Speedo or trunks?

[mudrock]

Originally Posted by kkk1234

Is it only in the States that people redicule guys in speedos?

Yes. Us and the Middle East, except for when they vacation in Europe. I guess we're just not comfortable with looking at another guy's junk swinging in a banana hammock.

As a former collegiate swimmer, I find the entire issue to be humorous, since the issue doesn't even really exist within the serious swimming community.

[nicorn]

i think the swimmer should wear what it's mor confortable with him/her

[omgwtfhax6699]

if its just for excercize then u should just wear trunks

[skijumpbump]

I swam in High School and in practice we would always wear regular baggy trunk, which we called a drag suit. During a meet we would wear jammers. By wearing the baggy trunks in practice we would increase our drag through the water and get a better work out due to more resistance through the water. If you want a better work out were baggy trunks because they create more drag and make you work harder, burn more calories and create more work for your muscles to pull you through the water.

[eljamis]

for speed use speedos for practice use trunks and for fun use nothing at all. lol

[Klipper]

For a really good workout, swim dragging some buckets behind you. At least it works when we try to go fishing in our boat and our slowest speed is too fast

[charkikan]

nice

[ReFLeX]

If you're swimming for excercise why does it matter if you're wearing a speed or trunks? Trunks will just make you work a tad bit harder. Pretty much the same excercise either way.

[g_samsa]

Jammers all the way. I wear regular trunks when I just go play around at the pool, but I'm with aircru on the stamina thing. I don't swim for speed, but I do swim for distance, so I need something that isn't going to get in my way. Jammers are great for that.

[sunupoernomo]

trunks. period. the only reason to sport a banana hammock is competition.
scariest story ever. went to the pool at an odd hour becuase my shift changed and was trying to match time with another part of the world and a 1SFG team was doing combat swimming. in their underwear. they also looked like they just got back from deployment as they were sporting nasty 'staches and beards. it was like the buff child molester polar bear club meet in dirty scibbies.

[tidalwave]

Speedos.

If you're swimming for speed, fitness, endurance - anything other than pure recreation with an inflatable alligator. Even if you're not in a race, having a streamlined profile through the water is preferable. People might argue that trunks give you more resistance and therefore will make you stronger. However, most collegiate swim coaches will say that there is a place for added drag only after you have mastered the correct stroke technique. That said, most collegiate swimmers still practice in speedos, and only occasionally wearing drag suits. Similarly, ask the peeps in the bodybuilding forums if it is better to load up the weight plates as fast as you can, or to use lighter weight until you are able to complete sets with perfect form. It's a similar concept. Trunks are for surfing and splashing at the beach. Speedos are for swimming. I don't think there will be any hooplah if you're using them for swimming and you're not obviously trying to show off for anyone.

If you are self conscious of have strong fashion motivations, there are plenty of swimming-specific suits that will not offend your sensibilities too much. Jammers and squarecuts are an alternative to the brief style. Jammers resemble bicycle shorts. Squarecuts resemble boxer-briefs. Wear whatever you feel comfortable in. Bonus if you look decent in them. For now, I'm sticking with the brief "speedo" style. I'm not inclined to spend extra money for a jammer to cover an extra 4" of my upper thigh just so I can appease the puritanical busybody who goes ape over a guy wearing less than knee-length shorts. =)

[longshot]

Speedos......yuk...they still make those??

[drwatson55]

I am a fan of the "squares" or practice suit. Whatever you decide for a suit, make sure there is polyester in it, that way the suit tends to last longer if you swim a lot. I had a pure polyester suit from TYR that lasted me for over a year swimming 20+ hours a week.

[Mean Machine]

I thought i might give the old "Mankini" a crack next summer?

[tidalwave]

Originally Posted by Mean Machine

I thought i might give the old "Mankini" a crack next summer?

LOL... puns about buns?

[AbbyMarie]

I was a swimmer all through high school and college as well.

+1 to everything about drag suits and speedos. Trunks are great for a waterslide park or maybe to use as a drag suit during a taper. Speedos will allow you to be more streamline and reduce the weight you have to drag behind you as you swim laps.

They're not a big deal. One of my close guy friends use to have a zebra print Speedo he'd wear during practice all the time. Just have a sense of humor about it. People really don't care!

Oh yeah, and yes, jammers are a great alternative if you're self conscious about struttin' your stuff in an old school speedo.

[thecameraguy99]

If you are European and at a beach in Europe, you can pull off wearing a Speedo at a Beach.
But anywhere else... there should be laws against it.

[lizzyb]

Lol!! "mankini", that's the first time I've ever heard that term....

(sorry-I don't have anything relevent to add, lol)

[tidalwave]

Originally Posted by thecameraguy99

If you are European and at a beach in Europe, you can pull off wearing a Speedo at a Beach.
But anywhere else... there should be laws against it.

And unless you're a Brazilian woman on the beach in Rio, there should be laws against a wearing a bikini?