If you take your swimming seriously but prefer not to go minimal with a pair of briefs, try jammers instead. They will cover up more of you and still offer the benefit of reducing drag.
The knee-length cut also offers some compression for leg muscles. Recent generations of jammers have also seen improvements in resisting chlorine damage to the fabric, while others have added protection against the sun when you’re swimming outdoors.
You may be surprised by how expensive elite jammers can be, but there are also affordable pairs that cost only a little more than casual swimming trunks. Here are our recommendations.
Zone3 is best known for its wetsuits and triathlon swimming gear, but its jammers are also top-notch. Available in 10 colourways including several with a welcome splash of colour, these suits use chlorine-proof fabric to help them last longer and have a UPF 50+ rating to protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays.
Buy from Zone3 | £35 (some styles currently reduced to £17.50)
Speedo’s Fastskin suits have been helping swimmers smash records since 2019. While you’ll have to pay close to £300 for the most technically advanced Pure Intent suit, you can pick up the LZR Racer for considerably less and it will still give you an edge in the water. It uses a mix of Lycra, nylon and Speedo’s EnduroFlex knitted fabric to offer the right mix of compression and freedom of movement. Lest you think it confers an unfair advantage, it’s approved for competition wear by swimming governing body FINA.
Buy from Speedo | £95
These jammers are designed for those entering the race domain for the first time. The fabric used in this technical suit is designed to keep things comfortable and to minimise drag in the water, with reflective elements offering protection against the sun. The bonded seams help make things more streamlined and the silicon edges used on the waist and legs of the suit should mean it doesn’t budge as you move through the water.
Buy from Proswimwear | £81.99 (currently reduced to £66.99)
Nike’s Hydrastrong Solid jammers keep the look simple with a classic black design and that iconic swoosh. This is a pair for when you’re swimming at your fastest. As well as noticeably reducing drag in the water, using flat seams minimises the possibility of chafing. Nike’s HydraStrong fabric is designed to stand up to regular use in the pool too. When they need a clean, just make sure you hand-wash rather than chucking them in the washing machine to keep them looking good for your next swim session.
Buy from Wiggle | £28
Nike’s Hydrastrong Solid jammers keep the look simple with a classic black design and that iconic swoosh. This is a pair for when you’re swimming at your fastest. As well as noticeably reducing drag in the water, using flat seams minimises the possibility of chafing. Nike’s HydraStrong fabric is designed to stand up to regular use in the pool too. When they need a clean, just make sure you hand-wash rather than chucking them in the washing machine to keep them looking good for your next swim session.
Buy from Wiggle | £28
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Another from Speedo’s Fastskin collection, the Pure Valor is aimed at open-water endurance swimmers with compression in the inner leg to support your muscles as you move through the water. The waistband design has also been tweaked along with the finish on the leg to improve the suit’s ability to stop water getting in. Like Speedo’s other Fastskin suits, it’s approved by FINA and is a lightweight option to consider if your swimming time is mainly spent away from the pool.
Buy from Wiggle | £119-£130
If you like your jammers with a second-skin fit, these ones have you covered in both senses. Carbon bands compress the leg muscles in the most important places and all stitching has also been ditched to make sure there’s minimal drag and reduce the chances of chafing. There are a few colours to choose from, though these jammers don’t come cheap.
Buy from Arena | £216.50 (currently reduced to £210)
Most jammers have conservative designs, but if you want something that’s on the louder side, British brand Maru delivers with some eye-catching looks. This polyester pair features a colourful shark fin print that looks like it belongs in blue Caribbean waters rather than your local lido. The fabric is 100% chlorine-proof and carries a UPF 50+ rating.
Buy from Maru | £26.99 (currently reduced to £6.74)
