I train in Speedo briefs but find that after about 2 to 3 months they start to get threadbare. Have considered buying a size up so that there won't be so much tension on the fabric and, therefore, hopefully won't deteriorate so quickly. What does everyone else train in?
Syd
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
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..
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.
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.
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:
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.
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
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.
