Tech suits are specialized, technologically-advanced swimsuits used by very experienced swimmers at high levels of competition. They are exciting to use, but because of their lightweight fabric and tight fit (not to mention big price tag!), you should exercise care when you put on your tech suit. This guide will walk you through how to put on and take off a tech suit without damaging it.
Putting On Your Tech Suit
The key to putting on a tech suit is being gentle with the fabric and making sure that the sections are correctly positioned over your body. Be careful to avoid wrinkling or twisting fabric at all times.
- Always use the broadest possible part of your hand to put on the suit. Pulling with your fingernails or fingertips can lead to tears in the fabric. You can put plastic bags or gloves over your hands to further protect the suit fabric.
- Make sure that both you and the suit are dry. This will make it easier for the fabric to slide over your skin when both are dry.
- Most tech suits (usually neck-to-knees) have rubbery grip strips along the straps and/or legs of the suit. If your suit has legs with a grip strip, turn them inside out. Put a plastic bag over your foot to make it easier to slide through the tech suit legs and protect it from your toenails.
- Pull the suit over your legs, and up as high as it will go before stopping. Pull the suit into position using your open fingers, and remember that any seams should go straight up the sides of your legs and/or torso. It may be a good idea to have somewhere to sit down as you do this, so you can work the suit over your feet and calves without worrying about falling over.
- Using the sides of the suit, pull it over your buttocks. If there are thicker sections of fabric, hold onto those as you pull.
- Put one arm through the straps of your suit, and then the other. The straps should not restrict your shoulder motion.
- The suit should fit well in the crotch, and lie snugly against your body. Make any small adjustments that are necessary and ensure that you have full range of motion in your legs and your arms.
- Double check that all seams, compression panels, or other suit features are lined up with the appropriate part of your body for the best possible hydrodynamics.
- Flip the bottom of the suit's legs down (if applicable) so that the grip strips lie against your skin.
Taking Off Your Tech Suit
Whether it's a Men's Tech Suit or Women's, it is a good idea to take off your tech suit between swims to preserve the elasticity and shape of the fabric, to reduce wear and tear, and also because they're not very comfortable for long periods of use! Taking a tech suit off is much easier than putting it on.
Starting at the top of the suit, peel it off your body, allowing it to turn inside out as you go. You may need to pull a little harder over wider parts of your body, such as your hips or calves. Use your fingertips and not your fingernails if you need to pull harder than normal. It may be a good idea to have somewhere to sit down as you do this, so you can easily pull your legs through the suit instead of bending over and stretching the tech suit out, or catching the suit on a toenail.
Once the suit is off, turn it right-side out again. Rinse it off in cool, non-chlorinated water and lay it flat on a towel or let it hang dry, out of the sun. Leaving the suits in the sun can lead to a faster breakdown of the suit's fabric. Consider buying a small case or bag in which to carry your tech suit, to protect from any sharp objects that might be in your swim bag.
Tech Suits Need More Care Than Practice Suits
Tech suits aren't designed for durability and long periods of use like practice suits are, so it's a good idea to exercise a little extra care when putting them on and taking them off. One small rip or stretched-out section can significantly compromise their speed in the water, and thus, effectiveness.
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FAQs
As a general guideline, most men's tech suits can be put on in around 15-20 minutes tops. Women's tech suits, because there is more fabric and shoulder straps to contend with, take quite a bit longer at around 30-45 minutes to get on.
How do you get a tight tech suit on? ›
Pull the suit up as high on your legs as you possibly can in one unit. Think pulling on tights. Pull the suit up to your waist hiking the crotch up as high as you can get it to give you a full range of motion. DO NOT pull the legs down yet if your suit has straps.
Are tech suits hard to put on? ›
Because they are designed to be extra tight, putting on a tech suit can be tricky. Here are seven tips to make putting on your tech suit a smooth process: Start dry: Make sure you are completely dry before attempting to put on your tech suit and never wear any other swimsuit under your tech suit.
What is the difference between a tech suit and a swim suit? ›
Tech Suits are a special kind of bathing suit designed to be worn in competitions to help you swim your best. Men's tech suits tend to look like traditional swim briefs, but instead of being loose around your thighs, they are tight to compress the muscles there.
How tight should a women's tech suit be? ›
Every area should feel snug, yet comfortable, without feeling like the suit is cutting into your body. A suit that's too tight restricts movement and can cut off circulation or cause you to lose sensation. It can also contribute to fatigue. A suit that's too loose lets in excess water, which slows you down.
How much faster do you swim with a tech suit? ›
Additionally, the study found that tech suits can reduce drag by 4.4% to 6.2% and reduce the amount of energy needed for swimming by 4.5% to 5.5%.
Do you wear something under a tech suit? ›
10-step guide to putting on a tech suit:
Remember, do not wear a second swimsuit underneath your tech suit. At the end of the legs, there's a rubber grip that keeps your suit in place. Flip them up so you can slide them up your legs easier.
How do you take care of a tech suit? ›
Rinse suit in cold water, lay flat to dry after each use
Once a suit comes into contact with chlorine, the chlorine starts to break down the fabric. So, it is important to use cold water to rinse the chlorine out of your tech suit. This is the best way to remove chlorine from your suit and keep it fresher, longer.
How do you remove a tech suit for swimming? ›
Peel the suit off your body slowly. It will come off much faster and easier when it goes on, but we still want to try to not stretch it out. DO NOT ring the suit out or try to get water off of it in any way (dryers and spinners are an instant death to a tech suit). It will stretch the suit and damage the material.
Should swimsuit be tight or loose? ›
A properly fitting swimsuit should fit closely against your body. Bunching at the seams or tightness and pulling at the straps and openings usually indicates an incorrect size. You should be able to move freely without causing the neck or leg openings of the suit to stretch.
Technical swimsuits are very different than practice suits as they are worn much tighter. In general, swimmers can go down one or two sizes when wearing a tech suit. We highly recommend you consult the brand specific size guide link and fitting tips available on the product order pages of each suit, before purchasing.
How many swims can you get out of a tech suit? ›
You could be looking at upwards of 20 swims! Plus warm-up and warm-down makes for a lot of time in the water. Each time you are in the water your tech suit degrades bit by bit. To reap all the benefits of a tech suit you want them fresh and crisp, new out of the box.
Can you put on a wet tech suit? ›
Put it on when you are completely dry.
Putting on a wet tech suit requires pulling, yanking, and grimacing. Two of those things are not good for your suit.
How do swimming tech suits work? ›
In addition to being lightweight, tech suits are often made with water repellent fabric. This decreases water saturation and creates a frictionless surface that reduces drag. These suits are also almost completely seamless, which decreases drag and allows the suits to have a tighter fit.
Tech suits are specialized, technologically-advanced swimsuits used by very experienced swimmers at high levels of competition. They are exciting to use, but because of their lightweight fabric and tight fit (not to mention big price tag!), you should exercise care when you put on your tech suit. This guide will walk you through how to put on and take off a tech suit without damaging it.