What to Look for in a Swimsuit: Five Styles for Spring & Summer

Winter weather won’t last much longer, and at Hibbett | City Gear, we’re already daydreaming about dipping our toes into the cool blue waters of our favorite lakes, seas and swimming pools. Some of us are casual waders, while others are competitive swimmers. But no matter if you’re racing for the win or just a leisurely lapper, you can find the perfect spring- and summer-ready swimsuit for you at Hibbett | City Gear.

Our range of swimsuit styles features products from brands like Nike Swim, Dolfin and adidas, all of which are designed to keep you comfortable and moving with ease. Brush up on all you need to know about swimsuit shopping & start bagging our most popular pool-ready essential styles for the upcoming swim season.

What Materials Are Swimsuits Made Of?

Most bathing suits are made with elastane fibers (the generic name for Lycra and Spandex) and either come in nylon or polyester blends.

Elastane material gives the suit its stretch, while polyester is super durable, holds its color well and resists pilling over time. (Pilling refers to the tiny fuzz balls of material that sometimes show up on your swim bottoms after you’ve had them for a while.)

Nylon suits are generally a bit softer than polyester –though polyester options have come a long way. Unlike polyester, however, nylon does tend to pill over time and fades more easily in UV light.

What Factors Should I Consider When Shopping for a Swimsuit?

When you start your swimsuit search this spring or summer, you might be surprised by the variety of styles available to you.

From bikinis, tankinis, one-pieces, and rash guards to racer briefs, swim shorts, jammers, and aquitards, the many options can be overwhelming at first. But picking the right style for you shouldn’t be complicated. Just consider these few things as you shop:

1. Pick your preferred coverage

Are you hitting the beach for a day of sunning on the sand, or is your next aquatic adventure taking you only as far as your backyard swimming pool? Planning a weekend of tubing and racing jet skis, or do your swimming skills apply strictly to water aerobics? Where you’ll be wearing your swimsuit and what activities you’ll be engaged in are key factors to consider when shopping for suitable swimwear.

For Women:

• Two-piece bikinis offer the most skin exposure and are appropriate for wear during leisure activities like sunbathing, floating down the lazy river, and wading. This style of swimwear isn’t normally designed to perform in competitive arenas. Traditionally, 2-piece bathing suits prioritize fashion over function, though there are many styles that offer both.
  
  Nike’s Colorblock Midkini Swim Top, for example, is offered in three electric colors, features chic cap sleeves, and is crafted with 85% recycled materials. The top offers light support that’s ideal for low-impact water activities.

• Tankinis, which also have two pieces, offer more midsection coverage and extend down to the hips. This style of swimsuit can also be fashionable, but more modestly so. Tankini tops can be paired with swimming briefs or swim shorts for minimal and medium coverage or paired with jammer shorts for extended coverage on the bottom half. A happy medium between bikinis and one-piece swimsuits, tankinis are commonly worn during more vigorous activities like skiing, tubing, and other water sports because they offer a layer of protection between skin and the water’s surface during wipeouts.
  
  Specifically designed for an active lifestyle, Dolphin’s Solid Triple Crossback Tankini Top comes in a form-fitting silhouette with sassy crisscross straps that provide mid-level support for either training or recreational swimming.

• For seamless full coverage, invest in a one-piece swimsuit or aquitard. Competitive swimmers traditionally wear one-piece swimsuits during meets because full suits, compared to separate pieces, reduce friction and drag in the water, allowing swimmers to move more efficiently.
  
  Stylish, yet-durable, one-piece swimwear options include adidas’ Women’s Black Adicolor Classics Primeblue Swimsuit and the Uglies Diamond Double Strap Back One-Piece Swimsuit by Dolphin.

For Men: Men’s swimsuit styles are a little more limited. Most commonly, men’s swim styles include:

• Jammers — A type of swim shorts, jammers are long, tight-fitting shorts. Jammers are like compression bottoms and are commonly worn by athletes. Styles like the Dolphin Men’s Uglies Paper Planes Jammer are engineered to fit tightly to the body to withstand long hours of training.
• Briefs/Racers — Also often worn by competitive swimmers, this style of swimwear resembles women’s bikini bottoms.
• Swim Trunks – Like athletic shorts, swim trunks are the more causal swimsuit option available to men. Men’s swim shorts are offered in a variety of lengths. Some, like adidas’ Originals Men’s Scarlet Adicolor Classic 3-Stripes Swim Shorts, reach mid-thigh — similar to old-school basketball shorts. Others, like Nike’s Volley Shorts, extend 8 inches, ending just above the knee.
• Swim Shirts – Men also have tops available to them for body coverage during intense water activities like skiing and wakeboarding… or whenever they want to protect themselves against the sun. Nike offers a broad selection of men’s Hydroguard Swim Shirts that incorporate the brand’s Dri-FIT technology and UPF 40+ sun protection.

2. Find a suit that fits comfortably and snug, but not too snug. In the competitive swimming world, tighter, more snuggly fit suits are preferred. Think compression gear. But in general, a properly fitted swimsuit should fit close to the body and should be tight around the legs and arms, but not so much that circulation or movement is restricted.

3. Shop for high-quality materials. No matter if you’re swimming laps or prepping for a meet, you need best-in-class swimwear crafted from only the best and most durable materials in the industry. Look for swimwear made of thicker fabrics, like Nike’s HydraStrong fabric and high-performance adidas Primeblue fabric, that will hold its shape well over time and will resist fading and deterioration due to sun-exposure or chlorine.

4. Choose your level of support. Not all swimsuits offer the same level of support, so be sure to check the cup sizes and the strap styles on women’s swimwear and the linings and waistbands of men’s styles before you buy to make sure everything stays in place comfortably.

What Style of Swimsuit Is Best for Me?

The Cannonball King: He’s the guy who joins the kids at the diving board, impressing everyone poolside with a backflip before resurfacing. adidas men’s Classic Three Stripes Swim Shorts are perfect for cannonballs, tubing and jumping waves on a wakeboard. Plus, they’re made with sustainable materials.

The Power Suit: She glides through the water, rising up to shatter the calm of the surface. While she’s winning medals and breaking the glass ceiling, she needs a no-nonsense suit that can take her from one end of the pool to the other. The hardworking Dolfin Women’s Aquashape Color Block Aquatard features a fully lined, 100% polyester U-back silhouette with a shelf bra. It gets the job done in a no-nonsense fashion.

The Poolside Princess: She’s a laidback babe who needs a no-fuss two-piece that exudes those effortlessly cool vibes. While she’s queuing up her Spotify playlist for the pool and slathering on her SPF, she’s rocking a Nike Women’s Colorblock Cutout One Piece Swimsuit with its cheeky bottom coverage, high-cut legs and vibrant 2-tone coloring.

Baby He’s a Firework: There’s nothing ugly about the Dolfin Men’s Uglies Fireworks Racer brief. Tight-fitting and engineered to withstand long hours of training, these men’s racer briefs also feature an ultra-durable polyester construction that resists chlorine damage and prevents color from fading.

Catching Waves, Not Rays: Sand and too much sun equal burned, chafed skin. Not so much when you wear a rash guard. The Dolfin Women’s Aquashape Side Ruched Rash Guard is the perfect out-of-sun solution for long pool or beach days. A half zipper runs up the front to give her the right amount of coverage, while ruching shows off her stunning silhouette.

Ready to dive in and start shopping our selection of swimsuits, accessories and gear? Check out our complete collection here!