If you are a competitive swimmer who is just above beginner level, you start to have a good enough technique that you will benefit from a more specialized competition suit and trunks. Here the content of elastane will be slightly higher and they will have more carbon panels. These will provide better compression and support for specific muscle groups that will make you faster in the water with Lifeguard training.
In that category, the Arena Carbon Air 2 will be a very good choice, and it is available both as a competition suit and swimming trunks . It does add up to a slightly higher price, but if you are an aspiring competitive swimmer, it is worth all the money. In addition, it is adapted to all styles, so you may not get a competition suit or suit that is specialized, but on the other hand, you are sure that it will not hinder you, regardless of what you swim.
If you just need to have a clue about when it is appropriate to invest in a Carbon Air 2, then the general rule of thumb is that it is for those who train between 3-5 times a week. In addition, you get the most out of it if you have a reasonable level of competition - with the necessary techniques - as otherwise its advantages will not benefit you.
The complete beginner
When you start to reach a level where you no longer want to be labeled a beginner, then it's time to upgrade. Here you will typically train more than 5 times a week and have complete control of most swimming techniques - to the point where your level only improves with small adjustments. Here, Arena Carbon Flex competition suits and jammers , as well as Arena Carbon Core FX, which are both available as competition suits and jammers , will be what you need to go for.
Here, the small details and the material composition have been fine-tuned, so that you get the most optimal compression, support and speed in the water. In particular, the materials are designed to lift the legs more above the surface of the water, which makes you much more streamlined. You are up in the high price ranges, but you will also be able to feel it in the water and see it in your time. Since competitive swimming is very much characterized by water resistance, small details and fine-tuning will provide better hydrodynamics. And since water resistance is much greater - than e.g. drag while running - even the smallest improvements will make a big difference.
Use a training suit for training
Although it can be tempting to use your competition swimwear for training as well, it is not something that can be recommended - for several reasons:
1. Competition swimwear is so specialized in its materials that it wears out every time you put it on. This also means that they become looser in structure and thus slower in the water.
2. It is not at all necessary to train in competition swimwear, as this is about training strength and technique and not about breaking personal records.
3. It is not unusual for it to take up to 20 minutes to put on your competition swimwear, as it has to fit as tightly as possible, which also means that they come in smaller sizes.
4. Although water resistant, competition swimwear will still get wet and therefore heavier. Since a training session often lasts for hours, it does not make sense to use competition swimwear as it will lose its effect.
Especially the last one is worth considering, also when you are at a competition. The professional swimmers often have more than one competition suit or jammers with them, which they change between heats. In addition, some competition swimwear is also designed for specific styles, but you don't have to think about that part until you reach the highest level.
In addition, you also have to consider that competition swimwear has lost many of its properties after being used 12 times. This is precisely because it becomes looser in the materials, and thus over time will not sit as close to the body. It provides more water resistance and you therefore become slower in the water. But this is rarely a problem for beginners, as this is often not where the small margins make a difference.
Therefore, it is also a good idea to use training swimsuits and -jammers for training, so that you do not wear out your expensive competition swimwear.
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