I am curious to what your preferences are regarding Speedo or TYR products (or other). I myself am a Speedo girl, and always have been. However, I recently bought a discounted TYR reversible suit for practice and it lasted way longer than any Speedo ever has. I'm tempted to buy TYR again, but do I dare switch loyalties? I like Speedo styles better - I've never been big on brand names at all, except when it comes to swimming - there's just something about Speedo.
For training, I prefer Adidas' endurance briefs, forget the name they use. For tech suits, I'll use my daughters' experiences, since I don't buy them for me. Speedo fits one, TYR fits the other. The Speedo just does not last. And actually their in season team suits were teh same way. It was like the non-reinfoced region had some coating that just fell apart, leaving that part of the suit looking rather sheer......as in unusably sheer. Non-tech suits only lasted a few meets, tech suits lasted one in season meet, and then one championship meet (wtih very few swims). The daugther who swims in TYR swims in a lot more meets, as she is hitting national level meets. The TYR's last a little longer, but we had one that didn't fare well. The reinforcement patch on the insdie started coming unglued at her last short course meet. She had only gotten a couple of swims out of it. Contacted TYR to see if it could be repaired (not ripped, it was like the adhesive failed). They had me send it back, they determined it was a manufacturing defect, and refunded the purchase price in full. So I was very happy with how they handled that.
I wear what fits the best for me, speedo mesh suit. When it comes to swim toys, I try to borrow a new product from a friend first to see if it is comfortable and will fit into what I want to use it for. I use finis paddles, eney buoy, phelps snorkel, and vertex II swim fins.
I'm loyal to Speedo for the most important swimming gear. I love their Power Flex Eco and Endurance briefs, Vanquisher optical goggles, and fins.
However, I prefer TYR's caps and ear plugs. I used to use Speedo silicone caps, but a friend of mine convinced me to switch to latex and TYR was the only brand available at the store for latex caps.
I got my first Finis suit recently since Ive been on the look out for a comparable suit to Speedo Endurance. Prices have gone up and I’ve yet to find a better, longer lasting suit. Finis is not necessarily less expensive, but I found one on sale. So far I’m very pleased! It’s 100% polyester, and that’s what I prefer, but not all 100% poly suits are up the same. TYR 100% poly last me no more than 3-6 months even with the best of suit care - loses shape, stretching.
wow. that's an old thread! I am very Arena loyal. You can get their polyester suits that last years! (like so long that I get sick of seeing the print) for $20 when you wait for their sales. They do big blow out sales multiple times a year directly on their own website.
Thank you! Some suits don't have as much bottom coverage as I'd like and it's hard to tell by seeing the models on the SwimOutlet website. Do you think Arena offers good coverage or are their suits more "cheeky". I just got a Finis 100% poly suit and I really like it. I can now add it to my list along with Speedo Endurance. The Finis has lasted nicely about 3 months now. That's a good sign.
