Choosing Swimming Caps

Latex Swim Caps

The most popular swim caps are made from latex rubber, mainly because they are reasonably priced, widely available and give good protection.

One downfall of latex swimming caps is that some people cannot wear them because they have an allergy to the latex. Redness of the ears, possible swelling and a rash are possible signs that you may have a latex allergy. If this occurs when wearing the cap you should report it to your doctor and obviously discontinue the use of the cap.

Silicone Swim Caps

Silicone swim caps are very similar to latex swim caps in the way of style. These caps were originally designed for people who suffered with latex allergies but have greatly become more popular over time because of the great shiny colours and designs that they are available in. We have some great bright coloured ones, others with patterns, and great character ones for the kids! But if you want to keep it plain and simple we have some for you too!

Silicone is more durable than latex, therefore lasts longer. Many swimmers that swim daily will get a year’s use out of their silicone cap. However, this means that Silicone caps tend to be more expensive, but at the end of the day you do get what you pay for!

Silicone caps are quite slick so swimmers with larger heads and long or fuller hair may find that they slip off if they do not fit properly. They are ideally fitted to swimmers with small to medium sized heads with short hair.

When looking at the opening of silicone caps you will notice that they look quite small, but don’t worry they stretch quite well. When putting the cap on you should make sure that you pull it down well so that it doesn’t ride up at the ears. Some people put conditioner under their cap or get their hair wet first so that the cap slips on easier, but if it slips on easier it will slip off easier too, but when you don’t want it to!

Speedo has created their new Aqua V Cap which is made from a unique multi-density silicone that has a 5% drag reduction when tested against a regular latex cap; great for competitors!

Lycra and Polyester Swim Caps

Swim caps made from these materials will not keep water out as they are very porous. However, they are very lightweight and perfect for swimmers with long hair that want to prevent it getting tangled in their goggles or in their eyes and don’t mind it getting wet. Some swimmers wear them as a base layer if you like, under their latex swim cap so that their hair stays in place and prevents pulling from the latex cap. Some swimmers have custom made caps to match their swimsuit which they wear over a latex or silicone swim cap. Who says you can’t look good in the pool!

Tips for putting a swim cap on

Putting a swim cap on can be tricky business, especially if you have long hair! The best way to do this is to hold the cap by the sides and bring your head forwards and start by pulling the cap over your forehead then carry on working it down.

If you have long hair you should leave your hair out to the back, pull the cap on half way and then twist up the rest and try to put it in the cap as evenly as possible so that the cap still has a good seal.

Swimmers that put their hair up in buns or pony tails create a point in their cap which may let water in because it is not sealed correctly around the face.

Hair and Swim Cap after care advice

After swimming you will find that you have wet spots on your hair unless you have found a swim cap which fits you perfectly and has a great seal. If you want to avoid chlorine entering your cap you could wet your hair in the shower first before you put your swim cap on. This will help prevent chlorine from seeping under your cap by filling and sealing the hair shafts.

Some people condition their hair before putting a swim cap on but this can cause the cap to pop off. However, if you have goggles on over your cap this should prevent it from rising up. If you do brush conditioner through your hair first you should make sure you have a cap with a good seal so that conditioner doesn’t get into the pool.

If you like swimming without a cap we would suggest that you rinse your hair in the shower before you swim and rinse well after with shampoo and use a conditioner to help repair any damage from chlorine. If you swim regularly then we advise that you use a deep conditioning treatment once a week as well.

To prolong the life of your swimming cap and keep it in good condition you should rinse it in cold water and then dry it after use. Do not leave your swim cap exposed to sunlight for long periods and avoid contact with sharp objects such as hair clips and pins as these could puncture it.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Do you have a swimming cap that is totally waterproof?

A. Unfortunately there is not a water tight swimming cap available on the market, some people wear two caps, but obviously the more you put under the cap the tighter and less comfortable it is going to become! In the whole a good fitting cap should not let too much water in but there is no guarantee that your hair will stay dry.

Q. Do you do a cap for larger heads and long hair?

A. Yes. We would recommend the Zoggs easy fit silicone swimming cap and the Speedo Volume cap as they are high volume caps which stretch well, ideal for longer hair and larger heads.

Q. Do you have a swimming cap which covers you ears?

A. Yes there are a couple of caps we would suggest you try. They are the Cressi Swim Swimming Ear Cap and the Aqua Sphere Glide Swim Cap which features ergonomic ear pockets that add comfort and help to prevent the swim cap from slipping off.

Q. Do your swimming caps come in different sizes?

A. Unfortunately all swimming caps come in one size. In our experience we have found that the Zoggs swimming caps come up larger than Speedo caps for example, so if you are looking for a cap with more stretch we would suggest you opt for a Zoggs cap.

Q. Which caps are suitable for which age groups?

A. Within the Junior Swim Caps department, as a rule the Zoggs, Diana and Maru Character Caps are for younger children (6 years and under). Whereas, the plain junior swimming caps are generally suitable for children aged 6 years and over.

See Our Full Range Of Swimming Caps