I've never raced in a technical racing suit before, but would like to give it a try. I see that Yingfa Sharkskin leggings are significantly cheaper than American made technical suits (Speedo, Tyr). Has anyone raced in Yingfa Sharkskin? Will you please provide feedback? I don't expect them to be quite as good as the more expensive suits, but also don't want to regret trading my old lycra brief for Yingfa leggings. For example, I wouldn't race in standard jammers, because they are just longer versions of the same old water logged lycra briefs. Thanks!
Since there were many views of my original question, but only one person that actually owns a Yingfa technical suit, I thought I would circle back with my 'take' on the Yingfa leggings I ordered a few weeks ago. These leggings cost me just $30 a pair, so I feared they might be a complete rip-off, actually slowing me down like those running tights we used to wear in workouts between back-to-back shave and taper meets. But I was pleased.
For all you seasoned veterans of both competition and technical suits, I have these caveats (so you may want to disregard my opinion entirely!).
I have never swum in a technical suit before, so I can't compare to Fastskin - only my own shaved skin.
'retired' from college swimming 18 years ago and only competed a handful of times betweeen 1998 and 2002 since then. In fact, prior to last August I had not swum more than about 30 workouts in the past six years. So I really don't have any way to compare times with and without the Yingfa leggings........After warming up at practice two weeks ago I put them on. I was actually quite surprised at how buoyant and 'friction-less' my legs felt. Still wary that they wouldn't 'work,' I shaved for the meet last weekend and compared them (at least in feel) to my shaved legs for a couple of warm-up sprints. I think they may have felt just a little bit better than the shaved legs, and they certainly did not feel worse. And I matched the times I did ten years ago. I don't know if I can attribute that to my weight workouts, my attempts at EVF and swimming 'downhill', or my new $30 leggings, but I can't imagine they slowed me down.
Are these as fast as Fastskins? 0.02 per 50 slower? 0.2 seconds slower? I have no idea, but I like them. SO, if you've avoided the technical suits because of the price tag, or would like a back-up suit for Nationals in case your Fastskin rips, I would recommend Yingfa shark skins. Just type in 'Yingfa' on ebay and there are hundreds of them.
That's good to hear, as I just got mine in the mail yesterday. Mine cost $36 with s&h. I too have never used a Fastskin, but don't feel my times are low enough to fork over lots of cash for a suit. I'll try mine out either this March at a local meet or in May at nationals. I figured that since these were similar in price as a retail speedo, what the heck. Does anyone know how many swims I can expect from one suit?
:banana:
Funkyfish,
I've worn mine six times - two warm-ups and four sprint events. It seems to be in the same shape as when I got it out of the box, so I think it will be good for several more swims...
Craig
People keep mentioning these paper suits. Were they really made of paper or just something that looked like it? Are they still made anywhere? (I'm not from a swimming background, so I'd never heard of them until recently, and Googling doesn't bring up very much.)
Not paper--they were just nearly as fragile as if made of paper (well, maybe not "nearly" as fragile, but definitely way more fragile than a regular suit). They felt a lot like an FS Pro suit feels to the touch. You really only wore them for one meet and they were trash.
Craig,
I have a yingfa sharkskin legskin.
I also have a speedo FS2, FS1, and I have worn an FS PRO
The yingfa suit, much to me and my teammates surprise is actully better than the FS2 and most closely resembles the FS pro. the material is the same and the little shark scales on the yingfa suit are for decoration. I tried this suit out at a summer leauge meet to see if it would work for my taper meet, MA Senior champs. Im only 14 but i still attend the senior meets. Now whenn i wore this suit at the meeet i dropped 3 seconds in my fly which was pretty sweet.
So i would definatly reccomend getting the suit
...They remind me of the old paper suits!
People keep mentioning these paper suits. Were they really made of paper or just something that looked like it? Are they still made anywhere? (I'm not from a swimming background, so I'd never heard of them until recently, and Googling doesn't bring up very much.)
The one I am going to wear is YingFa Shoulder to ankle following is the blurb from Ying Fa.
This costume is suitable for both males and females
Watertight Swimwear- Competitive swimwear, high in performance that maximise speed in the water and improve glide times by reducing drag and increasing water flow. Made or fastened so that water cannot get in or out.
About $160. US
You may find it is better than the others.
George, I just ordered one of those but in the women's tank. I'm going to use it as a bak-up to my TYR at Nats.
