The swimming cap is a great companion for all swimmers, regardless of their potential. It’s no longer the case that anyone who swims in a swimming pool with a cap must be a competitive swimmer. There is a whole range of swimming caps, different materials, colours, patterns and sizes. Have a look at why you should purchase a cap and how to choose the right one.
Why wear a swimming cap?
Swimming caps have several functions. It protects the hair from chlorinated water or salt water. A nice feature is that the cap keeps the hair tied so that it doesn’t get in the way while swimming and it doesn’t get tangled anywhere. Therefore, you can swim comfortably and you don’t need to constantly move your hair out of your eyes. As it keeps your hair out the way, that way keeps someone else's hair out your way, and we all know how awful it is to get tangled in someone else's floating hair while swimming. When swimming in cold water, the advantage of the cap is that it keeps the head and ears warm. Last but not least, the cap reduces water resistance, which is an advantage, especially for competitive swimmers.
How to choose a swimming cap?
A swimming cap can be chosen primarily according to material, shape and size. The most important thing is that it fits well, not too tight, not too loose. You need to feel comfortable while wearing it.
We can choose swimming caps according to size
Every head deserves the right size
swimming cap. Usually, swimming caps come in two sizes, but we prefer a little more details than that.
1. Special
children’s swimming caps, the so-called
Junior Cap, are suitable for children and are smaller than a regular classic adult cap.
2. The standard-size swimming cap, also known as the Classic Cap, is the most suitable for adults
3. The so-called
Longhair Cap is ideal
for long hair and has more space in the back for hair compared to the standard adult cap.
We can choose swimming caps according to material
1.
Silicone caps are the most common – They are very popular due to the price and mainly for a wide selection of colours and prints. Silicone is hypoallergenic, impermeable, and elastic and the caps are relatively long-lasting. These swimming caps are a bit stiff and it's harder to put them on. However,
silicone swimming caps are the most used and common caps.
2.
Neoprene swimming caps are necessary for winter – They are designed specifically for swimming in the cold water, so they are especially suitable for winter lovers, ice-cold water swimmers, those who can’t wait for the spring or triathletes.
Neoprene caps are usually 2mm thick and have perfect thermal protection, thanks to their spongy material that absorbs and retains water. The cap warms up in contact with body heat, and since it’s difficult to drain the water from the spongy mass, an insulating layer of warm water forms around the head.
3. If you
prefer comfort, there are
fabric caps that don’t pull the hair – it is an elastic synthetic material that keeps its colour and is flexible. There is usually an elastic sewn on the edge of the cap to prevent sliding of the head. The advantage of
fabric caps is that they don’t pull the hair, it’s easier to put them on, and they also fit better. The downside is that they let all the water through and it takes longer to dry your long hair. Its function is therefore purely to keep the hair in place and keep it away from the face while swimming.
4. The
cheapest option is the latex caps – Latex material is elastic and adaptable and it is much thinner than the silicone cap. The advantage is that it adapts better to the shape of the head, it’s more flexible and not so rigid. The
latex cap is water-repellent and you can just simply wipe it after use. These caps are definitely among the cheapest. The disadvantage is a short lifetime, hair pulling and material that is not pleasant for everyone.
5. Combined swimming caps – A material worth mentioning, for example, is a combination of spandex and silicone. A spandex cap is a compromise between a fabric cap and a silicone cap. On the inside, is a pleasant fabric material which doesn't pull the hair, and on the outside, is a waterproof silicone layer. Although this combination of materials is on the more expensive side than ordinary materials, it's more comfortable. The cap is easy to put on, but it is necessary that it really fits, otherwise it can slide down from the head.
Final tip:
Keep in mind that most swimming pools require swimming caps, and they don’t allow entry without a cap. Better to have it with you.
Of course, the swimming cap can be used also in salt water - if doing so we recommend washing it with clean, cold tap water after use.
