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Old 15-04-2008, 06:22 AM   #1
LAZy
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female stuff

Can someone give a competitive female view on what sizes equate re fastskin / manufactures ?
For eg - what size is a 25'' Speedo fastkin knee in relation to an 'old style' Speedo lycra?

Is a full suit the same sizing as a kneeskin?

How tight should fastskins be? -sitting downable comfortable or just standing in confortable?

stomach hurting by the time your event comes round?
or just get into it 10 mins before you swim comfortable?

What size in other makes equate to an old style Lycra Speedo 34'' for example?

How do you know what size to mail order without trying dozens on? and even then, I thought I had it right, tried the one in a warm-up, only to find it was much too baggy and obviously, now can't send it back.
Expensive mistakes.

Any advice on such practicalities welcome (preferably from female experience).
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Old 15-04-2008, 09:57 AM   #2
Juicy Lucy
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This is a good topic, LAZY. Swimsuit size is so difficult to get right. I wear Adidas size 30 but I don't know how this size equates to Speedo fastskins.

I've been thinking for a while that we ought to have a thread here just for the girls, with no male intervention. We could call it the 'girl's changing room'. There are so many girlie problems that need discussing.

JL
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Old 15-04-2008, 09:57 AM   #3
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I agree JL.

I think it is a case of finding a day when you can get to one of the swim shops and trying on lots of suits. Just like other clothes, some are more waisted, some are designed for longer bodies, broader hips, etc. I'm not that competitive so my suit is tight but comfortable but my daughters' suits seem to cut in on the shoulders leaving red marks. At the World Champs, the competitors were all unzipping asap - presumably not to display their finely honed figures but for comfort.
I would imagine that an ordinary speedo size 34 translates to more than a 25 as my 5'5'' daughter trains in 32 and races in25/26 but it is what fits best.
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Old 15-04-2008, 11:21 AM   #4
Ms T Goggles
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doublexpresso View Post
I agree JL.

I think it is a case of finding a day when you can get to one of the swim shops and trying on lots of suits. Just like other clothes, some are more waisted, some are designed for longer bodies, broader hips, etc. I'm not that competitive so my suit is tight but comfortable but my daughters' suits seem to cut in on the shoulders leaving red marks. At the World Champs, the competitors were all unzipping asap - presumably not to display their finely honed figures but for comfort.
I would imagine that an ordinary speedo size 34 translates to more than a 25 as my 5'5'' daughter trains in 32 and races in25/26 but it is what fits best.
I can't get to any swim shops - actually have a tough time getting to anywhere but swimming pools when south.

Anyway, what I cannot figure is how the sizes of the racing suits are called '25' or '26' ..........ehm just what part of the anatomy are speedo talking about - or is it a measurement of the fabric before it goes through a huge amount of stretching?
I swim in 32s - but no matter what I do with the inch tape can't find a bit of me that gives 25in or 26in.
Come to think of it, don't quite know how the boys & girls suits/ trunks are based on either. 6 yr old daughter wears 24in/ age 6 - she's obviously just perfect! 9yr old son wears 24in - age 6/7, but his actual waist is only about 22in and the nearly 12 yr old son wears 26in - age 8-10.

It all seem a lot of guess work and trial & error.
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Old 15-04-2008, 11:33 AM   #5
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This difficulty is one of the many reasons my daughter wears Japanese FS11s. (They are also nicer and much cheaper!). She could never find one here that wasn't too tight above the knee, yet finds the Japanese ones really comfy. They come in XS, S, M, L and I think XL.......much easier to understand!

BM
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Old 15-04-2008, 11:42 AM   #6
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Girls suits vary immensly. And then daughter wears them in the pool and complains they are baggy and annoying. The same happens with goggles, which seem fine and then leak.

