Why Olympic Swimmers Wear Jammers — And Why You Should Too
If you've been watching Team GB's heroics in the pool at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games this week, you will have seen Adam Peaty and Co competing in jammers.
Seasoned swimmers will be familiar with the benefits of this form-fitting swimwear, but for the uninitiated, you may be left wondering why they're the preferred choice for racing over briefs (aka budgie smugglers) and standard swim shorts.
It turns out it's all about aerodynamics. Or rather, hydrodynamics.
Jammers reduce drag and cut through the water more efficiently than bare skin and loose, baggy poolside shorts.
Those with light compression also help to boost blood circulation and reduce muscle fatigue, while their form-fitting design and stretchy material ensures full freedom of movement and comfort.
That's as true for elite swimmers as it is for recreational lane swimmers, so if you're looking to boost your pool workouts, picking up a pair of jammers will deliver far better results than your go-to holiday trunks.
Jammers come at a range of prices, from affordable trunks that mimic those worn by pro athletes, to the real-deal, competition-grade swimwear for when every second counts.
If you're in the market for a pair of competition jammers, they're required to meet World Aquatics' strict regulations so as not to give swimmers an unfair speed advantage — which is what happened when super suits were introduced and subsequently banned in 2010.
Those were made entirely from non-textile materials like neoprene and polyurethane, which gave swimmers better buoyancy and a smoother, more hydrodynamic body shape, which World Aquatics deemed gave unfair speed advantages.
Naturally, competition jammers test the boundaries of World Aquatics' regulations, featuring materials where polyurethane is blended with textile fabrics. Those branded with a FINA Approved (now World Aquatics) logo meet the regulations, like the ones featured below.
The Best Swim Jammers
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