SWIMSUITS AND JAMMERS
Jumping back into pool training means it’s time for some new swimwear. Helen Webster and Jack Sexty put swimsuits and jammers to the test…
We’ve been away from pools a lot over the last year, so if you’ve grabbed your kit bag only to find your swimwear isn’t what it once was, now is the time to invest in a new training swimsuit or pair of jammers.
Training swimwear should be chosen to improve speed and maximise comfort, so look for designs that are streamlined and allow good freedom of movement. There’s nothing worse than kit that drags in the water, won’t allow you to tumble turn, or impedes your stroke mechanics.
For men, jammers should fit closely with zero bagging, while an adjustable drawstring waist will ensure they stay up. Women’s swimsuits come in many designs, but pick straps that stay up, don’t irritate your shoulder blades (cross backs work well) and are comfortable. Thin straps tend to work well on slimmer women with small busts, whereas larger or bustier women may choose wider straps for support.
Most brands will have their own terms for their fabric, but make sure they’re chlorine-resistant. You may also want to look for swimwear that has good ecocredentials, with some manufacturers now opting to make their suits out of recycled fishing nets and plastics.
Finally, pick a design that makes you feel good! It’s been shown that the more confident you feel in any kit, the better you perform, and that’s got to count for something at swim squad…
ZONE 3 STRAP BACK KONA SPEED
£35 Wetsuit brand Zone 3’s suit had a similar silky feel to the Yonda in this test and we liked the Kona-esque tribal print with bright edging (other prints are available in the same style). The strappy open back and medium-high leg cut keep the suit modern yet comfortable and we didn’t have any problems with restriction when swimming. The fabric is Italian Xfinity, offering 100% chlorine resistance with a front lining that stayed in place throughout our test swims. This suit has previously won ‘best value’ in this category, and it impressed again this year, but we did have one small niggle – we struggled to get the suit to stay in place on the bum after turning in the pool, which meant frequent adjustments were required! zone3.com
75 %
VERDICT THE FIT ON THE BUM COULD BE BETTER, BUT THIS IS A NICE QUALITY SUIT
SPEEDO ENDURANCE+ MEDALIST
£26 Ticking the Baywatch box with its red colour scheme, the Essential Endurance+ Medalist is one of those classic swimsuits that will always look good, while the fabric lasted well in our test with no bagging. It’s fully chlorine-resistant and features a lined front, as well as a wide X-back and wider straps than many of the others on test. This will suit those who prefer a less skimpy number or don’t find skinny straps very comfortable. It’s also a good shout if you like a suit that doesn’t move at all once it’s on! We found our UK10 a touch snug when dry and a little too high on the hips as a result, as we possibly needed more length in the body, but once in the water it fitted like a second skin and was comfortable, with just the right amount of stretch. speedo.com
83 %
VERDICT A GOOD, SOLID SUIT IN A CLASSIC STYLE WITH AN AFFORDABLE PRICE TAG
FUNKITA JUICY FRUIT
£41.95 The Funkita Juicy Fruit was the suit that instantly ticked the style boxes for the team at 220 thanks to its neon pineapple print and, pulling it on, the fit was equally impressive. Our UK10 was slightly snug, but once we were in the water it clung with no bagging and stayed in place throughout the session. The back is a diamond back, which was secure yet unobstructive, with a wider bottom band that helped keep the suit in place. The Eco C-infinity 100% polyester fabric is manufactured from endof-life plastic bottles and ticks the ecocredentials box, as well as being chlorineresistant. This was confirmed in testing, with the suit staying perfectly in shape after multiple wash and wears. A front inner lining helps with modesty but was comfortable and not noticeable once in the pool. funkita.funkytrunks.co.uk
90 %
VERDICT A FUNKY DESIGN, GREAT FIT AND RECYCLED FABRICS MAKE THIS SUIT BEST ON TEST
YONDA ASTRATTO BLU
