This is a question for the men that use this forum:
I was wondering why at most meets I attend for masters, I notice that it is more often the younger males that wear swim caps for competition? I am in my early twenties, and whenever I get ready for my events at a meet I look around and notice that it's primarily only younger guys that put a cap on for their events. Just curious for some input from other male swimmers if they notice this as well, or if it is just me. I've talked to other guys my age and they seem to agree for the most part for a variety of reasons. Any response is appreciated!
Dave
I wear a cap in practice and at meets. It also helps keep my hair a natural gray rather than green. At meets it helps keep my goggle straps in place. I wear a silicone cap. I don't like swimming with any air bubble in my cap - makes me feel unbalanced. Of course, some people think me thus anyway.
I never wear a cap. Partly because I have a very small head and I have never found a cap that fits me right. I do however, shave my head for big meets, more for superstition than speed.
I actually thought about it, too.I am one of the very few in the club I swim who wears a cap.I' m 24.My reasons are:
1) I hope it helps to keep the negative effect of chlorine on my hair to the minimum
2)I like the feeling of swimming with a cap(feels fast)
3)I have quite a lot of hair
I think younger people still try to keep as much hair as possible(concerned about the look at that age).Can chlorine lead to receding hair, though?
I'm 46. I've been wearign a cap since my pony-tail days when I was in my early 30s.
Now I have a buzz haircut (perhaps 1/4 inch all around), and I still wear a cap. I just prefer the "feel" with the cap in the water.
On days that I don't wear a cap (such as those days when my cap splits as I am putting it on and I don't want to go back to the locker room to get another) I feel the water surging through my bristly hair, but even more I feel the water grabbing my ears. So I think for me the biggest reason I wear a cap is to keep my ears tight against my head.
Oh, and also, my goggle strap doesn't seem to slip as easily when I wear a cap. (Rubber on rubber. Stays put!)
Originally posted by hooked-on-swimming
I think younger people still try to keep as much hair as possible(concerned about the look at that age).
I'd say this is true at ANY age. Heck, look at Donald Trump! :D
And, no, chlorine isn't going to make you lose your hair.
I tried the silicone caps, but I just didn't feel like they fit as tight as the latex ones. I just opt for the plain white latex cap at practice, and I wear my team one at meets. Like Guvnah, I also wear it so that it keeps my ears against my head, so I pull it down pretty far to where you can't see any hair (as opposed to wearing it without pulling it down and hair sticks out).
What little hair I have left is very precious. I wear always wear a cap, and those hairs are brown, not yellow like they were when I was capless.
As for chlorine causing hair loss, the pool I swim in recently had a chemical event of some kind - over chlorinated, bad pH, I don't know. But most of the hair on my arms and legs is now gone -- except for the itch, the easiest shave I have ever done!
I also don't like my ears waggling in the water. I keep thinking I am Dumbo and should 'fly' through the water!
Another quation for guys out there:
Do you wear your goggle straps on the inside or the outside of you cap?
I personally switch back and forth, at larger meets I would wear them inside my cap, because I wouldn't put on my cap until maybe 10 minutes before my race (it was uncomfortable to have the cap on for hours) At smaller meets that only last an hour or so I just put my cap on in the locker room and don't take it off until the end of the meet, so I just put my goggles over the cap.
Always my goggles are outside my cap. I have no particular reason for this. It's just the way I've always done it. Never even tried it the other way.
Maybe tomorrow I'll try it under the cap if I remember...
Originally posted by Phil Arcuni
Very good point!I also have almost no hair left on my arms and legs which gets me to think what it can do to the hair on my head, so I wear a cap at all times!
