best swimsuits and deals

[ninaburrell]

I felt sure that there would be something posted about this but I can't find it. What is the best fabric for getting the longest time out of a swimsuit? I have heard polyester but I am wondering what people have experienced with the new Super Lycra. Also, does anyone know whether 4 Seasons is still in business?

[ElaineK]

I felt sure that there would be something posted about this but I can't find it. What is the best fabric for getting the longest time out of a swimsuit? I have heard polyester but I am wondering what people have experienced with the new Super Lycra. Also, does anyone know whether 4 Seasons is still in business?

I have trained in both polyester suits and "Super Lycra" and found polyester to last longer. (Just for fun, I kept track of the miles I trained in each.)

The longest lasting suit, I have found, is the Speedo Endurance Plus, made of 50% polyester/ 50% PBT (a type of polyester). I have purchased mine at: www.swimoutlet.com and have been happy with their customer service.

[Bobinator]

Hi Nina! I love Dolfin Uglies and mine basically never wear out. I always rinse my suit, cap, and goggles in cold sink water after swimming and I let my suit drip-dry. I like to buy my suits at "Swimmer's Choice" which is an online suit store. Once you've been a customer they send you monthly specials which routinely happen to be at least an additional 10% off their already low Uglies prices. I have a couple Nike polyester and a Durafast? suit too, they seem to stretch out in funny places on me. The Uglies hold their form, color, seams, and last the longest for me.

[ninaburrell]

Thanks, Elaine. And thanks for the info that partial PBT qualifies a suit as 100% polyester. I also buy from that online supplier and like them a lot. 4Seasons had an ugly grabbag program i had some fun with but they don't appear to be in business online anymore.

[ninaburrell]

Thanks for the tip on the Uglies and on the online vendor. Uglies appear to be high content polyester with ~10% spandex. I will give them a try.

[Bill Sive]

I have had very good luck with the Grab Bag offerings from Toad Hollow Athletics. Look for the Bargain Bog on their website.

http://www.toadhollowathletics.com/phpsupercart/

Toad Hollow has reasonable pricing and they are US Masters Swimmer themselves. Very nice friendly people. You may have seen Toad Hollow advertise in Swimmer Magazine.

I have also had very good luck with the Grab Bag offerings from Swim Exchange. Nice guy very friendly. Very knowledgeable on his products that he carries.

http://www.swimx.com/

[mlhasty]

I like the Speedo Endurance suits as well. For any suit, rinsing in cold water after use makes a huge difference! I like swimoutlet.com, they have great special deals. I've also had success on Amazon, and as a prime member you get free 2 day shipping (on most purchases).

[swimshark]

I have had good luck around spring time going to TJ Maxx, Marshalls and Ross and finding Speedo and Nike suits mixed in with the regular suits. I prefer lycra and would rather spend less and have it wear out sooner than wear polyester. But I have found polyester there several times, too. But for my lycra the most I have spent is $15. Three years ago I got 6 suits for $65. I'm still wearing one of those suits now.

[orca1946]

I have Speedo endrro & it lasts 2 - 3 SEASONS !!!!

[savaden]

I have 6 or 7 suits that I rotate through the week (6 days). That said, I have been swimming week in week out for 10 years now.

The Speedo polyester suits (now called endurance plus) are the longest lasting. I have some that have lasted for 8 years, as long as I can remember, and still wear regularly. (pretty bad if you think about it). So you better like that suit 'cause it's going to last a long time. I just wish they had a better selection of prints. There are some new ones this year, anyway.

Dolfin also has poly "team" prints. These are thinner material but also long wearing. I haven't had any of them for more that a couple years, so we'll see.

I also like the Dolfin Nylon lycra "racing" suits. They do not last as long, no more than 6 months max, but look great.

None of the nylon lycra blends that I have tried seem to wear any longer than any of the others. Also, lycra will age just sitting there, so I don't recommend buying old stock.

SV

[aguins]

I'm wondering about a women's Hydrospeed Velo Race John....anyone have it for racing? Marked down to $120 at FINIS, sounds like a good price to me. (I think that is b/c they have a newer version now.)

[Coconut Pete]

I love the speedo mesh drag suits, they tend to last forever and I love the extra drag they provide.