps.
You must take care of team swimming caps properly.

One of the most important components of your swim gear is team swimming caps. These caps will help streamline your body so you can swim more effectively through the water. However, many new swimmers are unaware they need to take special care of team swim caps. Without the proper care, these caps can deteriorate quickly, which will necessitate replacing it more often than should be needed.

Rinse It Out

First and foremost, it’s important to rinse your custom swimming caps every time you are done in the water. The chlorine and other chemicals in the pool can break down the materials from which the team swimming caps are made, which is why it’s essential to rinse caps thoroughly with clear water after every swim. Regardless of the materials from which your cap is made, the salt and chemicals found in the water will attack the material over time and cause them to fail more quickly.

Dry It Properly

In addition to rinsing out team swim caps, it’s also necessary to dry them properly. Never throw your swim cap into your bag before you dry it thoroughly, both on the inside and the outside. Even though custom swimming caps are typically made from mold and bacteria resistant materials, it’s best to take as many precautions as possible. This is especially true regarding latex caps, which will stick together if they are put away wet. Lycra and neoprene caps are porous and best left to hang to dry. Before you pack your team swimming caps away, consider placing a small towel inside to keep it dry and secure. Sprinkling a little baby powder inside prior to storage can also help eliminate any residual moisture.

Correct Storage

When not in use, it’s important to make sure you store your team swimming caps out of the sun. The UV rays of the sun can cause serious damage to many of the materials used to create these caps. This can be accomplished by placing it inside your swim gear bag or storing it anywhere else it won’t be subject to direct sunlight. Proper storage within your bag will also protect your swim cap from being pierced by any sharp objects.

While you will need to replace team swim caps occasionally, it’s important to make sure you protect them as much as possible so you can keep your costs down.

If you’re looking for custom swimming caps, contact us. We carry a vast selection of styles made from a variety of materials so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

5 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Wear Swimming Caps

5 Reasons Competitive Swimmers Wear Swimming Caps

There are many reasons swimmers wear team swim caps.
Team swim caps serve a number of purposes.

If you’ve watched any competitive swim races or spent time at the pool, you will notice team swim caps are all part of the process. There are a number of reasons you will see team swimming caps as one of the primary features of any swim team.

Less Resistance

One of the biggest concerns swimmers have is the amount of resistance they encounter as they swim. This is why many swimmers, male and female, shave a majority of their bodies. However, not all of them are willing to also shave their heads, which is where a custom swimming cap comes in handy. These caps will keep the swimmer’s hair out of the water and create a more streamlined effect that reduces resistance and helps improve swim times.

Cleanliness

No one wants to swim through the pool and encounter stray hairs. When you have longer hair, you may experience shedding issues that can leave behind strands of hair in the pool. If you’re wearing team swim caps during your time in the water, you will keep your hair under wraps, eliminating this problem and keeping the pool cleaner.

Protection

Your hair is can easily be damaged by the chlorine and other chemicals present in the pool. In addition to keep these chemicals off your hair, protecting it from damage, a swim cap will also help protect your head from the cold water. Your head is a common point at which your body loses some of its heat. Therefore, it’s beneficial to wear something that will help you keep that body heat in.

Team Unity

Wearing team swimming caps isn’t just about you. In fact, your whole team will be wearing them so what better way to exhibit a sense of team spirit than in your swim cap. When you and the rest of your team wears a custom swimming cap, everyone will know exactly what team you belong to.

Visibility

The final reason swimmers are likely to wear a swim cap is for visibility in the water. Most hair colors are difficult to identify while swimming, but when you have a brightly colored swim cap on your head, other swimmers are more likely to see you and vice versa, reducing the chances of a collision in the water.

If you’re looking for the best team swim caps on the market, contact us. We can customize the swim caps to best meet the requirements of your team.

Best Swim Caps for Competitive Swimmers With Long Hair

Best Swim Caps for Competitive Swimmers With Long Hair

If you have longer hair, you need the right swim team caps.
Swim team caps need to be able to accommodate longer hair.

