The latest trend in swimsuits is athletic swimwear, or pieces that can be worn for exercise as well as common water play. As the designs of these suits and typical gym wear have merged, many people are left wondering if their swimming suits are appropriate for places beyond the beach. Here are some points to consider when you’re debating about whether or not to wear your beach top from the pool to a cycling class.
1. Design
While common swimming suits often feature string ties and looser edges, athletic swimwear offers tight sides with secure strappings. Many tops have racer-back designs that offer a full range of movement to shoulders without any worry of slipped straps or loosened knots. This is perfect for competitive swimmers and amateurs alike, but what about for people who want to take their sporty top to the gym? The stylish designs make it tempting to wear your favorite top to places outside of the pool or beach, but there are a few things to remember:
- Style: There are different styles within the athletic swimwear genre, making it important to determine if your suit features is appropriate for gym wear. If it looks the same as your other workout pieces and those you see at the gym, it’s probably won’t be noticeably different.
- Cut: This goes along with style when it comes to tops, but is important to consider separately in bottoms. While your halter-style top may be perfect for working up a sweat on the treadmill, high-cut bottoms are probably not going to be acceptable at your local gym. Some styles of active swimwear include boyshort bottoms and even skirts, making these perfectly suited for transitioning from the pool to the gym.
- Coverage: While some active swimming suits are designed to offer maximum coverage no matter what activity you’re participating in, others are more suited for swimming in the pool. Make sure the outfit you’re considering for the gym gives sufficient coverage no matter what your movements.
2. Setting
While many pieces of athletic swimwear are perfectly suited to transition from the water to the weight room, there are some situations that offer even greater flexibility. Certain sporting events, like triathlons, are designed to accommodate athletes through water, running and biking. Having a piece suited for all three activities makes it easy to move from one event to the next without having to waste time changing your clothes. Tight shorts and racerback tankini tops can offer less wind and water resistance for increased speed as well as comfortable movement in any environment.
3. Sport
While many pieces can transfer from the beach to the gym, it is important to remember that certain sports may not be as accommodating as others and can even pose a safety risk if improper outfits are worn. Contact sports require a more protective outfit to decrease injury, making it a less likely place to find swimwear. Certain women may also find that, while the swimsuits are perfect while swimming, they offer less support to the chest when doing activities such as jogging. The type of activity you’re going to be performing can also determine the style of suit you wear. Swim pieces can be ordered in skirt or short styles, but you may want to consider other ways you’ll use the outfit before you order. If you want to transition it into a sport that is inappropriate for swimskirts, be sure to select the boyshort bottoms.
The answer to the debated question of whether or not athletic swimwear can transition to the gym is yes, but you do need to keep the previously discussed things in mind. As long your outfit is appropriate, offers adequate support and gives complete coverage no matter what your movement, you should be able to step from the pool to the gym with no problems.
