Smart Shopping for a Swim Cap

Swim caps come in a multitude of colors and styles. Uses can range from decreasing your drag during swimming to protecting your hair from chlorine damage. Most swimming caps come in one-size-fits-all and are relatively inexpensive. Since swim caps are used not only during competition, but also during swim training, you can often buy swim caps in large numbers for a reasonable price. In addition, swim caps can be used to distinguish teams during competition and different age groups in sporting events such as triathlons.

What to Look for

Latex and silicone swim caps are more common than Lycra, especially for competition. Lycra swim caps are designed to protect the hair from excessive chlorine exposure. However, this type of cap does not provide the drag protection that a latex or silicone cap presents, so it is more often used in recreational swimming. Recently developed is a swim cap with Lycra on the inside and latex on the outside designed to keep the hair dry when swimming. There are different makes of latex, Lycra and silicone swim caps, so trial and error are the best means of finding the right fit.

You can put on a swim cap most easily when your hair is damp or wet. A proper fit should have the cap coming slightly above the eye brow level in the front, covering the ears and having a snug fit where the hairline ends on the back of the scalp without any excess air on top of the head inside the swim cap. Most caps come with anti-slip ribbing on the inside for a secure, comfortable fit and are tear resistant. Some swim caps, mainly for recreational use, come with an adjustable chin strap. After use, regardless the type, the swim cap should be rinsed with tap water and you can sprinkle talcum powder lightly on it to extend the life.

Common Pitfalls

Chlorine and sunshine from outdoor swimming are the main culprits in deterioration of swim caps. Over time, the outer edge of the cap seems to weaken. A sure sign of elasticity wear is when the cap no longer provides a snug fit on the head, which means the protective barrier from the water has been worn away. Sometimes there may be little holes in the outer edge of the cap which can cause it to tear immediately before the first use. This is a manufacturing error and the cap should be replaced at no cost to you.