SWIMWEAR
As we wave goodbye to open-water training and say hello to early mornings in the pool, new swimwear could be the motivation you need…
We’ve been away from pools a lot over the last year, so if you’ve grabbed your kit bag only to find your swimwear isn’t what it once was, now is the time to invest in a new training swimsuit or pair of jammers.
Training swimwear should be chosen to improve speed and maximise comfort, so look for designs that are streamlined and allow good freedom of movement. There’s nothing worse than kit that drags in the water, won’t allow you to tumble turn or impedes your stroke mechanics.
For men, jammers should fit closely with zero bagging, while an adjustable drawstring waist will ensure they stay up. Women’s swimsuits come in many designs, but pick straps that stay up, don’t irritate your shoulder blades (cross backs work well) and are comfortable. Thin straps tend to work well on slimmer women with small busts, whereas larger or bustier women may choose wider straps for support.
Most brands will have their own terms for their fabric, but make sure they’re chlorine-resistant. You may also want to look for swimwear that has good eco-credentials, with some manufacturers now opting to make their suits out of recycled fishing nets and post-consumer plastic bottles.
Finally, pick a design that makes you feel good. It’s been shown that the more confident you feel in any kit, the better you perform, and that’s got to count for something at swim squad…
WOMEN’S
ZOGGS COLOUR FLOW
£38 Along with the Funkita, this vibrant suit from classic swim brand Zoggs really caught the eye. The lined fabric felt comfortable and flexible yet close-enough fitting and is constructed from the brand’s Ecolast+ material, which is 100% chlorine-proof and made from recycled bottles. Zoggs say six 500ml recycled post-consumer bottles per metre of fabric. Our usual UK12 was a great fit and, although the suit features a shelf bra with elasticated band under the bust, which we aren’t a fan of, here it was fairly unobtrusive and actually helped give the suit a flattering shape. The back is a skinny Y-back that, while a little tricky to wriggle over wide hips gave a wonderfully free feeling to the arms and shoulder blades, while the medium leg cut was sporty and unrestrictive yet low enough to keep the suit in place. No bobbling was experienced in multiple swim-and wash cycles. zoggs.com
85%
FUNKITA WING TIPS
£44.95 Of all the designs on test, this is the one we reached for first from a ‘must-test’ point of view. Partly because we loved the vibrant neon feathers design but mostly because Funkita’s classic diamond-back design is one we’ve enjoyed wearing previously. Thankfully, the lockdown weight hasn’t affected our love for the fit and a UK12 still fits perfectly, with just enough stretch not to dig in, but snug enough to feel like a real performance garment. The suit is lined, but without any annoying shelf bras or padding to interfere with the streamlined shape, and the fabric (made from recycled bottles destined for landfill) felt robust enough to have longevity. The diamond back is a great compromise between a strappy back and a more supportive, wider back with a central triangle of fabric for strength. All in all, a great all-rounder and the one we’ll be using this winter. simplyswim.com
90%
ROXY ACTIVE
£45 More a brand that we associate with lithe teenage surf girls than with hardcore pool training (and middle-aged swim kit testers), we approached this suit with slight trepidation. Thankfully, we were pleasantly surprised. The overall fit (we chose a size large for a UK12-14) was great and, although low, the back design with wide crossed straps kept the suit in place well and didn’t interfere with front crawl. The leg cut was great, too – high enough to feel stylish and allow range of movement, but low enough to stay in place. It had a nice amount of stretch and is made from recycled fabric as well as being UV and suncream resistant. Thanks to a hot testing period we used it in both swimming pools and the sea many times and saw no bobbling. The suit does feature padding on the bust, which was slow to dry and bunched up in the wash, but the pads are removable if, like us, you’re not a fan. roxy-uk.co.uk
75%
FINISTERRE ANELLA
£95 One of our go-to brands for sustainable clothing and apparel, this suit replaces a previous release from Finisterre that, although expensive, had lasted us several years of pool training, with the only problem being some fading of the colour – so we can vouch for the quality of this brand. The Anella is reversible so two suits in one – here jade green or a strange khaki colour that didn’t really inspire us for earlymorning pool sessions (red/blue also available). The suit feels wonderfully soft and premium and is made from ‘Sequal’, a material including recycled marine plastics and 15% Elastane. Our UK12 was a good fit and the wide X-back straps gave good freedom of movement. We did find it came up a little large on the bust (though the high neck meant that wasn’t a problem), but we weren’t a fan of the high cut on the bum, which only stayed in place when the suit was wet. finisterre.com
79%
SPEEDO MEDALIST
£42 The Placement Medalist suit from Speedo comes in a choice of colours with black/pink tested here. Black/teal and striped are also available. It looks like it comes up small for a UK12 compared to the others on test, but was deceptively stretchy so once on gave good coverage, with a medium front and leg cut. The back has a similar racer design to the Selkie, but with the added stretch we didn’t have any problems getting the suit on or off. It also felt supportive and, thanks to the strap placement, didn’t interfere with our stroke. There’s a shelf bra with elasticated band sitting beneath the bust, which we weren’t a fan of – we prefer not to have something rubbing against the underneath of the bust as we swim – but larger-busted swimmers may like the extra support. Finally, the fabric is Speedo’s quick-drying, 100% chlorine-resistant Endurance+ fabric that’s served us well on previous suits. speedo.com
77%
SELKIE MARILLA
