Is a swim cap a device that makes you swim faster?

Popov wasn't concerned about needing one. But studies show they help.

I don't think it "makes " you swim faster, but it may allow you to swim faster. According to Ernest Maglischo's book, "Swimming Fastest", hair is a source of frictional drag. So anything that will reduce frictional drag will allow you to swim faster. That could be a cap or as someone else has suggested, shave your head. I believe I read that shaving down can improve your time by .5 - 2 seconds per 100. Thus the advantage of the "old" tech suits!

depends on how much hair you have.

Double capping w/silicone base layer definitely keeps you warmer in ow!

A cap is an approved device that can help some swimmers go faster. Swim Faster Faster Tip 228 is V-lieve it or Not I'd go further to say it's a good idea to have short hair because wet hair is weight. Caps hold hair still, they trap heat (which can be helpful or not depending upon water temp), they can conceal goggle straps. ( Strap under Cap. ) Some swimmers wear 2 caps, usually a latex cap under an Aqua V or a silicone. I prefer the aqua V for Sprints because it has fewer wrinkles. I don't like to wear a cap in warm water or on long swims, I keep cooler without a cap. Some swimmers shave their heads for BIG meets. Some swimmers race with giant google straps dangling all over the place, snip em short.

Rule 102.9.1 Swimwear - Design A. Swimwear shall include only a swimsuit, cap and goggles. "Swimwear" is clearly defined, so I'd assume that any "device" describes something that is not one of these three above.

ok, it's not a device- thanks. I've been reading through various threads trying to get up to speed on this tech suit issue, and the other day I thought, "What about caps?" We wear caps to reduce drag so we can go faster- doesn't this go against that rule that says no device allowed? But it sounds like because a cap is not defined as a device, it can't be seen as illegal even though it helps a swimmer swim faster than he would without it. Is this why the situation with the tech suits was able to go on as long as it did? Tech suits weren't "devices" so they couldn't be declared illegal even though swimmers were swimming faster with them than they were without them?

My hair is thick but medium length. I train without a cap but race with one. I notice immediately that my distance off the wall is greater when I have a cap on. Even more so with the new Speedo thick/stiff cap.

Then again, you can swim without a cap AND goggles and win gold! Hey, it was good enough for Pablo. I never get tired of watching that race.

Then again, you can swim without a cap AND goggles and win gold! Hey, it was good enough for Pablo. YouTube - Pablo Morales 100m Fly Finals at the 1992 Olympic Games