Similar to any other sport, competitive women water polo players are generally expected to have the right attire for optimum play. After all, could you imagine how silly it would be to swim around if water polo players wore loose, baggy clothes as in-land sports players do? Or perhaps if they wore regular bikinis instead?
Not only would it be silly and uncomfortable, but they’d also be risking the quality of their performance. This is why proper fitting women water polo suits are essential to a successful water polo game.
If you’re looking to have a better understanding of how water polo suits work and which suits would work best for your water polo needs, then this article is for you!
What is a Women Water Polo Suit?
Mainly, the purpose of water polo suits is to provide torso coverage and reduce suit grabs (which are grounds for a foul, by the way). For this reason, you’ll notice that, unlike regular swimsuits that usually have open backs or Y strap designs, water polo suits are tight-fitting and are zipped at the back for full front and back coverage to avoid other players from pulling at the straps.
Because of how common suit-grabbing fouls are in a game of women’s water polo, its materials are also made in consideration of this. Made usually out of water-resistant materials such as polyester and spandex with mixes of rubber or latex, not only can they offer a snug fit for the wearer, but they are also made to be slippery in order to, again, reduce opportunities for in-game suit grabbing.
Suit manufacturers also offer other features to their specialized water polo suits in terms of their construction, sometimes offering much tougher fabric and firmer stitches for durability.
Different Types of Women Water Polo Suits
From my selection, you’ll notice that not all of them are for immediate water polo games. Some are much thinner and have straps visible in their design. This doesn’t mean that they can not be used for a round of water polo, but rather, these suits are designed specifically for training. What’s the difference?
Generally, women water polo suits used for competitive games are much more concerned with avoiding suit-grabbing fouls and it includes tons of technology to ensure optimum performance.
Meanwhile, regular training suits are made with fewer material specifications and are instead aimed at guaranteeing that you get to use them on the water for a long period of time. With such little details construction-wise, training suits are definitely more comfortable, but it does not offer the same aid in performance as standard women water polo suits would.
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Brands
The brands that I’ve specified in this list are known for their prominence in the field of sport suit construction. These brands include:
Speedo
Whether you’re a beginner or a pro at any type of watersport, you’ll surely have heard of Speedo swimwear. Having the reputation of the world’s leading swimwear brand, it’s not surprising that the brand also manufactures women water polo suits and training suits.
With years of experience in making and perfecting suits for any type of water activity, you can never question the quality that you’re getting with this brand. Not to mention, Speedo’s swimwears are also FINA-approved, meaning they are already being used for official FINA tournaments worldwide.
Nike
Although the brand is more known for its assortment of sports footwear, Nike also manufactures a vast array of athletic equipment and apparel, including, yes, women water polo suits. Known as the world’s leading athletic brand, Nike’s swimwear products rivals Speedo in terms of its quality manufacturing. Similar to Speedo, Nike also produces high-class training suits and water polo suits for competitive play. In fact, Nike is also one of the leading brands approved in FINA tournaments.
TYR
Though not as recognizable as the first two contenders on this list, TYR is actually distinguished as one of the leading manufacturers of competitive swim and triathlon apparel. With its focus on competitive sports apparel, the brand prides itself on its durable, yet performance-enhancing technologies, which is perfect for water polo players who are looking to enter tournaments. Similar to the rest of the brands on this list, TYR swimwear has also been used in worldwide FINA competitions.
Advantages/Disadvantages Compared to the Alternatives
Traditional Workout Swimsuit
Traditional workout swimsuits are the ones we usually see people use when swimming or trying out water sports for the first time such as open water swimming, lap swimming, aqua jogging, water aerobics, and diving.
They are usually one-piece suits with thick straps and conservative back design and leg cuts. This type of suit provides maximum comfort as it is made of stretchy fabric that allows free movement. The main difference of this from a suit made for water polo is the compression and sizing. Women water polo suits should be as tight as possible, to prevent the possibility of the opponent grabbing onto something when playing the sport.
Minimalist Workout Swimsuit
This is a style-favorite of mostly young outdoor swimmers. This type of suit has sleeker and more revealing features with its skinny straps, cut-out backs, and high-cut legs. This is perfect also for lap swimming, open water swimming, and diving.
The best thing about this is that it exposes skin more which results in having less awkward tan lines for you, compared to suits with thicker cuts. However, because of the cuts of this suit being more open, it creates drag in the water. That is why this is not often used in indoor water sports competitions. Water polo suits have thicker cuts to avoid getting this drag that can slow you down during the game.
How to Pick a Women Water Polo Suit
Women water polo suits are no different from that of men because both have to be as tight and compressed as possible to avoid having loose material that is easy for the opponent to grab. This is why the first thing to consider when picking a water polo suit is the size. If the suit fits you just right but there’s an extra fabric that can be snatched, choose a suit that is 1 to 2 sizes smaller than normal.
In terms of comfort, the tighter the suit, the better it is for Water Polo. However, you also have to make sure to choose the right tightness for you and that it won’t compromise your mobility. While Water Polo Sports are usually not made to be comfortable, choose a suit that is not super tight restricting free and comfortable movement on your end.
The material of the suit is quite important as well because this will help in making it more durable and last longer in water. Pools have chlorine and it tends to cause fading to the suit which affects its tightness and elasticity as well. Polyester is the best choice in terms of material because it is chlorine-resistant.
