How to choose the right racing suit? A buyer's guide to competitive sw

Miten valita oikea kilpapuku? Ostajan opas kilpauintiin

Are you looking for a new racing suit? Here you will find instructions for choosing a racing suit, taking measurements and storing it.

What kind of racing suit can you swim in in Finland?

In competitions under the Finnish Swimming Association (practically all competitions in Finland), in addition to the costumes approved by FINA, so-called traditional swimsuits, i.e. fabric swimsuits, which clearly do not aim to improve the swimmer's performance, can be used for the time being.

In addition to the costumes on FINA's list, the competitions under the Finnish Swimming Federation accept swimsuits that meet the following characteristics:

Men's swimwear must not reach above the navel or below the knee.
Women's swimwear must not cover the entire back or shoulders, or reach below the knee.
Men's swimwear must be one-piece, women's one- or two-piece.
The material of the swimsuit must be a thin, flexible and water-permeable textile fabric.
The swimsuit must not have zippers or other fastening mechanisms.

Special instructions for children and young people

In addition to the above, there is a rule according to which boys aged 13 and younger and girls aged 12 and younger may not wear racing uniforms. A swimmer's age is defined based on the last day of each year.

In practice, boys younger than this are allowed to swim in swimsuits that reach below the middle of the thigh, and girls in legless racing suits . The goal of this rule is to reduce the cost of the hobby and increase equality (more information on the subject on the Uimaliito website ).

So when is it relevant to get a racing suit? This largely depends on the swimmer's body model and growth stage, but in general, getting a competition suit for a young swimmer is timely when the swimmer moves to IKM competitions. We recommend the Powerskin St, R-evo One or Carbon Air models as your first racing suit.

Frequently asked questions about racing suits:

How useful is a suit when swimming?
The benefit provided by the suit depends a lot on the swimmer's body shape and muscle mass, on which the effect of the compression suits is based. A swimmer with a lot of muscle may benefit more from the suit. A swimmer whose natural buoyancy is weaker also gets a special advantage. However, it must be remembered that compression that is too tight does not improve the effectiveness of the suit, but on the contrary, the suit stretches too much, so the compression does not work as intended. The risk of tearing also increases and the service life of the suit shortens as the suit stretches. Fabric has less water resistance than human skin, so just the fact that the legs of racing suits are longer (especially for women) will add a little more speed to your swim.

Is it worth getting a new suit for the main race?
The compression feature (Carbon fiber) of the racing suits is modified individually during the first ten starts and is designed to adapt to the swimmer's body, so that movement in the water is as streamlined as possible. For this reason, the new suit should not be used in the main races, but it would be good to swim at least five starts under it first.

It seems that the women's suit gets watery at the start, is the suit too big?
Especially for swimmers who go between sizes (for example, the hips are larger in relation to the chest) this may be a problem. In this case, we recommend wetting the suit before the start and pressing the air out of the chest, so that the suit sticks to the skin better. In this case, there is no air left between the suit and the skin, which when jumping into the water causes the feeling that the suit is 'swiping water'.

The straps are heavy, is the suit too small?
Especially in high-compression suits, the straps have very little elasticity, and in this case it is important not to keep the suit on for too long. In addition, you can lower the straps below the armpit for exercise and waiting time. If the swimmer's body measurement is long in relation to other measurements, the straps may weigh even when swimming, and in this case we particularly recommend Carbon Air or R-evo One suits.

Why can't suits be fitted before purchase?
The compression of the suit is adjusted individually from the first fitting, so for this reason we cannot allow you to fit the suit before purchase. However, we have a wide selection of fitting pieces that you can fit at the venue and in our store in Tampere. With the help of a professional seller, you can find out the right size by measuring.

I ordered the wrong size suit, what help?
If you have not worn the suit and it is in salable condition, we can exchange the suit. So don't even try to put the suit on if you find it's the wrong size. If you want to change the suit, please contact our sales. We check the suits every time they come back before a decision is made about the exchange. So please be careful when choosing the size and if you hesitate about the size, please contact our sales: myynti@aquanetti.fi

I go between sizes in the size chart, will any suit fit me?
It is OK. Suits that are more flexible in their compression level (e.g. Carbon Air) are suitable for swimmers whose measurements do not go completely according to the size chart. It is completely normal that the dimensions do not exactly match the table.

What is the use of a backless racing suit?
A closed-back suit is often slightly tighter than an open-back suit, because the fabric is also around the middle of the body. The suit supports the middle body better, but the flexibility is correspondingly less due to the wider fabric part, so the swimmer's mobility may suffer if the suit is not completely suitable. Often, a backless suit is used most in backstroke, but if desired, a backless suit is suitable for all sports. The swimmer's own preferences have the greatest influence on whether it is worth choosing an open or closed back suit.

My suit tore, how do I know if it's a complaint and what should I do?
Complaints are always handled on a case-by-case basis. We are responsible for complaints about suits bought from us, but if you have bought your suit from another supplier, you should contact them. If you have chosen a smaller suit than would have been necessary according to the size chart, there is no factory warranty. This is why it is important to choose the right size when buying! Always contact our sales if you have problems with your suit. If you suspect that your suit has a manufacturing defect, do not attempt to repair the suit yourself.

How do you put on a race suit correctly?

When wearing a competition suit for the first time, patience is key, putting on the suit may take up to 20-30 minutes at first. The suit should be pulled on calmly, the fabric must not be pulled with your fingernails or torn at the seams. This is especially important when pulling the suit over the hips!
When wearing, the silicone bands on the legs of the suit should be turned outwards.
Women: when the suit is put on, the upper part of the suit should be wet and the air should be squeezed out between the suit and the skin. In this case, the suit fits more tightly, and not too much water gets under the suit at the start.
NOTE! YOU MUST NOT SIT ON MEN'S SUITS, e.g. on the starting platform, when the bands are tightened - the inelastic rubber band road can tear. The straps should be tightened crosswise so that the seam tape does not tear.

How to store the suit so that its service life is as long as possible?

The suit must be put to dry immediately after use, and it must not be washed in the washing machine. Do not dry the suit in a sauna, hair dryer or other similar methods and store the suit protected from light.
The new suit is not always the fastest, because it adapts to the swimmer's body during the first 10 starts. At best, the suit is slightly used. We recommend that you buy a new suit well in advance of the main races.