£29.99 Yonda impressed with its wetsuits in last month’s mag, so how about swimwear? Well first up, as we went to print, the Astratto Blu suit was reduced to £19.99 online, which makes it very good value. It looks great on with a funky geometric design and the thin straps and racerback were comfortable, while sitting well so as not to impede your stroke. The Italian fabric has a slight sheen, and the bright pink lining feels good quality, helping it to feel supportive. After multiple wash/wear cycles, it still looked good, and our only issue was that the high cut on the legs and chunky seams dug in a little on this curvyhipped size UK12 tester. Other figures may not find the same issue, though. The fabric is chlorine-resistant, using Xtra-life Lycra and polyester, but the suit doesn’t have any eco-credentials as of yet. yondasports.com
78 %
VERDICT A GREAT SUIT AT A TEMPTING PRICE POINT, BUT UNSURE ABOUT THE CUT ON THE HIPS FOR A CURVY TESTER
AQUA SPHERE MIAMI
£48 Sitting as the most expensive suit in this test by some margin, this suit from Aqua Sphere may be a more considered purchase. That said though, we loved the striking leaf print (a black/grey lightning design is also available) and the suit is made using 55% recycled polyester (equivalent to four plastic bottles per suit) with a quoted 200+ hours of chlorine resistance. The fabric felt good quality too, with a similar silky feel to the Yonda/Zone 3 and with a full black lining layer. The wide straps and racer back also allowed full movement with a similar fit to the Speedo. Although in this test we had a mix of size 10 and 12 suits (depending on manufacturer size guide) the 12 here felt quite baggy, especially on the bust, so consider sizing down if you’re usually inbetween sizes or like a snug fit. aquasphereswim.com
78 %
VERDICT EXPENSIVE BUT STYLISH, AND WE RAN INTO PROBLEMS WITH THE FIT
ZOGGS DYNAMITE Y-BACK
£38 Having tested multiple Zoggs suits over the years, the first thing we can vouch for is that they last forever. The Dynamite is made with Zoggs’ Ecolast+ fabric, which uses yarn made from recycled plastic waste (55% recycled polyester, 45% polyester P.B.T) and is 100% chlorine-proof. The Y-back design allowed our shoulders to move easily and felt barely-there in the water. This design also includes an integral bra lining, which felt a little loose and moved around a lot while in the pool. That said, with a style like this, which is cut low on the sides, larger-busted swimmers may welcome the extra support. The mediumcut legs hit the mark between freedom of movement and modesty, while the jazzy geometric design is a nice touch. zoggs.com
79 %
VERDICT WE LOVE ZOGGS SUITS, BUT THE INTERNAL BRA USED HERE WASN’T OUR FAVOURITE PERSONALLY
AQUA SPHERE ARKOS 2
£35.50 Having won a ‘best in test’ award for wetsuits in each of our last two issues, it’s fair to say that Aqua Sphere is having a good run in these pages, but will the Arkos 2 keep it going? A claimed 200+ hours of chlorine resistance isn’t a bad place to start. We found the Italian-made Aqua Infinity fabric a little tougher than some of the more flexible options on test, making it a bit more of a struggle to get the perfect fit and ensure these jammers stay in place. When we did have them on correctly, the drawstring and elastic waistband both did their job, with no adjustments needed in between sets. On that note, a 42cm length means that these jammers sit mid-thigh, rather than towards the top of the knee. The 47% P.B.T, 53% polyester blend is designed to be breathable and is rated UV50+ for sun protection, which is welcomed for outdoor swim training. aquasphereswim.com
75 %
VERDICT FUNCTIONAL YET UNREMARKABLE TRAINING JAMMERS SUITED TO OUTDOOR SWIM TRAINING
TENOLA MALE JAMMERS
£38 Much like the name, Tenola’s Male Jammers are no frills in both appearance and performance, but they’re suitable for pool training and built to last. Made from 100% chlorine-proof Carvico Darwin fabric, they’re touted as breathable and quickdrying, largely doing everything you’d expect them to do for the purposes of putting in those hard pool yards. After numerous cold machine washes, the fabric on our test pair retained its shape and colour with no noticeable shrinkage. Rather than having an open gusset stitched into the front like most other pairs on test, this one is split in two and stitched down the middle, which we personally found put a little unwanted pressure where we most definitely didn’t want any. The drawstring in the waistband is also quite chunky, which made it more difficult to achieve the perfect tension compared to our preferred jammers from Zone3 and Funky Trunks. tenola.com
