What kind of swimsuit is best for lap swimming?

A snug, supportive suit that stays put and doesn't drag — a one-piece for women or jammers/briefs for men are popular for laps. The key is a secure fit you can move freely in, in a chlorine-resistant fabric.

What should I wear for swimming lessons?

Any comfortable, secure swimsuit you can move in and that stays put is fine for lessons. Comfort and staying-put matter far more than style — if you're not adjusting it constantly, you'll relax and focus on learning.

Are board shorts or bikinis good for swimming laps?

Not really. Loose board shorts create a lot of drag, and bikinis or loose suits tend to shift when you push off and turn. They're fine for lounging, but for actual swimming a snug, secure suit works far better.

How to Choose a Swimsuit for Swimming

By Jordan Rivers · July 12, 2026 · 5 min read

Knowing how to choose a swimsuit for swimming saves you the frustration of a suit that drags, rides up, or falls apart in a month. The good news: for actual swimming, the priorities are simple — a secure fit, a durable fabric, and coverage you feel comfortable in. Here’s what matters and what doesn’t.

The short answer

For swimming, choose a suit that fits snugly and stays put, is made of a chlorine-resistant fabric, and gives you coverage you feel comfortable and secure in. For lap swimming, that usually means a one-piece (women) or jammers/briefs (men) rather than loose board shorts or bikinis, which drag or shift. Above all, pick something you can move freely in and won’t have to keep adjusting.

What actually matters

Fit. This is everything. The suit should be snug and secure so it doesn’t shift, ride up, or fall down when you push off, turn, or stroke — but not so tight it restricts movement or breathing. A suit you’re constantly tugging at wrecks your focus.
Staying put. Related to fit: for real swimming you want a suit that stays exactly where it should. Loose suits, board shorts, and bikinis tend to move around.
Fabric. Chlorine slowly destroys stretchy fabrics. Chlorine-resistant materials (often polyester or blends like “poly-PBT”) last much longer than standard swimwear if you swim regularly.
Comfort and coverage. The best suit is one you feel at ease in — so you relax and swim rather than worry about how you look. Choose the coverage that lets you forget about it.

Notice what’s not on that list: brand, color, price, and how it looks poolside. Those aren’t wrong to care about, but they don’t affect how you swim. A modest, plain suit that fits well will always beat a stylish one that shifts.

How to check the fit when you try it on

A suit that feels fine standing still in the changing room can misbehave the moment you’re horizontal and moving. Before you commit, run it through a quick check:

Reach both arms overhead and roll your shoulders as if stroking — the suit should move with you without the straps digging in or the neckline gaping.
Bend and squat. If a one-piece pulls uncomfortably at the shoulders or a waistband rolls down, size or style is off.
Check the leg and back openings. They should sit flat against your skin, not gap open (which lets water in and creates drag) or bite in.
Do a shoulder shrug for straps. They should stay put without you hitching them up.

A helpful rule: a swimming suit fits more snugly than everyday clothes, and it loosens slightly once wet. If it feels perfect and roomy dry, it may be a touch loose in the water — but if you can’t breathe or move freely, size up.

A little more on fabric

For anyone swimming regularly in a chlorinated pool, fabric is what decides whether a suit lasts a season or a month. Two broad choices:

Standard swimwear fabric (nylon/spandex or elastane) feels soft and stretchy and is what most fashion suits use. It’s comfortable but chlorine breaks it down relatively fast — expect fading, sagging, and eventual see-through patches.
Chlorine-resistant fabric (often polyester or a poly-PBT blend) trades a little of that plush stretch for far better durability. It holds its shape and color much longer, which usually makes it cheaper per swim even if it costs a bit more up front.

If you only swim occasionally, standard fabric is perfectly fine. The more often you’re in the water, the more a chlorine-resistant suit pays off.

Men’s and women’s options, briefly

For women: a fitted one-piece is the reliable lap choice — supportive, secure, and low-drag. A well-fitted two-piece made for sport (not a loose fashion bikini) can also work if the pieces stay put.
For men: jammers (thigh-length, snug shorts) or briefs are the standard for laps. Both cut drag and stay put; which you pick is mostly comfort and coverage preference.

Whatever the style, the same priorities apply — snug, secure, durable, and comfortable enough to forget about.

By use

Lap swimming / fitness: a fitted one-piece (women) or jammers/briefs (men). Built to stay put and cut drag.
Lessons / getting started: any comfortable, secure suit you can move in — you don’t need anything special. See what you need to start swimming.
Lounging and play: bikinis and board shorts are fine here — just not ideal for actual laps.

What to skip

Loose board shorts for laps — they create a parachute of drag.
Fashion suits that shift — great for the beach, frustrating for swimming.
Expensive racing/tech suits — those are for competition, not beginners or fitness swimmers.

Spend on fit and a durable fabric, not on brand or racing features.

Make it last

Chlorine is hard on swimwear, so a fitness suit is a “consumable” that wears out over time — buying a chlorine-resistant fabric and rinsing after every swim stretches its life a lot. Full tips in how to take care of your swimsuit.

The next small step

Pick a snug, chlorine-resistant suit you feel comfortable in — a fitted one-piece or jammers for laps — and do a quick move-test: stretch, reach, and bend to be sure nothing shifts or digs in. Get the fit right and the rest takes care of itself.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of swimsuit is best for lap swimming?: A snug, supportive suit that stays put and doesn't drag — a one-piece for women or jammers/briefs for men are popular for laps. The key is a secure fit you can move freely in, in a chlorine-resistant fabric.
What should I wear for swimming lessons?: Any comfortable, secure swimsuit you can move in and that stays put is fine for lessons. Comfort and staying-put matter far more than style — if you're not adjusting it constantly, you'll relax and focus on learning.
Are board shorts or bikinis good for swimming laps?: Not really. Loose board shorts create a lot of drag, and bikinis or loose suits tend to shift when you push off and turn. They're fine for lounging, but for actual swimming a snug, secure suit works far better.