Why You Need to Wear Swimwear Instead of Regular Clothes for Swimming
It may appear to be such a mundane question, but why is wearing swimming attire a basic requirement in swimming?
Or you might ask: why do we wear swimming costumes?
About 50 years ago, boys, and sometimes men, would swim in the nude. While it was not allowed for women, it used to happen, but perhaps not in public swimming pools.
So what changed with time?
Wearing a swimsuit is a basic requirement for swimming
As much as we feel very liberal at times, swimming naked is not always a good thing. You could catch pneumonia! So, it is best to wear a pair of swim trunks to the pool.
There are a few reasons for wearing a swimsuit when swimming. Keep reading as we look at them below:
For your protection from the cold
When you are swimming in cold water, you could get hypothermia if you stay too long in the water. Therefore, you would need a swimsuit that covers as much of your body as possible.
When you suffer from hypothermia, it means that your body loses heat faster than it can make more heat.
Thankfully, swimsuits are made of a material that preserves your body heat, that is, prevents it from escaping.
Read our quick guide on Swimming in open water with a yeast infection
When the swimsuit gets wet, it creates a buffer zone between your body and the cold water outside. Thus, the cold water cannot get to your skin, and your body warmth cannot escape to the surroundings.
Wetsuits for kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving work on the same concept.
For protection from diseases
Public swimming pools are used by a lot of people. Some of the people might have skin conditions that they know nothing about. Therefore, the bacteria causing the skin ailment can get transferred through water.
In addition, swimming pools are also nasty culprits for waterborne diseases. Just imagine how many types of bacteria could be lurking in the swimming pool all the time, waiting to attach to someone’s skin.
Swimsuits are made in such a way that they prevent these bacteria from getting to your skin. Of course, a swimsuit does not cover every part of your skin.
But it is easier for bacteria to get to your body through sensitive parts such as the groin or the buttocks. Of course, any decent swimsuit should cover these parts well.
To help you swim better
The material used to make swimming costumes is of better quality than cotton and others. Therefore, when you are kicking your legs in the water, this material does not bunch up on your groin to make you uncomfortable.
Some of the top materials used to make swimsuits are Lycra, nylon, Polybutylene Terephthalate, and polyester. They are not only of good quality, but they also resist chlorine pretty well.
In addition to superior material, remember that swimsuits are designed to be tight-fitting. Thus, when you are swimming at high speed, there is no extra material to drag you down.
Swimwear can cover some of your flaws
Forget the saying that a tiger is proud of his stripes because, truth be told, you are no tiger! When you have stretch marks on your tummy, you would do much better to hide them.
Not that you should not be proud of your body. But it is just that covering up enhances your self-esteem. Even back in the 1960s, when men and boys swam in the nude, if any boy was scrawny-looking, the others would tease him to no end.
But now, with the swimming attire, we can be equal, or almost! By the way, did you know you can also wear socks for swimming?
No, these are not the regular cotton or nylon wool socks that you wear to work, but neoprene socks for swimming.
Men can wear swimming trunks to keep their hanging parts in check, while women wear swimsuits, complete with a top and a bottom.
Sometimes, you might wear board shorts while swimming in the ocean.
Why is it important to wear swimming trunks?
One of the most critical items of swimwear is the swimming trunk. In this article, we’ll explore why it’s important to wear swimming trunks and the benefits they provide.
First, trunks are designed to provide comfort and ease of movement while swimming. They are made from lightweight and breathable materials. These swim shorts have a netting to keep a man comfortable.
That is not all, though. You can also find swimming trunks with compression liners. These are the darling of the industry for men. They are super comfortable.
Secondly, they also help you to move freely in the water without any restrictions. This flexibility is particularly important for competitive swimmers. They need to maintain their speed and agility in the water.
Thirdly, wearing trunks ensures that you don’t expose your bare skin to the water, which can be contaminated with harmful microorganisms.
Additionally, this attire is easy to clean and dry, which helps prevent the growth of bacteria and mold.
Wearing trunks also provides modesty and privacy for the swimmer. Swimming in public areas can be uncomfortable for some people, particularly if they’re self-conscious about their body.
Finally, wearing swimming trunks is often a requirement in many public swimming areas. Most public swimming pools and beaches have strict dress codes that mandate the use of appropriate swimwear.
What is appropriate swimwear?
The best swimwear should resist fading, stretching, and damage from chlorine or saltwater pool exposure.
Popular materials for swimwear include nylon, spandex, and polyester, which provide a combination of durability, flexibility, and breathability. These materials also dry fast, which is important for swimming attire.
It’s important to note that regular clothing, such as cotton T-shirts or shorts, is not suitable for swimming. Your swimming attire is made of polyester, which is durable, easy to clean, and fast-drying.
These fabrics tend to absorb water, making them heavy and uncomfortable to wear in the water. Also, cotton clothing is more prone to damage from chlorine or saltwater exposure, which can lead to fading, stretching, and deterioration over time.
Investing in high-quality swimwear will ensure that you can swim comfortably and safely while enjoying your favorite water activities.
Conclusion: What is the need of specialized clothes for swimmers?
We wear the right swimming attire for various reasons, but the topmost one is protection in the water. Also, this is one of the swimming pool rules and regulations.
Apart from swimming in home clothes, which is highly discouraged, you can swim in pretty much everything else that is made for water activities.
You can even wear a wetsuit for swimming, swimsuit for sagging breasts, board shorts, and others. If you are the borderline fun type of person, you could even get a funk I pee in pools swimming item.