70 %
VERDICT A LITTLE PRICEY FOR WHAT’S ON OFFER AND NOT THE MOST COMFY, BUT THEY DO THE JOB
ZOGGS BYRON
£34 The Byron jammers are brand new from Zoggs, with a 45cm leg length that sits just above the knee and made from the brand’s Ecolast fabric, which is meant to be durable as the name suggests. We found that they have plenty of stretch and, while not quite as form-fitting as Zone3 or Funky Trunks’ offerings, they were among the most comfortable on test. After numerous washes they still look fresh, suggesting the chlorine resistance is doing its job. The leg grippers are wide and comfortable without being too tight, and an embroidered logo shows no signs of peeling off over time. The front gusset keeps everything contained as we’d like it to, and a chunky drawstring allowed us to get the ideal tension. It’s also good to know that the Byron jammers are part of Zoggs’ sustainability programme, meaning they’re made from regenerated yarn consisting of recycled fishnets and nylons. zoggs.com
84 %
VERDICT COMFORT, DURABILITY AND GOOD ECO-CREDENTIALS MAKE THESE JAMMERS A GREAT CHOICE
FUNKY TRUNKS SILVER LINING
£36.95 While not the funkiest of the eccentric swimwear range from Aussie brand Funky Trunks, the Silver Lining jammers are a good option for those who want to add colour without blinding their lane buddies. The C-Infinity fabric comes from Italy and is said to ‘retain its durability far beyond other elastane swimwear fabrics’, making these jammers ideal for frequent pool use. The wide leg-openings and waistband are very comfortable on the hips and around the thighs, while a strong drawstring allowed us to get perfect tension every time. Unlike all the other pairs on test, the front gusset on the Silver Lining is fully stitched in, which we found preferable as it provides the coverage needed without any potential bagginess if the jammers are ill-fitting (for the record, our test pair fitted perfectly). So far, these quality jammers are still looking fresh after numerous uses and washes, which bodes well. funkita.funkytrunks.co.uk
86 %
VERDICT HIGH QUALITY AND DURABLE JAMMERS WITH A BUILT-IN GUSSET THAT DESERVES PRAISE
NABAIJI MEN’S SWIMMING JAMMER FIT
£18.99 Aimed at ‘intermediate swimmers wanting to improve their technique’, these jammers use a polyester-based textile that’s said to be quick-drying and is claimed to only lose 3-4% of chlorine resistance through its lifespan. We haven’t noticed any colour fading on our sample, but we have found found them less stretchy than others on test, with a tendency to slip. The sizing was also a little off, with our UK size 32 being considerably tighter than others of the same size. Coupled with the fabric’s lack of give, we could only just safely fit into these, particularly after a couple of washes, so we’d be sizing up in our next pair. The great value offered by Decathlon’s in-house brands has impressed us in the past, but sometimes it’s a case of ‘you get what you pay for’. That said, we appreciate the low price may still appeal. decathlon.co.uk
68 %
VERDICT THE BARGAIN PRICE MAY BE TEMPTING, BUT A FEW TRADE-OFFS SHOW YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR
ZONE3 MEN’S JAMMERS
£35 These Zone3 jammers have rated highly on 220’ s pages before and this year’s no different, as they’ve proven to be super durable and comfortable for this tester over months of continual use. The Italian-made Xfinity fabric is 100% chlorine-resistant, retains its shape and dries fast, while the UPF50+ rating offers protection for outdoor swimming. We found the chunky waistband really helps keep these in place, with no extra fiddling or adjustment needed on long sessions, and the crotch lining is comfortable while providing just the right amount of coverage. The brand also claims that its efforts to refine fit and choice of material promote a streamlined position, making the jammers more hydrodynamic. While we couldn’t really quantify this based on the times we were clocking in other pairs on test, we can vouch for the fit being perfect, which should reduce drag through the water. zone3.com
90 %
VERDICT SIMPLY EXCELLENT JAMMERS WITH SUPERIOR BUILD QUALITY AND A FANTASTIC FIT