One of the most important pieces of swimming gear you will need is good team swim caps. However, these caps can be difficult to use for individuals who have longer hair. Many swim caps available on the market can’t accommodate this hairstyle, making it difficult to find a comfortable fit that will provide the coverage you need. The following factors will help you find the ideal swim cap to keep your longer hair in check while you swim.

Stretchable

If the team swim caps you are considering aren’t extremely stretchy, odds are they aren’t going to be able to accommodate your large amounts of hair. Swim caps are made from a number of materials. For those who have longer hair, silicone can be the best material due to the amount of stretch it offers, helping to hold in all of your hair, regardless of how much you have.

Ear Pockets

Some swim caps don’t have ear pockets, which may not be an issue if you have shorter hair. Ear pockets are molded directly into the sides of the swim cap, reducing the amount of stretching required to get over the ears. This allows the cap to stretch more to accommodate your hair instead. In addition, not having to stretch over the ears will eliminate some of the pressure, making wearing this cap more comfortable, especially if you spend many hours in the pool.

No Snagging

Perhaps the biggest issues for swimmers who wear their  hair longer is the pulling and snagging that can occur when you aren’t wearing the right team swim caps. Therefore, it’s best to try out a few swim caps before you settle on the right one. This will help you determine which cap will fit you best and keep all of your hair out of the way.

Choosing the right team swim caps is essential if you want to remain comfortable during all of your sessions in the water. While every swim cap is going to offer the same performance benefits, it’s a  personal decision to choose the right one for your needs. This is especially true if you have longer hair. Keeping this longer hair under wraps, while maintaining a higher level of comfort can be a challenge. However, when you know what to look for, you will find the perfect fit, regardless of your hair length.

If you’re looking for the biggest selection of team swim caps, contact us. We carry swim caps perfect for everyone.

Swim Caps 101: How to Choose the Right Material & Insulation

Swim Caps 101: How to Choose the Right Material & Insulation

Choose the right materials for your team swim caps.
Team swim caps can be made from a number of materials.

One of the most overwhelming aspects of selecting the right swim gear is the swim cap. There are so many swim cap options you may not even know where to begin. Team swim caps are made from a variety of materials, many of which can be customized to best suit your needs. Understanding the purpose of each can help you make the best decision.

Swimming Laps vs. Exercise

Individuals who spend their time in the water doing water aerobics or other forms of exercise are more likely to choose Lycra swim caps because of their breathability and more comfortable fit. However, those who swim laps will still want some of the hydrodynamic effects competitive swimmers enjoy, making the tighter-fitting silicone or latex caps preferable.

Practice vs. Racing

It may seem like swimmers would want to practice with the same custom swim caps they will race in so they have a feel for it. While this may be the case sometimes, it is often better to have a separate swim cap for practice because of the amount of time you will spend in the water. This means many swimmers purchase a low-cost swim cap they can easily replace for their practice sessions, while investing in  more expensive printed swim caps for their races so they can showcase their team pride and have something they know they can rely on. Open water swimmers, on the other hand, often prefer neoprene for their swim caps because they offer a little flotation assistance and often insulate better against the colder water often encountered.

Amount of Hair

Another major consideration when choosing team swim caps is how much hair each swimmer has. Female swimmers often have longer hair that needs to be tucked into a swim cap, which means choosing silicone is often the best option. This material will also reduce the amount of pulling that occurs. Silicone caps are also more snug, allowing them hold more securely. Those who have shorter hair often prefer latex.

In the end, the type of custom swim caps you choose is a personal decision. Certain materials feel more comfortable for different swimmers. Allergies and other considerations may also need to be made to ensure you choose the right swim cap for the job.

If you’re looking for custom printed swim caps for your team, contact us. We offer a vast selection made from a variety of materials to best suit the needs of any swimmer.