Straps and cut designs are things to be considered as well because they contribute to how good the support of the suit would be. Usually, suits with wider straps and a high neckline offer great support to players.
Last, is, of course, the price of the suit. This is usually dependent on the material from which the suit is made. Women’s suits are a bit pricier than men’s suits because women’s suits uses more material to cover up.
Top 7 Women Water Polo
Below are the Top 7 Women Water Polo suits on Amazon which I have rated based on: (1) size; (2) material; (3) comfort; (4) support and (5) price.
Speedo Women’s Swimsuit One Piece Endurance+ Avenger Water Polo
This women water polo suit is front-lined and has a high neck with zipper back styling that provides full coverage from top to bottom. It is made from Speedo’s best-selling and longest-lasting endurance+ fabric. It is designed to give you full support while providing comfort at the same time, which some of the other suits lack because of the small size requirement of water polo suits for women.
- Size: XX Small – XX Large(True to size)
- Material: 5/5
- Comfort: 5/5
- Support: 5/5
- Price: $38.99 – $66.00
Women’s Swimsuit One Piece PowerFlex Princess Seam Ultraback Conservative Cut
The PowerFlex construction of this suit is designed to make you keep up in the water with every rep and lap you take. It is made from chlorine-resisting material that causes fading. It provides ultimate muscle compression with its figure-enhancing technology and has ultraback design that comes with wide straps and a conservative cut for support and free movement.
- Size: XX Small – XX Large (True to size)
- Material: 5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Support: 5/5
- Price: $37.54 – $68.00
Uhnice Women’s One-Piece Swimsuits Racing Training Sports Athletic Swimwear
A sporty one-piece swimsuit built for athletic activities in the water. It is made from Nylon and Spandex which allows easy movement. With its addible wire-free bra cup, you will be able to adjust the support it provides to your liking. It has hollow out back with contrast side splicing creating a slimming effect. This is the best option for those who are just starting out and do not want to break the bank just for a women water polo suit.
- Size: X Small – XXX Large
- Material: 4/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Support: 5/5
- Price: $17.99 – $22.99
Speedo Women’s Swimsuit One Piece Prolt Super Pro Solid Adult
With its ProLT fabric that offers great compression and quick recovery time, this suit is the best when it comes to durability and support. Speaking of support, the back design of this suit has quick-drying wide straps that give the ultimate support. It is made from polyester and spandex that fits tightly to reduce drag while providing good water mobility.
- Size: X Small – XX Large(True to size)
- Material: 4/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Support: 5/5
- Price: $19.99 – $39.99
BALEAF Women’s Conservative Athletic Racerback One Piece Training Swimsuit Swimwear Bathing Suit
This is a fully lined suit which makes it tighter than the others. It has a built-in shelf bra with soft removable cups and wide straps that provide support in the water. It is made from Chlorine resistant material, with its body made from polyester while its lining is made from spandex. The racerback design of this suit allows you to have full arm movement. It has a low leg cut and conservative neckline, like the other suits on the list.
- Size: X-Small to XX-Large
- Material: 5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Support: 5/5
- Price: $27.99 – $32.99
Nike 93210 Women’s Solids High Neck Tank
Thanks to its high neckline and easy zip back, this one-piece suit offers great support and coverage while in the water. It has high leg openings that allow you to move freely and with ease. It is made from chlorine-resistant pique knit fabric that has mesh inserts giving you a comfortable fit that does not sacrifice movement.
- Size: X-Small to Size 16
- Material: 5/5
- Comfort: 5/5
- Support: 4/5
- Price: $35.09 – $66.99
TYR Women’s Destroyer Water Polo Swimsuit
This suit has a power mesh that shapes, flatten, and slims your figure in a flattering way. It has a high-neck design with a back zipper that easily allows you to put this suit on and take it off without worrying about the coverage it provides. The best feature of this suit is that it has UV/SPF 50+ sun protection. So even if it is on the pricier side, you get what you pay for with this suit.
- Size: XXXX-Small to XX-Large
- Material: 5/5
- Comfort: 4/5
- Support: 4/5
- Price: $47.94 – $59.99
Frequently Asked Questions About the Women Water Polo Suit
Can Women Water Polo Suits be used for other water sports such as swimming?
YES! Water Polo involves swimming so of course a water polo suit can also be used for swimming or for any other water sport. If you go swimming a lot, this is actually the best option because water polo suits are super resistant and durable, which makes them last longer
What is the difference between a women water polo suit and a swimsuit?
Mainly, they differ in inner lining and tightness. Swimsuits only have a front inner lining, but a Water Polo Suit has both front and back inner linings. Because of the water polo suit having more linings than a swimsuit, it is a bit smaller in size that’s why it’s best to get a water polo suit that is one size larger than your original size for comfort.
Why do women need to wear a water polo suit that is smaller than their actual size?
Water Polo can get really rough and it sometimes involves the grabbing of opponents. The best way to prevent this is to have as little material as possible for the other players to grab. Any extra material that is loose would be easier for them to snatch. Some professional players even opt for suits that are 2 to 3 sizes smaller than their actual size to make it tighter and more difficult for the other team to grab onto.
Conclusion Best Women Water Polo Suit
One of the most important things you’ll need on your journey towards water polo is choosing the best women water polo suit available for you. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to play water polo competitively, I hope this review was able to help you out in determining which water polo suit would best suit your needs.
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