How to Choose the Best Swim Cap

Swim caps do more than just keep your hair tucked in while you swim in a pool. They’re also more than just another fashion statement. They actually keep you more hydrodynamic as you swim in the water. Apart from that, they also help you manage your hair.

Choosing the best swim cap is usually very straightforward. Nevertheless, there are a few considerations that you should keep in mind. Here are a few things that you should remember when you’re out shopping for one.

Read more: The Best Swimming Goggles to Suit Your Lifestyle Needs.

Choosing the Swim Cap That Best Suits Your Needs

You should choose your swim cap by the type of swimming you’re doing. This and other considerations will also affect your choice for the right swim cap.

Exercise vs. Lap Swimming

When you go lap swimming your head is mostly faced downward and you also have your head down.Of course, you will also need a different kind of swim cap when you’re doing water exercises like aqua aerobics and water therapy.

When you do aquatic exercises like water jogging, you just need something that will hold your hair back away from your face and also keep them dry. That means you will need something that has a mesh like material. You also need something that has a more hair retaining fit as opposed to the type of fit you get from traditional swim caps. When doing lap swimming you will be a lot better off with caps that have more hydrodynamic qualities like silicone and latex.

Open Water Swimming, Racing, and Just Practice Swimming

If you’re doing mostly swimming practices then silicone and latex caps are your best bets. They’re inexpensive and very simple. The styles and designs you’ll find are usually quite similar from one brand to the next.

These are also the usual types of caps that are used for competitions. However, note that the more modern swimming caps are made of molded silicone. These next generation swim caps reduce the drag, which is exceptionally useful when you’re racing. The only downside with this kind of swim cap is that they can be a bit expensive.

The Issue with Hair Length

If your hair is of medium length or even if you have really long hair then silicone caps are also your best bet for swim caps for long hair. They often outlast latex caps. On top of that, caps made of silicone are usually more resistant to wear and tear. Silicone also does not tug at your hair while you are in the water.

They are also easier to put on and remove especially when your hair is already wet. They also give you a more contoured fit, which keeps your hair snug.

However, if you have short hair or have little to no hair then latex caps are best suited for you. Latex swim caps are made from latex rubber. These swim caps are more stretchable compared to silicone caps. That also makes them pretty much wearable by anyone of any head size.

Regularly sized latex swim caps tend to fit pretty much any swimmer as long as they have an average head size. However, if you want a more snug fit or if you have a bit of a smaller size head then you should get junior size latex swim caps. They usually are tight enough to remain on your head throughout your laps on the water but they’re not that tight to leave a line on your head and face.

Do swim caps tend to fall off your head when you swim in the water? Don’t worry. There are swim caps that are outfitted with chin straps. They hold the cap comfortably in place.

Keeping Your Head Cool

Some swim caps tend to get your head and hair hot since they retain the heat from your head. If your head tends to get sweaty after a long swim with a cap on, then you can switch to a lycra swim cap, which is made of breathable fabric. They are strong enough to keep your hair in place without getting a “hot head” as it were.

Top 10 Swim Caps Review

The following are our top picks. They are some of the best swim cap brands and models in the market today. Here are our top 10.

1. Speedo Silicone Solid Swim Cap

Speedo is one of the leading brands in swimwear. This swim cap is geared toward competitive swimmers.

2. TYR Wrinkle Free Silicone Cap

If the chlorine in the pool water usually damages your hair then this cap can provide you with the needed protection.

3. Swim Elite Silicone Swimming Cap

This is a swim cap that is specially designed for swimmers with really long hair.

4. Orgrim Long Hair Swim Cap

This is another good swim cap option for swimmers with long hair.

5. UKEE Silicone Swimming Cap 3D Silicone Design

This cap is good for dive training since it hangs snugly on your head.

6. Finis Spandex Swim Cap

Pulls hair clean away from the face and your neck while swimming.

7. Cressi Ear Swim Cap

This swim cap s designed to fit comfortably especially around the ears.

8. Orca Neoprene Swim Cap

This swim cap is highly breathable. It is also designed with a chin strap.

9. Lahtak Extra Large Swimming Cap

Do you have really long hair? This is probably the best swim cap for you.

10. Blueseventy Thermal Skull Cap

This is our top pick for open water swimmers.

Conclusion

The best swim cap for you is the one that is made of the right material and is designed for the type of swimming activity you regularly do. They don’t need a lot of care but you should at least rinse them after use.