Tech Suits: The basics, info, and tips to help it last
The tech suit is one of the most expensive investments you will make during your time as a competitive swimmer. Many higher level swimmers purchase two or three tech suits a year,costing as much as $400+. You can NOT expect to get more than two full meets out of a tech suit. If you are an elite level swimmer you should expect to buy a new suit every 2 championship meets if you are wearing it for prelims & finals during a 3 day meet or After about a dozen wears they begin to stretch and degrade fairly quickly. Once the suits fabric breaks down and starts absorbing water (first sign is that water does not bead off the suit, it becomes heaver while you swim and therefore less effective and it’s not worth wearing to a big meet*.
This includes and Speedo Aquablade, although it is a more durable than the high end tech suits.
Remember Techs suits can ONLY be worn at the listed meets for OCY swimmers; no exceptions
Click here for our New OCY Technical Racing Suits Policy.
Here are some tips to help you care for your tech suit.
1. Don’t wear a tech suit anymore than you have to.
Racing suits don’t last long. After about a dozen races they begin to stretch, the fabric degrades, and allows the suit to hold more water. This includes and Aquablade .
2. Save your tech suit for the big meets.
Try to save your racing suits for the championship meets towards the end of your season. This will help you become even more excited for taper time / championship meets.
The mental aspect of your tech suit will wear off if you wear one at every meet.
3. Wear a drag suit or a practice suit over your tech suit between races.
This may help keep your suit safe. Last thing you want to do is snag it on something.
4. Put your suit on and take your suit off slowly.
The teach suit is part of your championship event, use care putting it on and taking it off.
There's not much worse than ripping a whole in your $400+ Tech suit during a championship meet.
5. Rinse it out with cold water in the shower.
Avoid soap of any kind. If you aren’t in the mood for a shower take it out of your swim bag when you get home and rinse it with cold water in the sink to get the chlorine out.
6. Put it in a towel and roll it up.
Don’t wring it out !
7. Do not put it in the dryer.
Never Ever…. If you need to dry it between sessions lay out a towel when you get home or to the hotel room and let it air dry. You really shouldn’t put any suit in the dryer !
8. Put it on when you are completely dry.
Putting on a wet tech suit requires pulling, yanking, and grimacing. Two of those things are not good for your suit.
9. Don’t hang it up to dry.
The weight of the wet fabric, the clothes line or the hangers will often cause the suit to stretch. Go back to #6 and roll it up
10. Cycle in your old tech suits to make the new one last longer.
Use your older tech suits and jammers for preliminaries (ONLY if you know you are going to easily get into finals). It will help extend the shelf life of the new one you just bought.
