Because of the Tech suits that a majority are now not allowed in competition the old threads don't provide much insight into the world of Jammers. I am curious as to what everyone is wearing nowadays and why. When I stopped swimming in 1995 the HS state meet was 100% briefs and now from what I read it would be more like 20%. I always went with the less material the better philosophy so my meet suit was smaller and tighter and my state meet suit was even smaller and a "paper" suit. For practice I would wear 2 or 3 suits with the bottom layer in decent shape and the others progressively more ragged.
Since I have been back I have been wearing a square leg speedo drag suit mostly because it is slightly less "old man in a tiny suit" then a true brief but still allows me to actually swim without feeling like I am pulling a bucket. I just tried a TYR durafast jammer to see what all the hype was about and it seemed to have as much drag coefficient as my smaller drag suit. My wife seems to think walking around in a jammer is less "European" then my drag suit but I counter with it is more revealing in an impressionistic sense.
So my question is Jammers or Briefs and why. I missed the how and why Jammers were made popular in the revolution of the sport and now fail to see the benefit in them. Tech suits aside please.
Not having to shave and live through the regrow on the thighs is enough excuse for me to switch to jammers. :)
Unfortunately my leg hairs poke through the textile jammer so I still shave my thighs for taper meets.The "shiny suits" didn't have that problem.The new racing fabrics have less drag than skin and provide thigh compression so jammers for racing.
Former Member
Unfortunately my leg hairs poke through the textile jammer so I still shave my thighs for taper meets.The "shiny suits" didn't have that problem.The new racing fabrics have less drag than skin and provide thigh compression so jammers for racing.
I noticed this once a while back, clipping the hair seems to be enough though rather than a full razor shave.
Jammers for competiton. Don't really know why... everyone else is doing it I guess.
Briefs with a heavy square cut drag suit for practice.
Former Member
Thumbs down to jammers.
Less tight fitting clothing is definitely better and I hate the sensation that both of my upper legs have been devoured by a pair of pythons. :bolt:
D2
Jammers -- only because of my ridiculous tan lines.
Former Member
I missed the how and why Jammers were made popular in the revolution of the sport and now fail to see the benefit in them. Tech suits aside please.
Not having to shave and live through the regrow on the thighs is enough excuse for me to switch to jammers. :)
Former Member
Not having to shave and live through the regrow on the thighs is enough excuse for me to switch to jammers. :)
Then why practice in them as they are more expensive?
Former Member
Then why practice in them as they are more expensive?
I don't practice in them. For taper week I'll wear a regular spandex jammer in practice, but otherwise its a few old briefs plus a square nylon practice suit for practice to save the jammers from getting ruined. For meets I'll wear a regular jammer though because thats what all the cool people wear :cool:
FTR, I only paid $4 more for my practice jammers ($13) than my practice briefs($9) so its not breaking the bank or anything.
Wasn't there something to do with compression of the upper leg and circulation that made jammers a better thing?
I don't know, since I never exited briefs for any of this new-fangled stuff.
I tend to wear jammers in practice, but should wear briefs or drag suits. One friend wears board shorts in practice.
Men who care about swimming as fast as they can in big meets
should definitely wear Textile Tech Suit Jammers.
Why?
1) Tight Tech suit fabric provides a more aquadynamic surface than skin.
As we age, our skin gets thinner and looser. Go underwater and watch swimmers swim, our skin ripples around as we move through the water. Especially when we push off or dive in. All this extra shaking slows us down. New tight tech suit jammers cover some of our skin. It makes that surface firmer and harder, more aquadynamic. it covers and flattens body hair.
2) Compression
A Tight Tech Suit jammers squeeze us in more than briefs do.
3) Tech Suits provide a slight amount of floatation.
They provide more floatation than briefs.
New suits are treated with some sort of hydrophobic substance.
Maybe Scotch Guard.
You can see water bead up and bounce off those suits.
New suits appear dry right after swimmers get out of the water.
4) Tight Tech Suits allow less water to get trapped between the swimmer and his suit.
My suggestions are:
1) wear a new texitle tech suit jammer in your most important races
it should be tight but not too tight
2) Dive in dry for your big races
consider having a couple suits in your swim bag
as back ups and to swap them out during each day your meet.
ie
Swim Race 1 in Suit 1 then take it off and let it dry,
put on suit 2 for your next race.
Swim Race 2 in Suit 2 then take it off and let it dry,
put on suit 1 for your next race. . . .
3) cover as much skin as you can
Pull the tops up as high as you legally can
(just below your belly button)
also pay attention to where your suit crossed over your back.
Definitely well above the butt crack, don't leave any opening for water to get in your racing suit.
Push the legs down as low as you legally can
(just below the knee)
Some swimmers give up coverage they could have. I think it makes a difference.
4) Tie your suit tight
tight new tech suit jammers improve your vessel, which allows you to swim as fast as you can.
Why give up time because you picked the wrong equipment?
I've written about this in these SFF Tips
SFF Tip 165 Build a Better Boat
Body Suits Banned
Tech Suit Jammer Tips
Textile Tech Suit Tips
4 Ways Swimmers Improve
