Swimming isn’t just for having some fun in the sun each summer; it’s also a highly-effective form of cardiovascular exercise that boasts various benefits, including improved cardiorespiratory function, decreased body fat percentage, improved physical strength, and much, much more.
Adding swimming to your workout routine can be a wonderful decision, but you’ll want to show up with all the right gear if you’re going to get the best experience and, in turn, the best results too. That means getting decked out in a great swimsuit, goggles, and a swim parka too.
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What Exactly is a Swim Parka?
Swimming, like most forms of exercise, requires your muscles to be warmed up to avoid nasty injuries like pains, strains, and pulled muscles. It’s not always easy to keep your body temperature in the optimal range if you’re spending time outside the pool waiting to embark on your next round of laps.
That’s where swim parkas come in.
A swim parka is a versatile and essential piece of gear designed to keep swimmers comfortable and warm before and after hitting the water. They are specifically designed using water-resistant and thermal materials since swimmers will often wear them when soaking wet. Think of it like a special kind of swim coat you wear exclusively at the pool.
Many swim parkas extend below the hips, some covering the entire body, to provide extra warmth and a convenient changing space, allowing swimmers to discreetly and comfortably transition from their swimsuit to dry clothing. Swim parkas tend to feature hoods too, further shielding the wearer’s head and neck from wind and rain.
With a blend of functionality and style, swim parka jackets have become a must-have accessory for aquatic enthusiasts, ensuring they can enjoy their water activities to the fullest while staying comfortable in any weather.
Qualities to Look For in a Swim Parka
So, what kinds of things should you look for when purchasing your swim parka?
Here are a few things to look for when shopping:
- Insulation: Thermal fabrics including fleece, micro fleece, polyester, and even faux fur provide warmth and comfort while you’re drying off.
- Water-Resistance: Quick drying, water resistant, or even completely waterproof materials will be ideal for both the inner and outer lining.
- Full-Length Design: Where a regular coat will often end above the waist, a good swim parka extends well below the hips to provide more coverage and warmth.
- Hooded Design: A good hood keeps your head and neck toasty and protects it from wind, rain, and other pesky elements you may be subjected to while on the pool deck.
- Zippers and Buttons: Cold, wet fingers may lack the dexterity to manipulate certain buttons and zippers. Make sure your swim parka opens and closes easily.
- Breathability: The idea is to get warm and keep warm, but there is such a thing as being too warm too! Some parkas are more breathable than others, some even including vents you can unzip to allow more ventilation and ensure optimal body temperature.
- Pockets: Pockets give you a place to stash your goggles, swim cap, and other essentials, but they’re also good for warming your hands too!
In addition to these features, be sure your swim parka is stylish so you can wear it with confidence! All the intelligent design means nothing if you can’t stand the sight of your swim parka. Find something that marries fashion and function!
Are There Differences Between a Men’s Swim Parka and a Women’s Swim Parka?
The need to be warm before and after swimming knows no gender, but there are some differences between men’s and women’s swim parkas.
Men’s parkas are often broader through the shoulders and chest, accommodating the typical male physique. Women’s swim parkas, on the other hand, are a more tailored fit, including a narrower cut through the shoulders and a slightly tapered waist.
Color and style variations may also differ, with men’s swim parkas often available in more neutral or subdued tones and women’s parkas often encompass a broader spectrum, featuring vibrant and diverse choices to align with a range of personal styles.
Best Swim Parka Brands
Are you ready to buy your swim parka?
Here are our top picks for the best swim parkas on the market today:
Speedo
Speedo is well-known in the swimwear industry for making some of the highest quality swimsuits and gear, so it only makes sense that their parkas are top-notch too.
Speedo swim parkas use high-quality materials that provide insulation and water resistance, to keep swimmers warm, dry, and happy. They don’t only focus on function either, as Speedo is known for a sleek design that looks flashy and stylish on the pool deck too.
With excellent brand recognition and superior design and construction, you certainly can’t go wrong buying a Speedo swim parka.
BLARIX
Speedo has been in the market for over one hundred years to become a household name, but BLARIX is a newer company in the space. Founded in 2016, BLARIX was established to provide a higher tier of gear to lifeguards.
So, BLARIX swim parkas are specially designed with the unique needs of a lifeguard in mind, helping ensure they are always primed and ready to intervene if duty calls. BLARIX sells both a standard unisex swim parka as well as a classic red lifeguard version as well.
Though newer and less popular than Speedo, BLARIX boasts overwhelmingly positive user reviews and should make an equally good pick for your swim parka needs.
Adoretex
Since 2007, Adoretex has been an industry leader, producing and selling some of the best swimwear, swim parkas, board shorts, rash guards, goggles, caps, mesh bags, lifeguard swimwear, and more.
With a proven track record and history of creating top-quality products, your Adoretex swim parka should perform as well or better than just about anything else on the market. Plus, they come in a variety of styles and colors so you can find one that’s so perfectly you!
Where to Find a Custom Swim Parka
Beginners and casual swimmers may not need a highly-engineered, tailor-fit swim parka for their purposes, but the competitive athlete may find the garden variety swim parkas on the market to be lacking for their specialized needs.
Some companies, for that reason, create custom swim parkas that tailor to your specific preferences and needs. You get say over the materials used, color choices, and other design elements that make your swim parka perform perfectly and look great.
Custom parkas are great for avid swimmers, but they’re a must for swim teams looking to show their team pride and colors when they hit the deck.
Here are a few sites that offer custom or personalized swim parkas:
Looking through online marketplaces such as Etsy may yield results as well. If you happen to see a swim team on the deck with a snazzy design and super cool swim team parkas, don’t be afraid to ask. They may help you locate a local merchant who specializes in what you’re looking for.
What is the Difference Between a Regular Parka and a Swim Parka?
The spendthrift among us are thinking, “What’s the big deal? Can’t you just throw on a regular parka or coat and stay warm that way?”
Yes and no. Regular parkas are designed for general cold-weather use. The outer layer will often be water resistant or waterproof, but the inner lining is designed with the assumption the person who puts it on is already dry.
Swim parkas are specially designed to be used by swimmers. The designers and manufacturers know that a swimmer fresh out of the pool may be dripping wet or, even after a quick towel dry, could still be slightly wet. Therefore, the inner layer is designed to accommodate that and perform well despite it, whereas a regular coat will get soaked on the inside and become less effective.
Most swim parkas extend beyond the hips as well, as many regular parkas do not. The reason for this is that regular parkas are often paired with a good pair of warm pants and warm footwear like boots. Swimmers generally are wearing very little below the belt, so they’ll need all the warmth they can get! A good parka will provide that for you.
Other Options to Stay Warm If You Don’t Want to Wear a Swim Parka
Of course, you don’t need a swim parka, especially if you’re a casual swimmer or tend to swim in exclusively hot or warm weather.
Other ways to keep warm and dry if you’re not interested in a swim parka include:
- Microfiber Towels
- Thermal Layers
- Windbreakers
- Shell Jackets
- Portable Heaters
- Body Warmers
- Fleece
- Insulated Hoodies
- Compact Blankets
- Ponchos
Additionally, enjoying a hot cup of coffee, tea, or hot cocoa will help warm you up. Changing into dry clothes quickly helps diminish the effects of the cold on your body too.
There are many ways to keep warm and dry after a good swim, but few are as fashionable and functional as a good swim parka. If you’re getting into swimming and incorporating it into your regular workout, investing in a high-quality swim parka is well worth the cost.
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