A correctly fitting race suit should feel extremely tight, which can make it an absolute mission to put on. In some cases, it can take a good 15 minutes and a helping hand. The effort is worth it, though. A properly fitted swimming race suit compresses your muscles, holds its shape in the water and helps you swim faster, which is exactly why it feels so snug.
This guide explains how to put on a race suit correctly, with less stress, less wasted time and a lower risk of accidental rips or tears.
How to Put on a Tech Suit
Put your tech suit on gradually, working the fabric upwards from your ankles a few centimetres at a time. Never grab the waistband and force the suit over your hips, as this can damage the fabric, bonded seams, and compression panels.
A correctly fitted tech suit should feel tight. The compression supports your muscles, reduces unnecessary movement in the water, and helps the suit maintain a streamlined shape while you race.
Before You Put On Your Tech Suit
Prepare yourself and your suit before you start. A few simple precautions can protect an expensive racing suit from fingernail damage, overstretching, and accidental tears.
File Sharp or Long Fingernails
File your fingernails before touching the suit. Sharp or uneven nails can nick the technical fabric while you pull it into position. Use the pads of your fingers rather than your fingertips or nails. Spread your grip across the fabric instead of pinching one small section.
Make Sure Your Skin Is Dry
Put your tech suit on when both your skin and the suit are completely dry. Damp skin creates extra friction and makes the suit significantly harder to pull into position. Dry yourself thoroughly after warming up or showering. Avoid applying body lotion, oils, or moisturiser immediately before putting the suit on.
Give Yourself Enough Time
Allow at least 10 to 15 minutes to put on your racing suit. Rushing encourages swimmers to pull too hard, skip adjustments, and place unnecessary strain on the seams. Put the suit on well before your race. You should have enough time to check the fit, move comfortably, and correct any twisted fabric.
How to Put On a Tech Suit Step by Step
The safest technique is to move the suit upwards in small, even sections. Work from the ankles towards the hips before attempting to pull the upper section into place.
Step 1: Turn Up the Silicone Leg Grippers
Turn the silicone leg grippers outwards before putting your feet into the suit. This prevents the grippers from sticking to your skin or folding underneath the fabric. Place one foot through each leg opening carefully. Avoid standing directly on the suit or forcing your foot through the material.
Step 2: Position the Suit Around Your Ankles
Pull each leg opening into the correct position around your lower leg. Make sure both sides are sitting at an even height before moving further upwards. Tech suit legs often sit above the ankle and below the knee, depending on whether you are wearing jammers or a kneeskin. Check the manufacturer’s fit guidance if you are unsure where the leg grippers should sit.
Step 3: Bunch the Fabric and Work Upwards
Gather the fabric around your lower legs and move it upwards a few centimetres at a time. Alternate between each leg so the suit rises evenly. Use the pads of your fingers to spread the pressure across the fabric. Do not dig your fingernails into the material or pull from one isolated point.
This gradual technique is the most important part of putting on a tech suit. Small adjustments protect the fabric and help the compression panels sit correctly around your legs.
Step 4: Pull the Suit Fully Into the Groin
Move all loose fabric from your knees and thighs into the groin before pulling the suit over your hips. The crotch of the suit must sit correctly before you continue. Do not grab the waistband and yank it upwards. Pulling from the top while fabric remains trapped lower down places excessive pressure on the seams and can tear the suit.
Check both legs carefully. Wrinkles around the thighs usually mean more fabric needs to be worked upwards.
Step 5: Ease the Suit Over Your Hips
Use small side-to-side movements to ease the tech suit over your hips and bottom. Pull the front upwards slightly before gradually working the back into position. This is often the hardest stage because the suit must pass over the widest part of your body. Stay patient and continue moving small sections of fabric rather than using one forceful pull.
The same rule still applies: move the tech suit gradually. A slow adjustment protects the suit and produces a better final fit than pulling aggressively from the waistband.
