How to Choose a Swim Cap
Whether you're an amateur enjoying the aerobic benefits of swimming or a coach looking to give your swim team a uniform appearance, swim caps are a great addition to your swim gear. But how do you know what type of swim cap is best?
With a little help, choosing a swim cap is an easy task. Ultimately, your swim cap selection should complement your swimming activities and feel great when you're wearing it.
The Benefits of Wearing a Swim Cap
Swim caps come in a variety of materials, shapes, sizes, and styles. Whether latex or silicone, swim caps offer avid swim fans many important benefits — especially when you spend a lot of time poolside:- • Focus: The main purpose of swim caps is to keep your hair out of your face so you can focus on the task at hand.
- • Speed: With all your hair snugly secured, swim caps improve your overall speed by eliminating drag in the water.
- • Protection: Swim caps keep your hair dry and protected from chlorine damage.
- • Safety: If you're swimming in the ocean or a larger body of water, swim caps keep your head warm and provide visibility to watchful parents or passing boats.
Tips for Choosing a Swim Cap
When it comes to swim caps, there is nearly no end to choices and options. Here are a few factors to help you decide what kind of swim cap is best for you.Swimming Frequency
If you're an avid swimmer or someone who works out in the water every day, durability is one of the key characteristics to consider. On the other hand, if your swimming sessions are infrequent, you'll need a cap that can survive sitting long stretches of time at the bottom of your swim bag. Either way, silicon may be the way to go. When left unused, latex can turn into a sticky mess that gets all over your other swim gear.Water Temperature
In summer, pool temperatures can creep up to more than 81 degrees. While extra-thick silicone may be durable, it can get toasty on hot days. In these instances, it may be best to opt for latex swim caps, which are relatively thin and will keep you from overheating. Silicone is best on chilly days or in cooler pools.Workout Intensity
After an intense workout, you're bound to feel a bit toasty. Latex swim caps may be best for those who regularly get their heart rate up working out in the pool.Swim Teams
A team logo on your swim caps is a great way to bring some team pride to each competition. If you're a member of a team, you'll need to come to a general consensus about which swim cap material is best for the most number of members.3 Basic Types of Swim Caps — How To Choose
There are three basic types of swim caps on the market. Kiefer carries a variety of colored and patterned caps, made by Kiefer, Speedo, and TYR, but there is not much variety across brands. Swim cap material is the biggest decision - they do not all have the same intended use, so let’s get talking!Lycra Swim Caps
Are you an aquaciser? If you like to do water aerobics, aquatic therapy, or work against the current in the lazy river, a Lycra cap might be perfect for you. Lycra swimming caps are made of a soft, breathable fabric so you won't get a ‘hot head’ doing your swim workout. They are strong enough to keep your hair in place and out of your face, but stretchy enough to be comfortable. Try out the Kiefer Lycra Swim Cap or a Speedo Lycra Swim Cap.Latex Swim Caps
Lap swimmers, you are looking for something different and more streamlined. One option is a latex cap. Latex is a stretchy and durable rubber (if cared for). Latex caps are more widely available and are also the least expensive. Latex caps are available in solids, patterns, and team prints. These caps are often included in race bags for triathlons or open water swimming competitions. They are easily customized to give a team or event a unified look. Kiefer offers a huge variety of latex caps:- • Fun Caps with seasonal themes
- • USMS logoed caps for master’s swimmers
- • Superflex Latex Caps to accommodate more hair, and custom caps designed by your team or organization.
Silicone Swim Caps
Option number two, also recommended for lap swimmers, is a molded silicone cap. Silicone caps are more expensive than latex caps, but outlast them without fail. Soft silicone doesn't grab your hair like latex and will stretch to accommodate different amounts of hair. Silicone swimming caps are for everyone, and Kiefer has an excellent selection to choose from:- • For longer hair: the Kiefer Super Stretch Silicone Swim Cap
- • For a kids swim cap: the Kiefer Jr. Silicone Swim Cap
- • For most swimmers: the classic Kiefer Standard Silicone Swim Cap.
Specialty Silicone Caps
Silicone swimming caps have more mold varieties then latex and additional specialty styles are available for smaller audiences:- • Silicone Racing Caps: the Speedo Aqua-V Swim Cap is designed to reduce drag and have a seamless fit over the head.
- • Junior Fun Caps: Younger swimmers will appreciate fun print caps like Kiefer's Kitty, Doggy and Fishy caps.