£49 This suit had to be one of our favourite designs, offering a funky, flattering aesthetic – we loved the sea-blue with retro polka dots. British swim brand Selkie do warn that their suits come up small so this size UK12-14 tester chose a 14, which once on felt very supportive and well-fitting, with a perfect mid-height leg cut. The combination of a high-ish neckline with a wide bladeback did make it a struggle to get over wider hips, though, as there wasn’t quite enough flexibility in the fabric. Getting it off again once wet was even more challenging and, after a few swims, we noticed a small tear in the fabric caused by trying to wriggle out of it! We weren’t keen on the mesh internal shelf bra, either, which we found a tiny bit scratchy, though larger-busted swimmers may appreciate the support. Eco credentials are good – the suit is made from Vita fabric that uses Econyl recycled fabrics. selkieswim.com
70%
MEN’S
FUNKY TRUNKS RAINBOW WEB
£39.95 If you like your trunks (or jammers) funky then you can guarantee Funky Trunks will deliver, and the Rainbow Web design is one of the most garish in the Aussie brand’s eccentric collection. There’s technical know-how to back up the looks, though, as these jammers are made with C-Infinity fabric that’s said to be highly chlorineresistant – useful when you want your colourful jammers to stay colourful for many swims to come, while retaining their shape. While we appreciate the durability of the fabric, we do find that the fit of Funky Trunks’ jammers can clash with the thighs of a cyclist somewhat, as the legs felt very tight compared to the waist. This led to a fit that felt slightly baggy around the midriff and we experienced some slippage when turning hard on the wall, so we had to tie the drawstring tighter than we’d have liked. funkita.funkytrunks.co.uk
71%
ZONE3 JAMMERS
£35 Zone3’s everyday training jammers haven’t changed in construction or price since the last time we gave them a glowing review. And, taking into account the surging prices of just about everything else recently, that means they offer even better value in 2022. They’re made with ‘XFINITY’ fabric, which is mooted as being 100% chlorine-resistant and fast-drying. A chunky waistband helps them to stay in place and this is complemented by a quality drawstring. The lining is comfortable while providing the coverage you need, and after countless swims, the colours are still just as vivid, while the fit is exactly the same as when we took them out of the packaging. Although we can’t quantify Zone3’s claims about the refined fit helping to ‘align the body in a more streamline position to give a smoother swim’, we’re confident the nearperfect fit should, in theory, help minimise unwanted drag. zone3.com
92%
SPEEDO ECO ENDURANCE+ SLICE
£41 Speedo’s Eco Endurance+ Slice jammers are made from 50% recycled fabrics, and also claim to be 100% chlorine-resistant to last you thousands of lengths. We can vouch for their durability after plenty of test swims, and the fabric is generally very comfortable and form-fitting, not bothering us at all on our test swims. The drawstring isn’t quite as robust as some of the others on test here, but it does the job. Unlike the rest of the fabric, the front gusset for modesty is a thin piece of material and requires a bit of careful arrangement to ensure no unwanted chafing at the seams. While the Eco Endurance+ Slice jammers feel stretchier than similarly priced options from Funky Trunks and 2XU, we think Zoggs and Zone3’s offerings just edge it for value. speedo.com
80%
2XU PROPEL JAMMER
£40 We had to double-check the size guide on receiving our medium Propel jammers, as they looked small compared to others here. However, Carvico’s Xlance Eco fabric used by 2XU does stretch considerably when you put the jammers on. The construction is basic with small, stitched seams at the legs, and we found the fabric was digging into our cyclist’s thighs, which we could occasionally feel through the water, especially when turning. The waistband is more robust, with a chunky drawstring for obtaining the correct tension. So far, the fabric appears to be durable after multiple washes and has retained its shape, and 2XU says it’s also highly resistant to chlorine and UV rays. Overall, these jammers take a little getting used to but are fine if you don’t mind a close fit. You’re not going to stand out in these all-black jammers, either, but if plain is what you’re looking for, they certainly fit the bill. uk.2xu.com
76%
TRI-FIT RAPID JAMMER
£89.99 The Rapid Jammer from Aussie multisport brand Tri-Fit is made with Carvico Revolutional Energy fabric, lauded for its hydrophobic, compression, chlorineresistant and quick-drying properties. The tough bonded seams are more commonly found in swimskins or tri shorts, but they work brilliantly on swimming jammers, too, feeling comfortable against the skin and providing a secure fit at the legs. The silicone waistband is also nice and stretchy with a heavy-duty drawcord to ensure the correct tension. Through the water the fit is just the right amount of compression, allowing you to kick and turn freely. They also dry quickly. It’s worth mentioning for any competitive master’s swimmers reading that the Rapid jammers are not FINA-approved at the time of writing. However, Tri-Fit assures us there shouldn’t be any reason why they can’t be in the future. tri-fitathletic.co.uk
88%
ZOGGS KONGO MID
£30 The Kongo Mid from Zoggs, designed to sit mid-thigh as the name suggests, are the most affordable jammers on test but punch above their weight in terms of quality of construction. The seams on both the waistband and leg grippers are wide and sit very comfortably against the skin, which is all you can ask from everyday training jammers. The legs aren’t quite as stretchy as some of the others on test and required a little bit of rearranging to stop the material bunching at the thighs, but once in position they stayed in place while we were swimming. After several uses and washes we’ve no reason to believe the Kongo Mid jammers won’t last you hundreds of swims, making that very reasonable price go even further. The Ecolast+ fabric is 100% chlorine proof as standard and, for extra eco points, these jammers are made with recycled plastic bottles. zoggs.com
84%