Pools caps are to hydrodynamics as Aero helmets are to aerodynamics. It’s science.
It’s all about being more “hydro”.
I can see why you’d wear one during a race - unless you shave your head - but during training?
Gotta wear a cap during the race so you might as well get used to it in training. Just feels cleaner going through the water with one too; but that’s just me.
Why do guys wear swim caps in the pool while training? I don’t wear one, and I am wondering what I am missing.
I’ll wear one when swimming outside to protect my bald head from burning in the sun.
Inside, not so much.
What you wrote but mine is even longer–ponytail length.
At least for little while longer. It’s going to get shorter soon, but not short enough that I won’t be in a swim cap.
D
I had a suspicion that guys wore them for a lot of different reasons, and the answers so far have confirmed my suspicion.
cuz it’s cold
(outdoor pool in winter)
.
Why do guys wear swim caps in the pool while training? I don’t wear one, and I am wondering what I am missing.
For me, I want to replicate how I race. I hear so many people whining about how their goggles leaked ONLY on race day, when they had never consistently trained with a cap on. I imagine it also likely gives like 1/100th of a second speed boost, but it also holds in more heat.
I’ve only worn a swim cap twice in the pool.
- Had a cut on my head
- Was getting ready for the 10K national champs and was expecting 86 degree water.
Did the practice in an 84 degree pool with two swim caps. Felt dizzy - mustered through.
I don’t usually wear one, but this thread has me thinking about wearing one more often.
I do notice that I did get “Ryan Seacrest” hair (light on the ends - NOT A GOOD THING) this summer.
People starting asking me if i have been getting my hair highlighted. Not a good thing for people to be thinking about a 37 year old dad, with a receding hairline and shaved legs.
Ha ha, too true. I was thinking that as I posted. But still, why not make yourself faster (if it’s truly more hydrodynamic)? Why not mimic race day? It’s not like you look ridiculous, as you do if you were to wear an aero helmet while training (I actually packed both helmets in Vegas to avoid this issue).
Is there a compelling reason not to wear one?
But seriously, I actually wear a cap so I don’t have to spend as long scrubbing the stink out of my hair. I prefer my first answer though.
Chlorine totally screws with my hair.
dude, your hair floating in the pool is absolutely disgusting! Put a cap on it dude.
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.
This.
It feels different wearing a cap. Why not get used to it in training and have it be a non-issue in a race? Should it cover your ears or not? Don’t wait till race day to experiment. You don’t have to do it for every practice, but at least until it feels natural.
Never wear one while training.
All those chemicals can’t be any good for your hair. Like others have said, look what chlorine does to swimsuits, its basically bleach at a much lower concentration and with different chemical bonds.
I wear one in the pool or in open water,but why is my hair always wet when I take it off???
How else are people going to know I did IM___ .
I don’t bother most of the time for the same reason I don’t wear my Aero helmet on every ride but will wear one for a few sessions before a race.
Why do guys wear swim caps in the pool while training? I don’t wear one, and I am wondering what I am missing.
I wear one so when I go down my wife can locate me on the bottom. (and then wait the required 10 minutes before alerting the lifeguard)
Why do guys wear swim caps in the pool while training? I don’t wear one, and I am wondering what I am missing.
I wear one so when I go down my wife can locate me on the bottom. (and then wait the required 10 minutes before alerting the lifeguard)
Anybody else have to read that a few times?
Only wear one when its cold to help keep the heat in…other than that, my head is quite hydrodynamic.