If you have just joined a club squad, race suits can seem baffling. The suits on poolside look as if they were painted on, they look nothing like training kit, and other swimmers talk about them as if they were state secrets. This guide explains what a race suit does, what the rules say, and whether you need one yet.

Why do swimmers use race suits?

Swimmers use race suits to reduce drag, support the body and avoid carrying extra water. A race suit fits far more tightly than a training suit. That close fit holds you in a streamlined shape, so less fabric catches the water as you move.

There is a mental side too. For many swimmers, pulling on a race suit is part of getting into race mode. It tells your body that today is different from a normal session.

A race suit will not swim the race for you, and sadly none of them will do a length while you wave to the spectators. Technique, training and pacing matter far more, and we will not promise you a time drop from a suit. What a good race suit does is support the work you have already done.

How does a race suit work?

A race suit works through three things: compression, fabric and seams. Compression means the suit presses gently and evenly on the body. That holds your shape steady and stops muscle and skin moving around in the water.

The fabric is the second part. Race suit fabrics are designed to be smooth and to absorb very little water. A training suit is built for repeated sessions in chlorine, while a race suit is built for a race.

Seams are the third. Suits use either stitched seams or bonded seams, which are joined without thread. Bonded seams generally lie flatter against the body, which is one reason they are common on racing suits.

Every brand cuts and compresses differently. Your size in one brand is often not your size in another, so the tag on the label only tells you so much. That is why fit matters as much as the suit itself.

What does World Aquatics (WA) approved mean on a race suit?

World Aquatics (WA) approved means a suit has passed the approval process set by World Aquatics, the international governing body for swimming. Its swimwear rules sit in the Competition Regulations, Part One, Rule 6: Swimwear. Manufacturers must have a suit approved before it can be used at WA competitions.

For most new club swimmers, this matters once you begin entering meets that require approved swimwear. Not every club gala asks for it, and some events set their own rules for younger swimmers. Check with your club coach or the meet information before you buy.

You can read the rules on World Aquatics' own approved swimwear page. Our swimwear experts check approval when they recommend a competition suit, so you are not caught out at poolside.

Do beginners need a race suit?

Most beginners do not need a race suit for their first few galas. A ten-year-old swimming their first 50m breaststroke at a club night will race perfectly well in a well-fitting training suit, and so will you while you learn the basics of racing. A race suit starts to make sense once you race regularly or enter meets with qualifying times.

What is the difference between a race suit and a training suit?

A training suit is made for volume, and a race suit is made for one job on race day. Here is how they compare.

We advise keeping the race suit for racing. Training is not what it is for, and you want it to feel the way you remember on the day.

Which race suit styles are there?

The main race suit styles are jammers for male swimmers and kneesuits for female swimmers. Each comes in a range of fabrics and compression levels. Your club and the meet rules decide which style you can choose, so check both first.

Racing jammers

A jammer covers the hips and thighs and finishes above the knee. It is the standard competition suit for male and boy swimmers. You can see the styles we stock in our men's racing jammers collection.

Racing kneesuits

A kneesuit covers the body from the shoulders to the knee. It is the standard competition suit for female and girl swimmers. The styles we stock are in our women's racing kneesuits collection.

Other cuts

Other racing cuts exist, including briefs and shorter-leg suits. If you are unsure which cut is right for your events and your club, our swimwear experts advise by phone, email and in store every day.

How should a race suit fit?

A race suit should feel snug and smooth from top to bottom. There should be no folds, no gaps and no place where the fabric digs in. You should be able to breathe fully and move your shoulders and hips without fighting the suit.

Race suits are harder to put on than training suits, and that is normal. Getting into one is a small sport of its own. If it slides on while you hum a tune, it is probably too big. If you cannot get it on without a fight, or it stops you breathing, it is too small.

Before you buy, get three answers. Which events do you swim most? What does your club advise on swimwear? Do your next meets need World Aquatics (WA) approved suits? With those answers, choosing gets much simpler.

When should you buy a race suit, and how do you look after it?

Buy your race suit well before your first meet. That gives you time to check the fit and practise putting it on. Leaving it to the week of a gala is how swimmers end up meeting their race suit for the first time in a cramped changing cubicle, minutes before their heat.

Look after it once you own it. Rinse the suit in cool, fresh water after each use, and let it dry naturally away from direct heat. Do not wring it out, and follow the care label, because brands differ. It is a race suit, not a dishcloth.

Keep it in your kit bag until race day, and take it out only when you need it. Then it is ready and familiar when the gala arrives.

If you would like a second opinion on size, call our swimwear experts on 01827 330600 or use our contact page. If you would rather be fitted in person, our visit us page has our address and opening times.

Written by a swimwear specialist at Allens Swimwear, 50 years of expert fitting.