Feel like you need some new kit to help you get the best out of your pool sessions? Here, we test 10 pairs of men’s swimming jammers to see which are worth your well-earned cash.
Picks start from just £18.99 and all have gone through the same level of vigorous testing.
How to pick the best swim jammers
The best men’s swim jammers should fit closely with zero bagging, while an adjustable drawstring waist will ensure they stay up. While being streamlined, they also need to allow good freedom of movement. As many of you will appreciate, there’s nothing worse than kit that drags in the water or impedes your technique.
Most brands will have their own terms for their fabric, but make sure they’re chlorine-resistant. You may also want to consider a garment’s eco-credentials, with some brands now choosing to make their swimwear out of recycled materials.
Of course, you also need to pick a design that makes you feel good. Research has shown that the more confident you feel in kit, the better you perform.
So without further ado, here’s our pick of the best men’s swim jammers on the market right now…
Best men’s swim jammers
Zoggs Byron
- £34
The Byron jammers are brand new from Zoggs, with a 45cm leg length that sits just above the knee and made from the brand’s Ecolast fabric, which is meant to be durable as the name suggests.
We found that they have plenty of stretch and, while not quite as form-fitting as Zone3 or Funky Trunks’ offerings, they were among the most comfortable on test. After numerous washes they still look fresh, suggesting the chlorine resistance is doing its job.
The leg grippers are wide and comfortable without being too tight, and an embroidered logo shows no signs of peeling off over time. The front gusset keeps everything contained as we’d like it to, and a chunky drawstring allowed us to get the ideal tension. It’s also good to know that the Byron jammers are part of Zoggs’ sustainability programme, meaning they’re made from regenerated yarn consisting of recycled fishnets and nylons.
Verdict: Comfort, durability and good eco-credentials make these jammers a great choice.
Score: 84%
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Aqua Sphere Arkos 2
- £35.50
Having won a ‘best in test’ award for wetsuits in each of our last two issues, it’s fair to say that Aqua Sphere is having a good run in these pages, but will the Arkos 2 keep it going?
A claimed 200+ hours of chlorine resistance isn’t a bad place to start. We found the Italian-made Aqua Infinity fabric a little tougher than some of the more flexible options on test, making it a bit more of a struggle to get the perfect fit and ensure these jammers stay in place.
When we did have them on correctly, the drawstring and elastic waistband both did their job, with no adjustments needed in between sets. On that note, a 42cm length means that these jammers sit mid-thigh, rather than towards the top of the knee. The 47% P.B.T, 53% polyester blend is designed to be breathable and is rated UV50+ for sun protection, which is welcomed for outdoor swim training.
Verdict: Functional yet unremarkable training jammers suited to outdoor swim training.
Score: 75%
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Tenola Male Jammers
- £38
Much like the name, Tenola’s Male Jammers are no frills in both appearance and performance, but they’re suitable for pool training and built to last. Made from 100% chlorine-proof Carvico Darwin fabric, they’re touted as breathable and quickdrying, largely doing everything you’d expect them to do for the purposes of putting in those hard pool yards.
After numerous cold machine washes, the fabric on our test pair retained its shape and colour with no noticeable shrinkage. Rather than having an open gusset stitched into the front like most other pairs on test, this one is split in two and stitched down the middle, which we personally found put a little unwanted pressure where we most definitely didn’t want any.
The drawstring in the waistband is also quite chunky, which made it more difficult to achieve the perfect tension compared to our preferred jammers from Zone3 and Funky Trunks.
Verdict: A little pricey for what’s on offer and not the most comfy, but they do the job.
Score: 70%
Buy from Tenola
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Funky Trunks Silver Lining
- £36.95
While not the funkiest of the eccentric swimwear range from Aussie brand Funky Trunks, the Silver Lining jammers are a good option for those who want to add colour without blinding their lane buddies.
The C-Infinity fabric comes from Italy and is said to ‘retain its durability far beyond other elastane swimwear fabrics’, making these jammers ideal for frequent pool use. The wide leg-openings and waistband are very comfortable on the hips and around the thighs, while a strong drawstring allowed us to get perfect tension every time.
Unlike all the other pairs on test, the front gusset on the Silver Lining is fully stitched in, which we found preferable as it provides the coverage needed without any potential bagginess if the jammers are ill-fitting (for the record, our test pair fitted perfectly). So far, these quality jammers are still looking fresh after numerous uses and washes, which bodes well.
Verdict: High quality and durable jammers with a built-in gusset that deserves praise.
Score: 86%
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Nabaiji Men’s Swimming Jammer Fit
- £19.99
Aimed at ‘intermediate swimmers wanting to improve their technique’, these jammers use a polyester-based textile that’s said to be quick-drying and is claimed to only lose 3-4% of chlorine resistance through its lifespan.
