Questions on FastSkin suits

Should wearing a FastSkin suit give the same performance benefits of shaving whatever area the FastSkin covers? Also, do people generally only wear them for "big meets" - like how swimmers would typically only shave for big meets? i.e. do college kids today wear them for all dual meets, or only for championships? Would you lose some of the benefit if you wore them too much? Thanks for any info! John - I think you will find some info on this in Ande's Swimming Faster Faster thread.

Perhaps poolraat or Kirk (or some other engineering type) can answer this one....(Please don't laugh b/c this could very well be a massively stupid and/or nieve question): Why can't "they" design a fastskin body suit that is sooo resistant to drag that when you dive in you simply soar like a torpedo underwater all the way to the other end of a 25 yard pool (in like 10 seconds or less...that is if you maintained a fairly close to perfect streamlined position of course)? Just curious? Hey I'm not an engineer....A geek maybe...but I only live in the world of abstractum for the most part. Newmastersswimmer Hey, I won't be of much help here. My training is in geological engineering. If we were swimming through dirt or rocks then maybe I could figure something out.

I have heard some people say they like them because it holds all the extra skin in. I don't feel I can fit into them yet, but then again I see people bigger than me figure out some way of getting into them. Looks like too much effort to me. I'll just stay with the versions that are like what I grew up with. Donna

Should wearing a FastSkin suit give the same performance benefits of shaving whatever area the FastSkin covers? Also, do people generally only wear them for "big meets" - like how swimmers would typically only shave for big meets? i.e. do college kids today wear them for all dual meets, or only for championships? Would you lose some of the benefit if you wore them too much? Suit makers will say the suit is probably better than shaven skin. But, when you put these suits on... you must choose one that is best for you. Most breastrokers won't wear the full legged suit b/c they lose the feeling of the water on their legs, and others will just go with the "old school", regular cut suit just because that is what they like (I am one of those people). Anyways, these suits are meant for championship meets only (State, Zones, Nationals)... I've seen a lot of people wearing these suits at regular masters meets... and I just think - wow, it must be nice to have all that money to wear that suit at a meet like this... but maybe they're going for a personal best or record. These suits are "good" for two meets... they have a coating on them (I have been told) that will eventually wear off (and they are SO EXPENSIVE). So personally, I would only wear these suits for big meets - plus - it's a mental thing when you strap that new, technical suit on for your last big swim of the season. It's the way I did it in H.S. and college. Take care.

I heard we're all going to die soon in a supervolcanic eruption at Yellowstone....that true?...Now to be more on topic....How bout a fastskin suit that will let me swim through lava...LOL!! Newmastersswimmer Don't know anything about the Yellowstone thing. I have the original fastskin, couldn't pass up the $75 bargain. First meet I wore it in I set PB's in every event I entered. Was it the suit, my training or in my head? Who knows and who really cares? When you're my age and at my ability level, getting a PB in any fashion is all that matters.

Perhaps poolraat or Kirk (or some other engineering type) can answer this one....(Please don't laugh b/c this could very well be a massively stupid and/or nieve question): Why can't "they" design a fastskin body suit that is sooo resistant to drag that when you dive in you simply soar like a torpedo underwater all the way to the other end of a 25 yard pool (in like 10 seconds or less...that is if you maintained a fairly close to perfect streamlined position of course)? Just curious? Hey I'm not an engineer....A geek maybe...but I only live in the world of abstractum for the most part. Newmastersswimmer

Why can't "they" design a fastskin body suit that is sooo resistant to drag that when you dive in you simply soar like a torpedo underwater all the way to the other end of a 25 yard pool (in like 10 seconds or less...that is if you maintained a fairly close to perfect streamlined position of course)? That would be a sad day when races were won by the swimmers who had the most money and had the best suit, rather than by the best swimmer.

Sorta on topic.. I just got a pair of Speedo Jammer in the mail from the "grab bag" for 23bux I'm very happy for my new "race" jammers.

Hey, I won't be of much help here. My training is in geological engineering. If we were swimming through dirt or rocks then maybe I could figure something out. I heard we're all going to die soon in a supervolcanic eruption at Yellowstone....that true?...Now to be more on topic....How bout a fastskin suit that will let me swim through lava...LOL!! Newmastersswimmer

I have heard some people say they like them because it holds all the extra skin in. I don't feel I can fit into them yet, but then again I see people bigger than me figure out some way of getting into them. Looks like too much effort to me. I'll just stay with the versions that are like what I grew up with. Donna I didn't feel that my fastskin made me look to flattering....It really helps to show off just how large my belly is when I'm in that skin tight thing! Newmastersswimmer