Why do guys wear swim caps in the pool while training? I don’t wear one, and I am wondering what I am missing.
to protect your hair from the chemicals.
Don’t want to split a end do we pretty boy :0)
No caps used here.
Since I shave my head, I never need a swim cap.
But I will occasionally wear one in the pool just so I am used to the feeling come race day (or until it warms up enough for me to do OWS with one)
Mostly to look cool and so the strap from my goggles doesn’t pull my hair.
It helps to stop my headphones from falling out.
In all the swimming I did growing up, including collegiate swimming and racing, I never wore a cap (I shaved my head for our championship meet). And when I made fun of my teammates who did, they told me they wear a cap to protect their hair from the chemicals.
I can’t do flip turns anymore b/c of a pinched nerve in my lower back. When I hit the wall and push off, I almost always manage to enter at the exact right angle that I smack the heck out of my. That ends the day.
Plus I wore a cap as a kid in the summer swim leagues.
my hair turns from dark brown to light brown/blond highlights with a consistency of straw if i dont wear a cap.
All of the guys who wear caps where I swim do it because they are triathletes and want to demonstrate this by their cap’s logo. Maybe they also put a few gels in there along with a few bottles of fluids on the deck.
My big ears cause too much drag…
My pool requires us too
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I used to hate the feel of a swim cap on my head every time I did a tri. Races were the only time I ever wore one.
I started wearing a cap for all of my swims and now I don’t even notice it any more. I wear it the same way for practice as I do on race day; goggle straps under the cap. You just get used to wearing it. I don’t know if it makes any difference in my hair as I just cut it all off every time it starts getting too long.
My goggles won’t stay on without one - my hair is full but thin (fine) and offers totally inadequate traction for the goggle straps regardless of how tight they are - that is, the hair under the straps slides against itself and the straps move around and the goggles come off. And, the pool chemicals thrash it (as noted, it’s not very robust), I’m not eager for it to fall out any faster than it has to. Not asserting that the pool literally kills hair follicles, it just is more abuse than I care to put it through. But mainly the first reason.
To hold my GPS watch:)
-Scott
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I have hearing problems stemming from water-logged and infected ears, and wearing a tight cap keeps my earplugs better secured-
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My pool requires us too
This. Pools get an unusual amount of hair that can potentially clog the filters. Men’s hair is shorter and the purpose of the filters is primarily to catch hair and other small debris but I like to do my share of keeping my pool clean. Besides being in my mid-40s, I’ve noticed the thinning hair so why allow the pool chemicals to make it worse. I swim almost every day and I’ve seen what chlorine can do to my speedos. My hair may be stronger than lycra and nylon but I like the peace of mind knowing that my swim cap limits any harsh effects the chlorine will have on my hair.
Finally, I race with a swim cap so why not train with one.
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Pools caps are to hydrodynamics as Aero helmets are to aerodynamics. It’s science.
It’s all about being more “hydro”.
I wear a swim cap for 2 reasons. I have long hair for a guy. Not long enough to pull back into a pony tail, but long. I find that the pool water really kills the hair that doesn’t get tucked up into the cap. Also, my long hair holds a lot of water, which it tries to deposit into my open mouth every time I turn to breathe. The cap holds no water, so i get no water running down my cheek, save for the tiny bit that clings to the cap, which doesn’t interfere with my breathing.
Keep my hair out of my face and the old train what you race mantra.