We haven’t noticed any colour fading on our sample, but we have found found them less stretchy than others on test, with a tendency to slip. The sizing was also a little off, with our UK size 32 being considerably tighter than others of the same size.
Coupled with the fabric’s lack of give, we could only just safely fit into these, particularly after a couple of washes, so we’d be sizing up in our next pair. The great value offered by Decathlon’s in-house brands has impressed us in the past, but sometimes it’s a case of ‘you get what you pay for’. That said, we appreciate the low price may still appeal.
Verdict: The bargain price may be tempting, but a few trade-offs show you get what you pay for.
Score: 68%
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Zone3 Men’s Jammers
- £35
These Zone3 jammers have rated highly on 220’s pages before and this year’s no different, as they’ve proven to be super durable and comfortable for this tester over months of continual use. The Italian-made Xfinity fabric is 100% chlorine-resistant, retains its shape and dries fast, while the UPF50+ rating offers protection for outdoor swimming.
We found the chunky waistband really helps keep these in place, with no extra fiddling or adjustment needed on long sessions, and the crotch lining is comfortable while providing just the right amount of coverage. The brand also claims that its efforts to refine fit and choice of material promote a streamlined position, making the jammers more hydrodynamic.
While we couldn’t really quantify this based on the times we were clocking in other pairs on test, we can vouch for the fit being perfect, which should reduce drag through the water.
Verdict: Simply excellent jammers with superior build quality and a fantastic fit.
Score: 90%
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Nike Hydrastrong Solid Jammers
- £34.95
Nike says its Solid jammers are ‘built for speed lap after lap’ and, after plenty of test swims, we think their performance makes far more of a statement than the plain black fabric suggests.
The Hydrastrong main body fabric is made from a mix of polyester and PBT polyester, with the latter specced to make the material slide more smoothly through the water, while keeping its shape over a long period of time.
The front gusset is very soft, and the sizeable waistband with flatlocked seams is our favourite on test, ensuring our swims were chafe-free swimming lap after lap. Nike recommend hand washing, but we found machine washing on a low setting was fine.
Verdict: Durable fabric with an exceptional stretch.
Score: 92%
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Huub Brownlee (Jonny) Jammers
- £39.99
As the name suggests, the Brownlee Jammer was designed in collaboration with Jonny Brownlee, and the result is a very comfortable product with a striking geometric print.
The sizeable front gusset is free-flowing either side and stitched in the middle, which is unusual but shouldn’t lead to any discomfort, so long as you don’t select a size too small. This fabric inside also extends down to the legs, providing some extra support and coverage on the thighs. The leg grippers and waistband are impressive – both are comfortable and provide just the right amount of stretch for an ideal fit.
We can also vouch for the quality of the polyester fabric, as the print was like new and the Huub logo fully intact after a number of test swims. As the priciest on test we were expecting high quality from the Brownlee Jammers, and they didn’t disappoint.
Verdict: Boasting a bold print and huge comfort for both training and racing.
Score: 90%
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Speedo Boomstar Placement Jammers
- £35
The Boomstar Placement jammers have an enlarged ‘Boom’ print, inspired by Speedo’s logo, screen-printed on the side. They’re part of Speedo’s ‘Essentials’ line of swimwear, made to be durable and comfortable for “everyday swim fitness training” rather than competition.
The Endurance+ fabric is described as 100% chlorine resistant, and is supplemented by an extra integral support panel to keep everything secure. The drawstring on the waistband is very thin, and for us didn’t work as well as the chunkier, more secure drawstring on Nike’s Solid jammers – but it does the job, especially if you select the right size. Speedo also claims the fabric dries extra quickly to prevent your bag from getting too soggy after a session.
Overall, the Boomstar Placement jammers are perfectly serviceable for pool training, and feel built to last for thousands of pool lengths.
Verdict: No-nonsense training jammers with long-lasting fabric; waist band could be improved.
Score: 87%
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Maru Rainforest Jammers
- £26.99
Introverts are advised to keep clear of the Rainforest Pacer jammers from Maru, with the British brand proudly stating the ‘on-trend’ tropical style “will leave you the centre of attention at the pool”.
Maru claims they’re long-lasting thanks to the Pacer fabric and ours have shown little sign of wear after multiple swims and washes. The front gusset is black to prevent see-through disasters, and is fully stitched on unlike the other pairs on test. This kept things comfy and did the job on test swims.
The chunky drawstring allows for easy adjustment, but we found that it bunched up inside the waistband and lacked some comfort. They also weren’t very stretchy, which meant we had to spend more time getting them on correctly to prevent any embarrassing slippage. Even so, the fabric should last and is UPF50+, which’ll come in handy for outdoor swims.
Verdict: Eye-catching design and the lowest price on test, but lacking some stretch.
Score: 81%