What suit do you train in?

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 10:45:33 GMT

Can you race in an Endurance suit or is that only for training? From what I know you can race in whatever you want really, except maybe a big bird costume.. but yeah.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 15:00:27 GMT

Can you race in an Endurance suit or is that only for training?

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:56:59 GMT

I wore my Endurance for about 10 months until the crotch seam popped (I discovered this as I was "hitching" prior to going into the pool). I didn't have another pair with me so I went into the pool with just a thin gusset between me and general public. Thankfully there were no young kids there, and I figured if anyone else got a peek they were trying to see... Now I'm down to a Lycra Jammer and Brief which I use to compete...so I'm hoping Santa will drop another Endurance in my stocking this year.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:55:33 GMT

Jayhawk likes to pretend that she doesn't know where I swim, but I constantly catch her looking all the time ;)

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:47:14 GMT

I train naked. Saves money and I don't have to use the spinner. I also air dry only. It sucks in the winter, but also saves a lot of space in my bag. Also, the ladies love it. Where do you swim? :)

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 15:32:56 GMT

I train naked. Saves money and I don't have to use the spinner. I also air dry only. It sucks in the winter, but also saves a lot of space in my bag. Also, the ladies love it.

RE: What suit do you train in?

pdjang — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:45:37 GMT

I train in surfer shorts. Cheap, lasts forever, lots of drag. I don't have a lot of pool time; swimming in a hyper-drag suit increases my energy output (calorie consumption). Quality work is painful. At taper time, switching to a blade is a huge boost.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:47:48 GMT

Speedo Endurance briefs. The material really lasts like Fort wrote; after a year though of almost daily use, I haven't found any problems with the liner though. The only problem now is that it has lost a lot of its elasticity and I really need to get a new one.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 07:01:59 GMT

Definitely go the polyester route. I've got the speed endurance square leg and my kids use polyester jammers for training. One has the TYR Durafast and the other the speedo endurance. All three suits are going on a year now and still look solid. Money well spent! :cheerleader: Kevin

RE: What suit do you train in?

aztimm — Mon, 12 Nov 2007 03:38:02 GMT

Seems this topic comes up every 3 months or so.... Anyway, I train in a Keifer mesh drag suit, with a brief underneath. The drag suit lasts years (as someone else said, I've lost these before they give out), my current one I've had for at least 2 years. The brief I wear under varies....lately I've gotten the most out of water polo suits. They aren't the most efficient, but then again I'm wearing a drag suit anyway. I got 2 water polo suits at a local sporting goods store about 2 years ago, one is starting to show wear, the other still fine.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 15:00:29 GMT

Tyr Durafast Jammers. Last for at least 6 months (3 if you get sunscreen on them.) I also do open water races in them. -LBJ

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:23:13 GMT

I wear a TYR brief. It lasts about 3 months but at $25 I just throw it away. It seems to last as long as my goggles. I just ordered a grab bag so no telling what it will look like.:dunno::blush::bolt:

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:09:28 GMT

Question - Why does the suit spinner wear suits out faster? I use it daily and my nylon suits last about 9-10 months. Maybe if I didn't use the spinner they would last 12 months? I suspect something might be wrong with our spinner. When they work well....the machine sort of hums instead of the horrible grinding noise which ours makes. Occasionally some genius throws their nasty dripping wet beach towel into the basket. No wonder it's hurting.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 15:02:16 GMT

