Swim caps come in various materials, with silicone, lycra and latex being the most popular. Our ultimate swim cap guide will help you choose which one is best for your swimmer.
And they are easy to put on, honestly, but if you’re struggling, our child-whispering staff are on hand to give you some child and cap wrangling tips.
Silicone Swim Caps
The best all-rounder for learners.
Most popular with parents and Aquabliss’ first choice:
- Easy to put on and take off without pulling or snagging at the hair
- A good snug fit
- Sufficient goggle grip
- Exceptionally durable
- Thicker than most other caps, so less likely to rip
- Soft and flexible, most kids will find them comfy
- Smooth texture, so minimal drag in the water
- The stretch can cover a lot of hair
- For extra-long hair, consider a silicone cap with added stretch or even an adult-sized one
- Excellent alternative for those allergic to latex
One of the best reasons to love a silicone cap is because they maintain heat well. This is great for learners in group lessons who, from time to time, will be sitting on the pool edge or standing on a learn-to-swim teaching platform, watching, listening and learning while the teacher demonstrates skills with another student.
Lycra/Nylon/Spandex Swim Caps
The second most popular choice with parents. Mainly because these caps are not as tight fitting, making them even comfier and easier to put on and take off.
The downside of being much easier to put on is that they can slip off much easier too!
Stopping to adjust caps then becomes a distraction that wastes valuable lesson time.
Lycra caps are durable if cared for correctly, but like swimwear (mainly made from lycra), these swim caps can stretch with usage and chlorine exposure, increasing the likelihood of the swim cap slipping off.
Caps that stay on mean fewer distractions and interruptions, more lesson time, and more focused learning. So, it’s worth investing time and effort to get your child used to wearing a tighter-fitting cap.
Lycra caps are certainly a great choice if you have a beginner swimmer, and you just need to get your kiddo used to wearing a swim cap in the first place.
After all, wearing a lycra swim cap is better than not wearing one at all. But please try to ween them off and get them into a tighter fitting cap as soon as possible.
Another downside is that lycra caps are permeable, creating more drag. So, we don’t recommend them for kids who have started swimming distances.
If at this stage you think wearing a swim cap is all too much trouble, we encourage you to read our blog about the numerous benefits of wearing one. It’s worth a read, and we’re confident that, after reading it, you’ll feel the benefits of wearing a swim cap are worth it too.
Latex Swim Caps
A very tight-fitting cap that is unlikely to budge when on and has an excellent grip for goggles. However, with its tighter fit and less stretch than silicone, a latex cap can pull on hair when worn and when putting on and taking off.
They usually cost less than silicone caps, but they tend to rip more easily because latex is a thinner material.
We’ve seen quite a few latex caps damaged by sharp fingernails.
However, being thinner means they are more breathable. So consider latex if your child tends to “overheat” a little. Or you have an advanced swimmer generating a lot of heat swimming all those laps!
Important to note – some kids may be allergic to latex.
Next Steps
Don’t have a swim cap?
We sell them, and that’s also handy if you forget to bring one.
All our swim schools sell silicone Aquabliss branded swim caps because these ones are the most popular with parents. The silicone is high-grade and has extra stretch. Some schools also sell lycra and latex caps.
Not currently swimming with us?
Take a look at our programs, or contact us. We’d love you to be part of our extended Aquabliss family.