Swimming Caps

Do you really need a swim cap? Swim caps are required by many pools. You may also wear a swim cap to keep your hair dry. This particular article of swimming gear is necessary if you swim competitively. Therefore, to the question “Do I really need a swim cap?” the answer is “Yes, if you swim in competition.” You need to wear one to keep the hair out of your eyes.

Once upon a time, swim caps came in nylon or rubber. Both a nylon swim cap and a rubber swim cap were heavier than today’s caps. In the 1950s, what is now considered a vintage swim cap came made from rubber or nylon. Typical 1950s swimming caps were flower petal bathing caps. Swim cap patterns of the period were flowers, petals and rubber spikes. All in the name of keeping the hair dry.

Today, there are three different kinds of swimming caps, Lycra, latex and silicone. Lycra is good for hot conditions. Since it is a fabric, the cap can breathe. It does not offer, however, any type of hair protection from pool chemicals. Latex protects the hair but you must powder it with cornstarch or talcum powder each time after you use it. When it dries out, you powder the cap to prevent it from sticking to itself. If you do not, the cap will present you with a mess next time you try to put it on your head. Silicone swim caps are a little more expensive than either Lycra or latex swimming caps. You can remove and put on silicone caps easier than the other types. You also do not need to powder silicone caps, but powdering does help.

	More Info

Recommended swim caps often combine two types. You can wear a Lycra swimming cap under a latex one. Personal preference dictates what cap a swimmer will prefer. It also depends upon the intended usage and the price. Some companies customize swimming caps for specific customers. It depends upon personal needs and whether a specialized swim cap will help you improve your technique.

World Wide Aquatics offers latex, rubber and Lycra swimming caps. They come in different colors. Aquatics also sell old-fashioned rubber retro swimming caps. These have flowers. One swim cap pattern is a bubble design. An interesting retro-modern swim cap is the turban. A completely modern cap is the insulated swim cap for coldwater swimming.

Swimming caps and goggles seem to go together. You wear the goggles over the swim cap. Swimming caps are necessary if you want to be a serious competitive swimmer.