Competition bathing suits - Recommendations
Compared to regular bathing suits, competition bathing suits differ in everything from the material to the design itself. This makes them highly specialised in swimming. It also means that they focus less on comfort and more on performance - providing the optimal conditions to swim as fast as possible.
Most competition bathing suits are made of polyamide and elastane, which makes them completely water-repellent and elastic, so their fit moulds to the contours of the body. The tighter the fit, the more hydrodynamic they are. Therefore, competition suits must also fit snugly and, depending on the model, take 5-20 min. to put on.
These features and designs help to ensure that a competition bathing suit fits very tightly to the body. This is important when it's the small 100s that decide the race.
For the same reason, a competition bathing suit is also smaller than, for example, training bathing suits. A good rule of thumb is to choose 2-4 UK sizes smaller when buying a competition bathing suit compared to a training bathing suit. However, we always recommend deciding your size based on the size guide of the individual competition bathing suit.
Being tight-fitting and water-repellent are not their only significant features. They also provide good compression, which increases blood flow. This means less acid in the muscles and less fatigue. In addition, they also have no visible seams and stitching, which in turn reduces water resistance.
To be specific, a competition bathing suit will typically provide 16.6% less water resistance, which is a pretty significant improvement over other bathing suits. This allows you to glide through the water much better, so you actually swim longer per stroke.
Finally, it should be mentioned that you should of course select your competition bathing suit based on what level you are at in terms of price. If you're a complete beginner, it might be a good idea to pick an “Entry” bathing suit, which is the cheapest way to get started. If you're just above this level, a high-end bathing suit can be a good solution, as they are often the most optimal beginner bathing suits.
This is an important consideration as competition bathing suits are not cheap, but if you're not yet at the level of the best suits, you won't be able to make the best use of their features.
- Made from 71% polyamide and 29% elastane which means it's not too tight but comfortable to wear, here's a great first-time experience with a focus on competition suits at a price where everyone can get started
- Provides fine muscle compression and a high degree of mobility
- Made from water-repellent materials that don't absorb water and won't be heavy to swim with
- Double-lined for a comfortable feel against the skin
- A great beginner suit that prioritizes comfort, but still has the important features of a competition suit
- Available in both girls (7-13 years) and women's model
Watery competition swimsuit for girls - Rapidskin 2.0 - Red
- Good compression without being too tight: Rapidskin 2.0 provides sublime compression without feeling overly constrictive
- Aids the body in the optimal hydrodynamic position in the water.
- Offers significant muscle support while allowing freedom of movement. Won't feel tight on the legs or waist
- Minimizes lactic acid production and muscle strain with its two strategically placed panels running up both thighs
Arena competition swimsuit for women - Carbon Air 2 - Red
4.92/5
Based on 12 reviews
- Made from 65% polyamide, 34% elastane and 1% carbon fibre that provides high muscle compression for better control and support in the water
- Embedded carbon panels provide support for specific muscle groups and improve positioning in the water
- Water repellent so it doesn't absorb water for better hydrodynamics
- A high-end racing suit with the best balance between performance and comfort
- Suitable for all styles
- Several of the best swimmers in the world swim in this at the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships, and several of the best in Ireland prefer this model
- Made from 65% polyamide, 34% elastane and 1% carbon fibre that provides high muscle compression for better control and support in the water
- Embedded carbon panels provide support for specific muscle groups and improve positioning in the water
- Water repellent so it doesn't absorb water for better hydrodynamics
- A high-end racing suit with the best balance between performance and comfort
- Suitable for all styles
- Several of the best swimmers in the world swim in this at the Olympics, World Championships and European Championships, and several of the best in Ireland prefer this model
- Made from 52% polyamide, 47% elastane and 1% carbon for increased muscle compression and improved upper body flexibility
- Made with Arena's V-flex System that ensures optimal movement and freedom around the hips and lifts the leg tension lines for optimal body position in the water
- Embedded Carbon Flex panels provide excellent compression of the different muscle groups, stabilizing the core muscles for more efficient propulsion
- Designed to have more flexibility without sacrificing support and compression
- Made with the innovative Hydroglide consisting of 58% polyamide and 42% elastane for unprecedented glide and reduced water resistance
- Gives a great feeling of speed in the water
- Made with Carbon Glide Kneeskin which also gives the suit an exceptional glide through the water
- Sewn into the fabric is the Carbon Extreme Cage which provides effective and strategic compression of the muscle groups for the best body position in the water
- Provides good blood flow and better recovery
- This is virtually non-sagging in the material, which is why it usually takes 15–20 minutes to apply. So it's not that the size is too small, but it has to be with this model