speedo jammers and a speedo dragsuit

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 12:28:54 GMT

The 100% polyester suits would last forever except the seams end up giving out, as mentioned by Fortress. My TYR poly mesh drag suit just split the seam at the crotch a couple weeks ago. Other than that you'd think it was brand new! I guess if you're a good seamstress maybe they will last forever. I always used to use 100% nylon suits. They last quite a while, but fade in color quickly. Don't use a suit that contains lycra for practice purposes. Assuming the manufacturer used polyester for all four threads (two needles, upper and lower looper), the tensions were set correctly, and the suit was the correct size, the seam should last as long as the polyester fabric. I have a polyester Chloroblock suit that I made two years ago, and apart from the lining bagging out (it's nylon) and a bit of fading, it's still usable. And that was made on a household serger that wasn't of the best quality, not an industrial model. Could be they used nylon "wooly" for the loopers. It gives a very stretchy seam but doesn't seem to hold up to chemicals as well. Wooly is the stuff that looks sort of "fluffy" and is usually only used for the looper threads (the ones that wrap around the outside edge). If the wrapping threads look smooth and no different from the needle threads (check the top stitching for comparison) then it was most likely sewn with all polyester thread and may last a bit longer. I say "may last" because I don't personally believe serger seams are as inherently strong as some sewing machine seams. Sergers are mainly used in industry because they are so fast. We have salt water pools here which aren't as hard on suits (or sinuses) but even with that, I've noticed that lycra varies widely. Some lycra fabric lasts almost a year, others are only good for a few months. As to whether a suit will last longer if it fits loosely - probably not. You have more fabric waving in the current and catching, so more stress on the fibers rather than less.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 11:41:07 GMT

I swim in a 80% polyester brief, its nice because its still comfy and strechy like your nylon based lycra but lasts A LOT longer, though not as long as the 100% poly, to me its the sweet spot for suits.. the trick is knowing the brands that use the polyester blend rather then the nylon for the standard suits. I stopped using speedo brand years ago, I know they have the endurance suits, but I just like the 80% polyester better:) (and cheaper to..

RE: What suit do you train in?

ViveBene — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 10:29:41 GMT

Cheapest suit I can get from Speedo. By the time it's worn out, which doesn't take too long, I am sick of it anyway. It goes into the spinner so I do not drag a wet and dripping suit around with me. VB

RE: What suit do you train in?

knelson — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 08:05:15 GMT

Yeah, the thread must be a different material because there's no question it deteriorates more quickly.

RE: What suit do you train in?

swimshark — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:41:16 GMT

The suit spinner wears out the threads faster than with just normal rinsing and drying. I use lycra EQ suit for working out. The suits last forever. Have some that are over a year and a half old and I can still wear them. They are a bit stretched and faded but that is it. I have worn polyester but I don't like it as much. I love the EQ suits. I usually get their grab bag and enjoy seeing what they send me when the bag arrives. I highly recommend everyone try them out (no, I don't work for them) http://www.eqswimwear.com/ Alison

RE: What suit do you train in?

Allen Stark — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:52:41 GMT

Re: the nylon suits,yes they fade,but the black fades to gray and still looks OK.The blue fades to pink and is not OK IMHO.

RE: What suit do you train in?

knelson — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 04:40:56 GMT

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:53:09 GMT

TYR jammers. They have proven to last waaaay longer than Nike and Speedo brands. No stretching or wearing down of the fabric. As Anna Lea said...the fabric makes all the difference. Are we allowed to talk brand names on the forum? And also, they last much longer when you avoid throwing them into the suit spinner. Wear them in the shower for a good rinse after each swim and they should stay virtually new for at least 6 months.

RE: What suit do you train in?

Former Member — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:36:18 GMT

It's not the suit size that is causing your problem - it's the fabric. You are probably wearing a suit that contains lycra or spandex. These fibers deteriorate in chlorine; three months is about all I can get from a suit that contains lycra. What you want is a suit made of 100% polyester. It will last at least a year in chlorinated water. Anna Lea

RE: What suit do you train in?

The Fortress — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:45:34 GMT

Among others, I use the speedo endurance suit. I put it in the suit spinner regularly. Still lasts forever. I think I've had mine for over 1 1/2 years. The liner started degrading. I ripped it out and kept wearing it. Finally, the seams burst. I can't say I like the fit as much as other suits, but it lasts forever.

RE: What suit do you train in?

allenhighnote — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:40:52 GMT

I've worn a polyester TYR trainer (loose fitting, mesh) for over a year and it does not show any sign of deterioration. I wear a lycra speedo under it to avoid :mooning: the lifeguards.