Can You Swim with Polyester Fabric Swimwear?
You know why it is important to wear a proper swimming attire. But have you ever looked at that swimsuit to see what material it is made of?
If you do check the label, you are most likely to see elastane, nylon, or polyester. This applies across the board for both women’s and men’s swimming attire.
You will also find that most swimsuits for women are made with a blend of two materials, such as nylon and elastane or polyester and elastane.
Today, we will look at polyester. So, is polyester good for swimming? Not only is polyester the best material for making swimwear, but it is also the most popular. It is resistant to UV rays from the sun, and it does not sustain chlorine damage. You can use polyester swimming attire in both chlorine or saltwater pools.
How polyester swimwear is made
Polyester swimsuits come in different styles. By this, I mean that the swimsuit can come with 100% polyester material, Lycra, or an elastane blend. Therefore, when you go to buy yours, you should know the benefits that each offers.
Speedo is one of the most popular brand names for swimwear. So, buying anything from them inspires confidence.
Speedo says this is a chlorine-resistant fabric and that it is safe from UV damage. They also say that by using the Endurance+ material, the swimsuit can last up to 20 times longer than regular polyester and other material swimsuits.
There are other swimwear from Speedo and different brands that are made with Polyester and other fabrics. Some are made of 85% polyester and 15% spandex. Chances are that whatever swimsuit you buy, it will be polyester, or nylon.
Polyester is so good for swimming wear that it is used even in professional swimwear. For instance, the Speedo Solid Speedo® Endurance one-piece swimsuit that you can buy on Amazon.com is made of 100% polyester.
Is 100% polyester good for swimwear?
100 percent polyester swimwear is common, so do not be surprised if you find out that yours is made of such.
Most swimming wear manufacturers use polyester because of its obvious benefits. First, it can last longer than other materials, such as cotton and spandex.
Secondly, it is great to swim in, and it does not become loose with time. It never loses shape, so you will never experience drag when you are swimming.
Thirdly, polyester is not ruined by the sun or by chlorine. You can wear the same swimsuit many times over, and it will still retain its color and structural integrity.
Fourthly, this fabric is quite hardy, and it can withstand many washes and cleans. Besides, even when used to swim in the ocean or to swim in the Dead Sea, it does not sustain damage from the high mineral and salt content.
Despite all of these benefits and practically no disadvantages, the polyester swimming attire for men and women is fairly priced. This makes it a win-win situation for you.
Remember, the swimming pool has urine, feces, and other contaminants. All of these introduce strange chemicals into the water, which can ruin your swimming costume.
This is why you need a high-quality swimsuit, such as you would find with polyester ones.
Can you wear polyester shirts in the pool?
In the whole of this blog, I have always recommended that you never swim in home clothes.
Therefore, whether the polyester shirt is close-fitting or not, do not wear it to the swimming pool. It is always best to swim in designated swimwear.
The shirt will create drag in the water, and that is going to hamper your swimming speed. Besides, the shirt can also introduce strange microbes into the water.
The shirt is also not tailored for swimming. Therefore, when in the water, you do not know whether it will release fibers into the water. This eventually builds up with hair and other materials to clog the swimming pool filter.
So, if you have a polyester shirt, you should ask the lifeguards at the pool whether you can wear it for swimming. If the swimming pool safety and health regulations say you should only swim in swimwear, don’t wear it.
What is the best fabric for swimwear?
Polyester is without a doubt the best fabric for swimwear. This means that most of the swimwear you will find on the market are made of 100 percent polyester or a blend of the same material with another material.
You will find some sources saying that the best swimwear fabric is polyester and elastane, with polyester making up the bulk of the material. Many come with 85% polyester and 15% elastane.
Elastane gives the fabric the ability to stretch and, at the same time, regain its shape when it is not stretched. This is why most swimsuits look as if they are clinging to the skin, because the elastane in them makes them fit like a glove.
I would recommend that you get a swimsuit that is made with a blend of polyester and elastane.
If you find that the one piece swimsuit you want is made of polyester blended with Lycra, spandex, or elastane, they all mean the same thing. Elastane is an artificial, stretchy material that was created in 1958.
By adding a small amount of spandex to the mix, it does not affect the durability of the fabric. Rather, it just adds the stretch factor and makes the fabric more wearable.
Is 50% cotton and 50% polyester good for swimming?
There is a reason why cotton is not used in making swimming costumes. One of them is that it is absorbent, so it will soak up the water, ride up your crotch, and cause skin irritation.
For this reason, you should not wear swimwear that is made of 50% cotton and 50% polyester. The only blend that you should swim with is that of polyester and spandex, or nylon and spandex.
In fact, you cannot find a swimsuit or even swimming trunks for men that are made of polyester and cotton. If you find such a T-shirt or a pair of shorts, just know that they were not intended to be used when swimming.
In your private swimming pool, you can wear whatever you want, but it is not recommended. In a public swimming pool, you should only wear a swimsuit, swim trunks, and other swimming gear that is specifically made for swimming.
Is polyester a synthetic or natural fiber?
Polyester is a synthetic fiber. Following the 1940s boom in the textile industry, polyester was invented soon after, in 1951. Actually, nylon was invented first, and then polyester came later.
Polyester is a synthetic polymer, similar to nylon, epoxy, and teflon. It is little wonder that polyester is such a strong fabric that can take all the abuse thrown at it very well.
Polyester is also very good on the skin, and even people with sensitive skin do not react to polyester. While it is a synthetic fiber, it is made from petroleum-based chemicals.
Wrapping it up
Polyester is the king of swimwear fibers. It is the go-to fabric for every swimwear manufacturer.
If you swim daily, you need to get a swimsuit or trunk that has the best quality material. That way, it will last for many washes. If it has great build quality, it can last you many years.
Besides, they will not fade from the UV rays, and they will protect your skin superbly from the sun.