Technical suits have been a hot topic in the swim industry lately. Between the age group ban that was recently approved, going into effect 2019 https://www.kiefer.com/blog/understanding-12-technical-suit-ban, and all the razzle dazzle constantly from the suit companies about their latest and greatest, I've been asked...when should I or my swimmer use their technical suit. Considering their fairly short life span, technical suits really should only be worn at two to four meets a year. https://www.kiefer.com/blog/short-fast-life-tech-suit Short course championships and long course championships. Whatever the final meet of the season, that is where you wear your best suit, bring your best attitude, and race. Exceptions would be mid season or last chance qualifiers where you are trying to make times to get to another level for your end of season meet. Or perhaps high school championships that fall all over the school calendar. I do see swimmers wearing tech suits all year round. I don't agree with it but that is only my opinion. Why don't I agree? Tech suits are about a feeling and a state of mind, much like shaving your legs or arms for that extra reminder that its the end of the season and its time to race. I think swimmers are deconditioning their brains wearing a tech suit over and over again. It takes away from that feeling of now is my time, race time, and I am ready. The suit doesn't make the swimmer. One could argue with me that it's always race time, and that is true. Any time you are at a meet it is a great day to be a racer. And a tech suit may bolster up any swimmer. However I am a firm believer in making your big meets feel special. And a tech suit is one part of that feeling. Shaving is another. Each swimmer has their own 'thing' that makes big meets BIG. It's also an unnecessary financial burden to replace them each time they wear out or rip. If you are wearing them constantly the number you need to purchase increases exponentially. When do you like to wear your technical suit and how often?