What Are Tech Suits?

Tech suits are high-performance swimsuits specifically designed for fast swimming. They are made with advanced materials and technology to reduce drag, enhance compression, and improve hydrodynamics in the water. These suits are expensive, and their compression properties degrade with repeated use. They are only approved for use by athletes 13 years or older. The sizes on tech suits are slightly different than practice suits.

How to Care for Tech Suits:

• Rinse in cold, clean water immediately after use. Chlorine and hot water break down the fabric.
• Avoid machine washing. The cycle and detergents are too harsh for the suit.
• Avoid wringing or twisting the suit. This can weaken the fibers and seams. Only air dry the suit. Heat from a dryer or direct sunlight can damage the suit.
• Store it properly! Leave it flat or gently folded in a mesh bag. Avoid leaving it crumpled up somewhere dark and damp.
• Avoid rough surfaces such as the pool deck, the starting blocks, and sharp nails. Wear clothes when not swimming or sit on a towel.

Advantages of Tech Suits:

• Reduce drag and increase buoyancy.
• Compression supports muscles, reducing fatigue and helping with recovery.
• Psychologically, wearing a tech suit can boost confidence. Knowing that you are wearing an optimized suit makes you feel confident.
• Most, if not all, swimmers at the highest level competitions are wearing tech suits, which keeps everyone on a level field.
• At a high level, every hundredth of a second matters.

Things to Consider:

• For novice-level swimmers, time saved in a tech suit might be minimal relative to improvements that can be made with training and refining technique.
• The cost. These suits are expensive and can be as much as $600+.
• These suits can degrade quickly with repeated use. They are best reserved for prelim/final and championship meets.