How to Compare Swim Caps

Although simple in construction, swim caps are made of a variety of materials and can range in cost from $3 to $12. Choosing the right type of cap can help keep your hair from the harsh elements of a swimming pool or the ocean. While no swim cap can will keep your hair 100% dry, some achieve this goal better than others.

Things You'll Need

  • Swim cap
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Instructions

  1. Comparing swim caps

    • 1

      Swim caps come in three common varieties: latex, silicon and Lycra. All three serve to keep your hair from exposure to pool or ocean water. No swim cap will keep your hair perfectly dry, but only latex and silicone are useful for keeping hair somewhat dry. The main function of a swim cap is to keep moderate to long hair out of a swimmer's face. Competitive swimmer's use swim caps to further streamline their bodies as well as identify their name or team to spectators.

    • 2

      Latex caps are the least expensive and come in a variety of colors and designs. Utilized by more swimmers than all other types of swim caps combined, latex caps (adult size) are tight enough to fit all head sizes from about a four-yea-old and older. Durable and strong, a latex cap with moderate use will last at least a year if not more. The drawback of latex caps are that they can snag and pull on your hair. Advantages include the cost and large selection.

    • 3

      Silicon swim caps are more than twice the cost of a latex cap and have several advantages, including going on and off with relative ease. In addition, silicone does not snag a swimmer's hair and tends to go on smooth without wrinkles. In the water the silicone and latex feel similar. However, highly competitive swimmers tend toward the latex cap due to assumption that it offers less water resistance. The drawback to silicone caps are the material's softness. Special care should be taken with sharp fingernails, as a hole can easily occur while putting a cap on or off. Silicone caps are much slicker than their latex counterparts, and have been known to slip off a swimmer during competition. On the plus side, silicone caps are the best choice for those allergic to latex and are your best choice for keeping your hair dry.

    • 4

      Lycra caps are the least tight of the three and go on and off with relative ease. While used by some as a solo swim cap, the lycra caps are most often used as an "under cap" to aid the latex cap in going on and coming off. Lycra caps are not recommended for competitive training or competition, and cost a bit more than silicone caps.