swimmer in lane

The global swimwear market was valued at almost $18.5 million in 2018, and is expected to grow to over $28 million by 2024. While fashionable swimwear has seen plenty of growth, there’s also a big demand for swimwear that has been designed for actual swimmers. 

Swimwear you’d take on a beach holiday is very different from something you would wear for competition. So, with a wide range of options out there, what type of swimming costume is best for you?

Materials

The swimwear’s material plays a big part in how it performs. You want a costume that’ll stand the test of time and keep up with your schedule. There are two main materials used for swimwear: nylon and polyester. 

Nylon provides excellent elasticity, is extremely soft, comfortable, and washes extremely well. It is also chlorine resistant which means it is perfect if you’re in the pool most days. 

While polyester is chlorine resistant, another big plus is its UV resistance, so you’re covered if swimming outside. It’s also breathable and holds its shape well. Both materials are comfortable and quick drying, so is one better than the other? Yes, in a way.

In most cases, you’ll find swimwear that is a polyester/PBT blend, providing the ultimate in chlorine-proof fabric.

Different types

From all swimwear, you want increased body support and a good range of motion. There’s a reason you don’t see Olympic swimmers in bikinis. They’re too flimsy and prone to falling off, which will distract from your competition focus. There are ‘training’ bikinis, which are popular for outdoor swimming. They aren’t like a regular bikini you might have in mind, making them a good choice for practising in.

For girls and women, you have swimming costumes or legsuits. Both will provide good body support, but legsuits a bit more. They also leave you slightly more streamlined with less skin on show. This means there’ll be less friction and you’ll have less frontal drag when swimming.

For boys and men, there are jammers or shorts and briefs. Like women’s legsuits, jammers will offer more streamlining and cover more surface area. Training shorts and briefs will offer slightly less body support but still help with streamlining and are fairly comfortable for a day of training.

Body type

The only thing you should be worrying about in the pool is your times. So when it comes to your swimwear, you want something that makes you feel your best and most comfortable. You want swimwear that’ll draw attention to the areas you’re most confident about and away from those you’re insecure about. 

If you are self-conscious about the way you look, swimwear with a jazzy, bold design can help you feel more confident. You want to feel your best so find a design that helps you look your best. A bit of colour and sparkle can go a long way in making you feel good about yourself.

You want swimwear that will keep up with your training schedule and help you perform your best. There are lots of different materials and styles to choose from, so it’s worth taking some time to research what will work best for you.

At Maru, we offer a wide variety of swimwear. With a range of different styles, materials, and colours, we have something for everyone. Whether your swimming is competitive, or you’re in the pool part-time, have a browse of our full range here.