Training is going well. I’ve even got a wetsuit now (Orca Predator2) - on sale at all3sports.com!
I was curious, What do you guys recommend for swim caps? I have a nearly bald head(probably will be bald for race day – good hair, I just keep it short I am worried though about visibility durin an open water swim. I also wondered what might be comfortable and breathable on 1.2 - 2.4 mile swims.
Thanks in advance for any advice you guys can provide.
Trae
PS. Jonathan, you still with us? Any word on the stuff you are working on? Still excited about getting TSR off the ground.
Eh, caps are caps in my opinion. Those good old fashion Lyrca ones do just fine for me. In the pool or out of the pool. Plus they don’t have that weird silicone smell.
If you’re thinking about this for a race, check with the race organisers, as they may require you to wear the race cap for safety and visibility reasons.
Good point about using what they give you to wear in a race. I guess I should check and see what IMFL hands out and then simply get the same kind so I am used to it.
I thought the standard might be the silicone ones, but they seemed like they wouldn’t breathe very well on a long(2.4mile) swim.
Good advice gang.
Trae - PS. I DO want one for safety reasons. I want to find a super bright orange color, or neon green one.
I don’t think you can find one to buy that is a cheap as the one they give you to wear. However, each one is lovingly hand inscribed with your very own race number on it!
I wear a silicone cap in training and swim races for one simple reason: The latex caps suck, and disintergrate in 2-3 months of regular use. They’re fine for one time races, but they can’t hold up to constant exposure to chlorine.
I have a silicone cap that is two years old and shows no wear.
I don’t know about lycra caps. Nobody that I know uses them. A few guys at the Y use shower caps, though. ;p
Latex holds up pretty well with proper care. Pat dry after use, apply a light dusting of baby powder to the cap and store in a place/compartment that doesn’t trap moisture next to the cap. (which leads to mildew)
Yeah, I think you meant silicone vs. latex (natural rubber) rather than Lycra TM (stretchy fabric). No race I know of gives out the latter; seems like the only folks I know who wear the Lycra TM are those who are very sensitive about their hair and/or scalp. They are apparently less effective at pulling your hair out by the roots like the silicone or latex caps;-) On the downside, Lycra caps don’t fit very closely and get saggy as time goes by resulting in the lamest looking thing on a person’s head since the $20 toupee.
IM requires you to wear the cap they provide and it is usually a brightly colored thin silicone one with the race logo and your number written on it. It is a safety requirement so the lifeguards can see your head so if it looks like you are going wildly off course or you are not moving with the group they can go investigate. If you had a specific preference for a cap you could put that one on first and then put the official one over it.
Here’s a tip: keep your head dry, put on your goggles and then your cap on. Your dry head/hair will help keep your cap in place, perhaps trap a little air for warmth and buoyancy, and help prevent lost goggles in the event you get kicked or hit in the head by your fellow triathletes.
I am worried though about visibility durin an open water swim. I also wondered what might be comfortable and breathable on 1.2 - 2.4 mile swims.