Swim Caps

A swim cap keeps hair out of your face, reduces drag in the water, and protects strands from chlorine damage during pool training. Swim caps and swimming caps come in four common materials and a handful of specialty shapes for long hair, locs, kids, racing, and team customization. The right pick comes down to use case, hair length, and how often the cap hits chlorine.

Swim Cap Materials Explained

• Silicone Caps: The most durable, wrinkle-resistant, and warmest in cold pools. Lasts 12 to 18 months of regular lap swimming, holds color through hundreds of chlorine cycles, and slides on without pulling hair. The default pick for competition, masters, and everyday training. See silicone swim caps for the full range.

• Latex Caps: Thinner and lighter than silicone, runs cooler in summer pools, and costs $2 to $6 per cap. Lasts 3 to 6 months with daily use. The traditional team cap, often layered under a silicone cap on race day. See latex swim caps.

• Lycra and Fabric Caps: The gentlest on hair and skin and comfortable for long sessions. No chlorine seal, but the cap stays in place through flip turns. Best for kids, recreational lap swimmers, and water aerobics.

• Neoprene Caps: Add 2mm to 5mm of insulation for cold-water and open-water swimming. The standard pick for triathlon and winter ocean swims in 50 to 65°F water.

Caps for Training, Racing, and Lap Swimming

Daily lap swimmers and masters athletes want a silicone swimming cap that lasts a full season. Competitive racers often go thinner, choosing low-profile silicone or a latex cap for race day to shave a fraction of drag. See racing swim caps for race-day silhouettes including the dome-shaped racing cap. For everyday training, the standard silicone cap from Sporti, TYR, or Speedo covers most pool needs at $5 to $18 per cap.

Caps for Long Hair, Locs, and Natural Hair

Standard swim caps fit short to medium hair, but long, thick, or natural hair needs a roomier shape. See long hair swim caps for XL and bun-shaped silicone caps designed to fit a low bun or braided hair without pulling. SOUL CAP makes the largest sizes on the market for locs, dreadlocks, afros, and braid extensions, with extra dome volume that standard caps cannot match. To put on a long-hair cap, dampen the cap first, tie hair in a low bun, then pull from the forehead back. Double-capping (latex under silicone) keeps everything in place through aggressive sets.

Kids' Caps and Custom Team Caps

See kids' swim caps for smaller dome sizes that fit youth and junior heads without slipping, mostly in silicone for durability through learn-to-swim and age-group practice. For teams, leagues, and swim schools, custom swim caps print logos, names, and team colors on silicone or latex blanks in bulk quantities starting at 25 caps. Turnaround typically runs 3 to 5 weeks. Color matching is available for school colors and Pantone-matched team shades.

Sizing, Fit, and Care

Most adult swimming caps use one stretch-fit size that fits head circumferences from 21 to 24 inches. XL and long-hair caps fit 24 to 27 inches; kids' caps fit 18 to 21 inches. To put on a cap without tearing, dampen it first, then slide it from the forehead back. Rinse in fresh water after every swim and dry flat away from direct sun. A little baby powder dusted inside before storage keeps silicone from sticking. Replace any cap that develops cracks or thin patches.