Shaving your legs for swimming

BornToRun88 · 05-09-2012 6:00pm #1

I'm wondering,as a man, what are the benefits of shaving your legs for swimming? Do you really go a bit faster and feel that bit smoother with shaved legs? I've really got into swimming having done some swimming while abroad, my first time swimming in 3 years. I wanna take it more serious this time and perhaps go for a swim once or twice a week and want to know if there are any benefits of shaved legs for swimming. I do running as well so it could benefit that as well.

okane1 · 05-09-2012 8:02pm

Shaved hair, legs, arms, chest etc would reduce your skin resistance or surface drag. Swimmers have learnt over years that by shaving you could reduce your 100m time by 0.5-2sec. However experts disagree, they say that any improvement from shaving is psychological or improved feel for the water.

Top swimmer do it, so there is some advantage to it!

However you need to be at the top of your game to get any benefit. What is the point in doing 100m FS in 80sec and shaving. On the other hand, if you are doing 51sec for 100m FS, shaving would be a good idea.

Its much better to get proper swimming togs made of low friction material. Be prepared to pay over €200 for these.
Or improve your streamline body position in the water.

sock puppet · 09-09-2012 5:47pm

Also don't wear expensive togs in training! They're not in any way durable and you'll end up wasting a massive amount of money.

BrunoCert · 25-09-2012 6:13pm

Funny you bring this up. I’m an EMT and see a lot of men & women at events I’m assigned to doing this. They say that it helps them go faster. My girl was a swimmer too, I didn’t get it at first but understood after she explained.

gosuckonalemon · 14-10-2012 2:26pm

OP will you be competing internationally or do you plan to make Rio 2016? If not then it would be absolutely ludicrous to think of shaving your legs.

Rented Mule · 19-10-2012 2:22pm

The one thing that most people miss is that swimmers aren't constantly shaving their legs. Generally, you will 'shave and taper' for a big event. So in a season, where you might swim 10-15 meets, you would be working towards the end goal of a National/Olympic trial or Championship meet.

There is no need whatsoever for the casual swimmer to shave down for recreational swimming.

Shaving your legs for swimming

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