Step 6: Adjust the Waistband of Your Jammers
Position the waistband evenly around your waist if you are wearing racing jammers. Make sure the crotch is fully raised and the fabric lies flat across your hips and thighs. Check that the silicone leg grippers sit flat against your skin. Folded grippers can feel uncomfortable and allow water to enter the suit.
Step 7: Pull a Kneeskin Over Your Torso
Work the upper section of a women’s tech suit or kneeskin gradually over your torso. Smooth the material upwards from the hips rather than pulling directly from the straps. Place one arm through each strap once the body of the suit is high enough. Roll your shoulders gently into position and check that the straps are not twisted.
Never use the shoulder straps to pull the entire suit upwards. Tech suit straps are designed to hold the suit in position, not to lift fabric from the legs and hips.
Step 8: Complete a Final Fit Check
Check that the suit lies flat against your body before racing. Remove any folds around the knees, groin, hips, waist, and chest. A correctly fitted tech suit should feel compressive but should not cause sharp pain, numbness, or restricted breathing. You should still be able to bend, squat, and move your shoulders through a swimming motion.
How Tight Should a Tech Suit Feel?
A tech suit should feel significantly tighter than a standard swimming costume or training jammer. The suit needs enough tension to provide compression and maintain its shape in the water.
Tight does not mean impossible to wear. A suit may be the wrong size if you cannot pull it into the groin, cannot position the straps safely, or experience pain and numbness.
Always use the individual brand’s size chart. Arena, Speedo, TYR, and other swimwear manufacturers use different measurements and sizing systems.
Common Tech Suit Mistakes to Avoid
Most tech suit damage happens when swimmers rush or pull from the wrong area. Avoid these common mistakes:
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Do not use your fingernails to grip the fabric.
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Do not pull the entire suit upwards from the waistband.
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Do not use the shoulder straps as handles.
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Do not put the suit on while your skin is wet.
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Do not leave folds of fabric around the thighs or groin.
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Do not wear jewellery, watches, or sharp accessories while changing.
Moving the material upwards gradually remains the safest method. It reduces pressure on the technical fabric and helps every section of the racing suit sit where the manufacturer intended. You can read more about tech suit care in our tech suit care guide.
Find Your Next Tech Suit at Aqua Swim Supplies
The right tech suit should feel secure, supportive, and ready to perform when you step onto the blocks. At Aqua Swim Supplies, you can explore racing suits from leading swimwear brands, with options for different events, fits, and levels of competition.
Shop the latest tech suits and find the right fit for your next race.
Tech Suit FAQs
Should I Use Talcum Powder to Put On My Tech Suit?
Do not use talcum powder to put on a tech suit. Talc can build up within the fabric and interfere with the grip sections, bonded tape, and technical materials used within the suit. Your tech suit should remain secure against your skin once fitted. Powder can cause unwanted movement between the suit and your body.
Dry skin and a patient dressing technique are safer alternatives. Work the suit upwards in small sections instead of trying to make it slide into place.
Is a Closed-Back Tech Suit Harder to Put On?
A closed-back tech suit is not always harder to put on. Some swimmers find the continuous back panel easier to adjust because they can work the fabric gradually over their hips and torso. Closed-back suits can feel tighter across the shoulders and upper body. Some swimmers, therefore, choose a different size from the one they would wear in an open-back racing suit.
Use the manufacturer’s size chart and try both back styles where possible. Body shape, shoulder mobility and personal preference determine which design feels easier.
How Do I Know Whether My Tech Suit Is Too Small?
Your tech suit may be too small if the crotch cannot reach the correct position, the straps cannot be placed safely, or the suit causes pain, numbness or breathing difficulties. A difficult-fitting process does not automatically mean the suit is too small. Racing suits are intentionally compressive and often require patience to put on correctly.
Compare your body measurements with the manufacturer’s current size chart. Do not rely entirely on the size of your normal swimwear.
Why does my race suit look see-through?
A correctly fitting race suit is under a lot of tension, and that tension can make some models and colours look slightly transparent when stretched. This is generally completely normal. Race suits are designed with either a lining or well-placed panels to keep you covered and to support performance, so a little transparency under tension is nothing to worry about.
