What Racing Suit Suits You?

By Erin Himes, Swimming World College Intern.

Choosing a racing suit is a tough task. With so many great options out there, it can be difficult to know what the best suit is for you, yet extremely important for your next taper meet. Checkout the highlights of some of the greatest suits out there for female swimmers to help identify what might be the perfect fit for you!

LZR Racer X

Photo Courtesy: Annie Grevers

As a more recent development from Speedo, the LZR Racer X sports fun seams and fits formly. Joie Eckhard, a freestyler and butterflyer at Pepperdine University, says that “the straps are comfortable so you don’t feel in pain or like you’re being restricted of movement.” It also is known to keep its form over a long period of time, as Erin Polries, a mid-distance freestyler at Washington University in St. Louis says, “”It keeps its shape well and the material isn’t too stretchy, but the open back allows me to not feel trapped.”

The suit also comes in a closed back version, which Lauren Carlos, a sprint freestyler and butterflyer at Wash U says “is super tight and the material doesn’t stretch.” Her teammate MerriMac Collins also says “the comfort straps keep it from cutting my shoulders.” The LZR Racer X, both opened and closed back, provide great qualities that these swimmers look for.

TYR Activator

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

One look at the page for TYR technical suits confirms that they’re the brightest and best patterns offered. As seen on Olympians Kelsi Worrell and Molly Hannis this summer, the suit comes in a closed back and opened back, offering various levels of compression. Its balance of comfort and compression highlight its pros right along with its awesome patterns and colors.

Adidas Adizero XVI

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Olympian Allison Schmitt is the first person that comes to my mind when I think of this suit, which is certainly a good thing. The Adizero certainly has the most unique look of the suit options out there and it’s for good reason. The suit is designed to optimize the swimmer’s energy, as the tape works to return energy as you work in the water. Sizing is different from the other suits, which is important to note before purchase, but it gives great compression to feel hydrodynamic off of starts and turns.

Arena Carbon Flex / Arena Carbon Pro

Jan 16, 2016; Austin, TX, USA; Therese Alshammar (center) dives in the women's 50 meter free final during the 2016 Arena Pro Swim Series at Lee & Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

These Arena suits seem to appeal to many different types of swimmers. Julianna Chan, a Pepperdine breastroker, says she loves the Flex because “the legs are made for flexibility for breastroke kick. It’s a tight fit, but it’s really smooth and durable.” The Arena suit is praised for compression, a sentiment that sprinter Morgan Rosztoczy echoed about her experience with the Pro, saying “This suit made me feel fast. The way it is bonded makes it feel like it does your flip turns for you. It holds your body in the perfect position to move quickly.” Arena continues to grow their suit technologies since launching the Pro in 2012.

Dolfin Titanium Speed Suits

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

Dolfin offers a wide selection of bright colors in their Titanium Speed Suit, which Olympian Melanie Margalis rocked this summer. They offer long sizes, an extremely helpful feature for longer swimmers, as well as a high strength to weight ratio. It is touted as a versatile suit for any stroke or distance, as well, perfect for an IM great like Margalis.

FINIS Vapor: Race John

Photo Courtesy: FINIS

FINIS is well-known for their swim practice accessories, such as their legendary snorkels, but their more recent racing suits have gained a great deal of attention as well. Pepperdine swimmer Kelly Presper, who has sported the Vapor, says of the suit “it doesn’t bubble up anywhere like other suits. It helped me go best times and it lasts several meets.” FINIS has also released newer durable suits, such as the Onyx, that are praised for similar compression.

LZR Racer Elite 2

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

The LZR Racer Elite 2 has been a staple of racing suits by Speedo for a while. Of the classic suit, Pepperdine Backstroker Lexie Wanninger says “it’s not too tight on your shoulders and I feel like I can still move in it.” Her teammate Julia Sneden, a butterflyer, says “I feel like I can freely move in the suit because I’m not constricted during open turns or undulating. The tightness of the suit is not suffocating, but it is still effective.” The Elite 2 appeals to many as a less compressive suit that still gets the job done.

All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.

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Mark Whittaker

7 years ago

Natasha Whittaker Kazia Whittaker

Amy Liberi

7 years ago

What is a great suit for distance swims. Men

Jackson Jeong-Won Tak

7 years ago

Liv Borgmann