2. Anyone know of small sized caps?
I don't know about the sizes of helmet caps, but for reguular caps, try a silicone cap. I have a small head too and I can't wear the latex either. But silicone fits just right.
The English Channel swim requires one cap "of a standard type"
Some swim triathon events allow insulated or double caps ..some dont. check with your event before wearing this in that type of compitition. The bubble strap cap for example is allowed for the English Channel swim Carol Sing worn that type for her oldest women record.They have been around for 45 years and are "standard" The new Fast cap (double cap) would probably not be allowed in a Channel swim for record.
For Cold water open swim caps see
Cold water Swim Caps
www.geocities.com/.../coldwatercaps.html
Originally posted by JRidge
Two caps actually add buoyancy to your head. Jenny Thompson was wearing two caps before the new helmet cap came out. Try wearing two caps (even two latex caps) and you will be amazed, especially in the fly.
Neoprene caps worn under a reg cap were used by some marathon swimmers, they kept the head warm as a great amount of body heat was lost through the head. If they were caught doing this they were dq'd They called them floating devices.
A few years ago open water rules had a 1 cap maximum. Today USA-Swimming open water allows up to 2 caps, USMS no longer has a maximum. However, a number of host organizations (such as English Channel and Manhattan have a 1 cap limit).
Careful about using two caps. I remember reading an article in "Swim" magazine (or "Fitness Swimmer" or something like it) a few years back about a guy who did the race around Manhattan ALL BUTTERFLY and he did it with two caps, and by the end he had a layer of water built up between them. I believe he estimated the extra weight to be about two pounds.
It probably won't be a factor in a 200 or a 500, but some people are talking about doing it for marathons, so that might be something to consider there.
From the description of the new Fast Caps it sounds like they are designed to keep air inside, doesn't that make them buoyant and illegal? Or is it just equivalent to a swimmer with "big hair" who thus manages to trap a lot of air in their regular cap? :)
Just saw the new caps on TV with Jenny Thompson in Athens Now I understand, Its a latex race cap underneath with what looks like a silicon cap outside that comes down over the ears, I can not see any bumps in the outer cap looks smooth and streamlined. I think only the USA swimmers are using them.
