Advanced Level Racesuit Guide - SwimPath Pathway
Speedo Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0 advanced performance racesuits
Advanced Level Racesuit Guide
The next upgrade from the intermediate stitch and partially bonded suits is to the fully bonded advanced suits. The suits in this bracket are the arena Powerskin Carbon Air 2.0, Speedo Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0, FINIS Rival & Rival 2.0 and FINIS Vapor Pro. These suits have different materials and start to diverge a little bit in terms of shape and the events they are designed for and therefore who they fit best. They are still designed with comfort in mind but are more specialised in terms of strokes and race distance in order to help provide the best performance for those specific events. The suits in this bracket are designed to be tight and should almost feel like a second skin. The levels of water resistance and water proofing, buoyancy and compression are significantly higher than the suits in the intermediate bracket.
arena Powerskin Carbon Air 2.0
The arena Powerskin Carbon Air 2.0 is a very popular and reliable suit designed to be lightweight and comfortable while providing high levels of water repellence. The carbon fibre strands weaved throughout the single piece suit help to give it structure despite being such a lightweight suit. The lightweight flexible material allows for freedom of movement and comfort which makes it a very well-rounded suit that is suitable for all race distances but especially 200 metre and above races. The way the fabric of this suit is cut from a single piece reducing stitching and bonding is more favourable for taller and slimmer swimmers but the wide range of sizes should accommodate most swimmers. It is also available in a variety of colours.
Speedo Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0
The Speedo Fastskin LZR Pure Valor 2.0 is another well rounded advanced suit designed to be lightweight and flexible making it an ideal choice for the longer distance races and multi-stroke and medley swimmers providing good range of motion and comfort. The panels in this suit allow for all over moderate compression. The double layered fabric around the abdominals and inner legs provides good core stability and muscle support. The water repellence is very long lasting and should be able to last multiple races before wearing out. The cut of this suit is more favourable to the shorter more muscular swimmers but again with a wide range of sizes most swimmers will be able to find one to fit them.
FINIS Rival
The FINIS Rival is an advanced racing suit designed using three main principles: compression, robust seam structure and fit. FINIS used these fundamentals to provide swimmers with a product that is backed up by research and innovation. The Rival is constructed using two fabrics: the one-way stretch fabric increases compression, while the two-way stretch fabric allows optimal range of motion. The combination of the two fabrics supports muscles. Seams are strategically placed to strengthen the bond between fabrics and enhance compression in adjacent areas. The innovative seam pattern wraps from the front of the hips to the back, locking the swimmer into optimal body position. The 3-panel system allows movement/breathing room while maintaining core compression while allowing swimmers to properly extend and contract in order to maintain muscle efficiency. A hydrophobic coating is applied and creates that cool "water beading effect" we all love.
FINIS Rival 2.0
FINIS Rival 2.0 racesuits are a great suit for shorter distance races with tight all over compression. Olympians Anthony Ervin, Olivia Smoliga and James Guy had a hand in designing and testing this suit. This is a rigid and well-structured fabric suit that is suited for sprint events. This suit has impressive water resistance. In the female suit, a vertical chest seam prevents air pockets and reinforces oblique and lower abdomen compression. The male suit features intense compression on the back of the legs to lift the legs to the surface. Both male and female suits feature single-layered panels on the inner thighs to increase comfort and range of motion in all four swim strokes.
FINIS Vapor
The FINIS Vapor Pro is FINIS’ answer to the Valor and Carbon Air 2. It is primarily designed to be lightweight and flexible allowing full range of motion for all strokes, especially in the longer distance events. The Vapor’s internal panel construction reduces muscle vibration and maintains core stability by compressing critical areas of the body. The welded and lay-flat seams create a compression fit to reduce friction and drag. The silicone water-tight panel edges provide a comfortable grip on the legs and waist. A hydrophobic coating is applied to increase water repellence and reducing drag. Select dual panelling on the back of legs provides lift and a better body position in the water.
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