Swim Parka

If you swim at meets outdoors in the winter in places like Arizona and NoCal, it is very worth the money. If you're swimming indoors in the rest of the country, I'd say save your money.

People are still into parkas! I still have mine from college but have no urge to wear it at a meet.

I wear mine all the time at meets. I always freeze.

If you attend a lot of meets/practices that are outdoors as Patrick said, I say go for it. We would walk around with just our suit and parka on all weekend if it was pleasant out. They're relatively thin, it's not like they're made for snow or anything. My mom still has hers from when I swam 30 years ago and she still wears it, but then we live in San Diego!

I bought a parka in April, 2007. Since then I have commented repeatedly that it was one of the best purchases I've ever made. I originally bought it to take to Nationals in Seattle. It was great for wearing on the deck between events. It also served as my coat when I took a ferry to Bainbridge Island. Last winter I used it A LOT for swim practices. I swim at a pool that is covered by an air-supported, fabric dome in the winter. It's heated but the air temperature is very unpredictable (sometimes in the 60s, sometimes in the 80s). There were many workouts when I was grateful to have the parka just to wear while walking from the pool to the locker room. Anna Lea

I know lots of people like those parkas but I have always thought they were truly butt ugly. I can't be the only one! My college team bought TruWest parkas and I was one of the only holdouts. :)

I personally think the swim parka looks as stupid as the diver's mini-towel. Again, scary that knelson and I agree, and that he's being more blunt than me.

When I was in college (in New Jersey) I tried to wear my Parka as a winter coat and it just didn't work. It wasn't well insulated and just didn't keep you warm. (Maybe the new fleece ones are better...) I now live in Northern California and bought a parka to use at swim meets. I think it's great for that purpose. I have a number of teammates who wear theirs to morning (outdoors) practice as well, but everybody leaves them in the locker room.

The hidden benefit of a parka is that they are so hideous that no one would ever steal one and you are thus stuck with it for life.

Mine's not that ugly... Just basic black. See photo here: For a parka, this one is ok. I would think the fur lining would be better, preferably cheetah.