Perhaps there is scope for a nearly new swim-suit/goggles swap shop within JL's thread. What does she have to offer? And would she be interested in a couple of Age 10 Speedo Endurance suits.
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Old 15-04-2008, 12:45 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ms T Goggles View Post
I can't get to any swim shops - actually have a tough time getting to anywhere but swimming pools when south.
Sorry, stupid me should have paid attention to your location.
The swim wear shops are often good about posting out various sizes. Also you could try contacting the organisers of the next meet you go to - if they have a swim wear shop coming along, maybe they could be asked to bring along a selection of costumes for you to try.
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Old 15-04-2008, 01:42 PM   #8
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I train in Speedo size 34 but my Speedo fastskins are 28 or 29. I also have a size 27 which feels OK too but the 28s seem to be most comfortable for me. I have a Yingfa kneesuit which equates to a GB size 10 but find it too tight around the armholes. I recommend sticking to Speedo......
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Old 15-04-2008, 05:29 PM   #9
LAZy
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I'll see you trying one on in the changing rooms JL, then I'll obviously know what size to buy!!

BSM can you pm me to let me know which Japanese site you buy from please ? as have been looking at some before posting this thread.

I've measured mosts bits of me recently and can't find any correlation to sizes of anywhere anatomical.

Wait till I've finished the 6 wks on this 'Abs for women ' diet that you all raved about, then maybe I'll be in JL's size.( I'm so craving Malteesers )
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Old 15-04-2008, 09:01 PM   #10
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I was thinking about trying this diet as I have to do something about my weightWould you recommend it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LAZy View Post
Wait till I've finished the 6 wks on this 'Abs for women ' diet that you all raved about, then maybe I'll be in JL's size.( I'm so craving Malteesers )
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Old 15-04-2008, 09:45 PM   #11
LAZy
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I was thinking about trying this diet as I have to do something about my weightWould you recommend it?
Yes certainly - 3 kgs off in 7 days and the only thing I've missed is Malteesers (but that's just my percularity)
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Old 15-04-2008, 09:50 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by LAZy View Post
I'll see you trying one on in the changing rooms JL, then I'll obviously know what size to buy!!

BSM can you pm me to let me know which Japanese site you buy from please ? as have been looking at some before posting this thread.
I have a Japanese fastskin an older style one, the design is really nice, multi coloured pink and purple panels. I think its an oldish style/type called a fastskin ex. The size I have is XL as it related to my height (5' 7') and also body length. It seems to fit, although I heard its meant to take you ages to get into a fastskin and I put this on easily. Guess I should try swimming in it to see...might wait till I'm faster though!
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Old 16-04-2008, 12:16 AM   #13
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I train in a Speedo 32 and race(d) in a Faststkin (normal one not FSII) size 28 (full body and legs with open back). Other makes are wierd, Nike came up TINY and TYR HUGE.
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Old 16-04-2008, 07:57 AM   #14
Captain C
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Hi LAZy, I'm a masters swimmer, with a compulsive fastskin habit, so hopefully can help.
In terms of sizing, I am 5'6" and train in a 34 speedo. I race in a 28 fastskin (I have FS1, FSII, FS Pro and the Diana submarine). Tried a 27 FS Pro and got into it once (after literally 30 minutes of contortions) and then ripped it before my race at the Europeans in Slovenia last year. I've confirmed I'm a 28 now.

Kneeskins seem to be harder to get over the hips, no idea why, but the sizing should be the same for both. I wear a kneeskin for medley/breaststroke and a legskin for free/fly/back.

Sitting shouldn't be particularly comfortable, I have to pull mine down to halfway to sit around in it for any length of time. Not sure that your stomach should be hurting (!). I find that if I get into it too early, the knees/ankles start to cut off circulation (depending which leg length suit).
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Old 16-04-2008, 11:53 AM   #15
LAZy
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thanks Captain C - I'm close-ish to you then - 5'7'', 34 speedo but wear 25'' knee now (has to be a zipback for security !) although some 25' are impossible to wear.

(Stomach won't be an issue now, just ordering the right one.)

Have just sent for a 26 FS11 full so will see - again zip back. Would like to find another knee zipbacked too really.

Zip backs seem alot harder to get but wish manufactures would standardise sizes and even between styles in same company. Any of them read the site?

Thanks to BSM for her pm advice too.
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