Men's Jerseys on Clearance

Swimming shorts or swimsuit: pool rules

The swimming shorts are designed for the beach, sea, and hotel pools. In most public pools in France, they are not allowed for hygiene reasons: when worn outside the water, they can bring sand and dirt into the pool. Therefore, you swim in a tight-fitting swimsuit: the swim brief, the boxer, which covers the upper thighs, or the jammer, which goes above the knee. The shorty Mako, cut like a boxer, is accepted everywhere. For a man who alternates between holidays and swimming sessions, two swimsuits are necessary: one short for the beach, and a fitted model for swimming laps.

Other clearance items

The swimming clearance also includes:

• Women's swimsuits.
• Goggles.
• Accessories, caps, boards, and pull buoys.

All clearance items are gathered on the swimming page.

Jammer and competition swimsuit: what the regulations require

The jammer, like the one from Mako, fits snugly around the thighs and reduces drag in the water: it's the cut for competitive swimmers and intense training. Since 2010, the regulations from the international swimming federation limit men's swimsuits to the area between the navel and the knee, made only from textile, after the episode of full-body polyurethane suits that broke numerous world records in 2008 and 2009. In major competitions, the swimsuit must also bear the certification mark from the international federation. During training, the boxer and the brief remain the most flexible cuts for turns and dives.

Polyester or elastane: resisting chlorine

The chlorine in pools damages elastic fibers: a swimsuit rich in elastane stretches, fades, and becomes transparent after a few months of regular sessions. Training swimsuits made from polyester, pure or blended with a small amount of elastane, last much longer and retain their color. Arena, founded in 1973 by Horst Dassler, son of the founder of adidas, following Mark Spitz's seven gold medals at the Munich Games, built its reputation on these pool textiles. For the beach, the issue is less critical: swimming shorts in polyester or polyamide, like the Arena Fundamentals or Nike Solid, focus mainly on quick drying features.

Inseam and mesh: choosing your beach shorts

The length of swimming shorts is measured by their inseam, often indicated in inches: five inches, about thirteen centimeters, expose the upper thighs and dry quickly, like on the adidas Inspired Graphic shorts; seven inches and longer cover more for a more classic look. The mesh liner acts as underwear and allows water to drain out after leaving the sea. The Danish brand KnowledgeCotton Apparel, known for its commitment to responsible materials, offers a pair of shorts made from seersucker, a textured fabric that doesn't stick to the skin. Rinse your shorts in fresh water after each swim to remove salt and sand, and dry them in the shade.

Frequently asked questions

What size men's swimsuit should I choose?

A swimming swimsuit should fit snugly: it should neither sag at the waist nor slip during turns. Between two sizes, opt for the smaller one for a jammer or pool boxer, and the larger one for a looser beach short.

What swimsuit is recommended for starting swimming in a club?

A boxer or jammer made of chlorine-resistant polyester is suitable for training sessions and lasts for many months. The drawstring at the waist prevents it from slipping during dives and flips, which are common in the first sessions.

How to machine wash a swimsuit?

If using the washing machine, choose a delicate programme at thirty degrees, placing the swimsuit in a laundry mesh bag, without fabric softener. Hand washing is still preferable, like drying it flat and in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.

What swimsuit to wear for open water swimming?

In open water, without a wetsuit, a jammer or boxer is the most effective: it doesn't slow down swimming and doesn't fill with water like loose shorts. A bright colour helps companions spot the swimmer from a distance.

How to prevent swimming shorts from slipping when diving?

Choose shorts that fit your exact size, with an elastic waistband and a drawstring that you tie securely before entering the water. A model that's too big, inflated by the water, tends to slide down with the slightest dive.