"Appropriate" Swimwear
 

Hi guys,

I was just wondering your opinion on something. You see, usually I swim at my university's pool, where I am happy to say brief-style swimwear isn't uncommon at all.

However, for winter break I signed up at another gym that is closer to my home. On the way out from the locker room there is a sign on the door to the gym's pool saying, "Co-ed area. Please wear appropriate swimming attire."

Seeing as this is in the U.S., I can't help but think "appropriate" excludes all brief style swimwear, not just the blatantly revealing styles. I'm tempted to just wear my regular arena competition suit while doing laps regardless of what the sign says, but I wonder if people would go :eek:

I'm tempted to ask my girlfriend to go through the women's door to see if there's a similar sign about "appropriate" attire. Unfortunately she doesn't have a membership to this gym....yet.

What do you think?

I'd consider brief swimwear appropriate for a gym pool, in the absence of an explicit statement by management to the contrary. If in doubt, ask. The worst they can say is, "no." I suspect strongly though that if the suit would be considered appropriate for a swim competition, it would be approved for use at their pool

Oh come on, you guys are absolutely silly. Of course briefs are appropriate. Do you think for a minute that USA Swimming and any of the fifty state high school swimming associations and FINA and YMCA and any of the other governing bodies of the sport of competitive swimming and diving would allow something "inappropriate" to be worn by kids and adults alike? Seriously now.

2" sided classic racing Speedos (and other similar briefs) are suitable swimming attire in any sports environment.
Even a 1" side isn't inappropriate but you may be pushing the envelope.
Going towards a low cut brief that allows a tunnel view at the rear may be going too far, while wearing a swim thong would be asking to be thrown out.

A tenant of the British law on indecency was whether public opinion regarded material to be indecent, by pleading not guilty the matter would be taken before a jury and they would decide. The resulting trials eg that of Lady Chatterley's Lover or Oz changed society.

The thing to do is to wear 2" or 3" Speedos and see the reaction, if the majority (or even a significant minority) start wearing speedos then you could aim for something more adventurous. Remember, a frog will jump out if placed in a pan of hot water but sit happily until he is cooked if placed in cool water and slowly warmed.

I see the sign as saying : "We've had guys jump in the pool nude or even in your underwear. Please do not do that as there are possibly women around and swimming there!"

I would wear my swim brief suit and not worry about it. I'd not wear a sheer cut Aussiebum, but then I don't wear those anyway for swimming laps. A speedo brief or similar brand is perfectly fine for a pool. I swam once at a lake that had a similar sign and it was not an issue.

STS

If it's a gym as well, they probably just want to make the point that people must have proper swimming kit - not jump into the pool in their training shorts or briefs for instance. I have seen this happen: guys have turned up to the gym to train and then think it would be nice to have a dip afterwards, but of course haven't come prepared with the right kit.

Inappropriate swimming attire would be thongs or any suit that becomes see through when wet. But all other briefs down to 2" would be appropriate because that's what swimmers wear when doing laps.

At a sports centre I use there was a sign by the Jacuzzi saying that following recent inappropriate behaviour the police had been called and would be again if any further inappropriate behaviour occurred. The sign was up for at least 10 years, I guess one complaint in 10 years isn't bad.

Would 'inappropriate' also mean swim pants below the knee, as they are now disallowed by FINA?

appropriate would most likely be anything that isn't too revealing. In some gym pools I have seen guys swim nude or in jock straps. I have also seen guys wearing nylon jogging shorts that turn transparent when wet. Those are not appropriate when in mixed company.
Of course, this may be a radical concept but, why not ask?

In Maine phraseology, "wicked ugly" might be a better way to describe swim pants below the knee...lol

D67

Hey guys, thanks for your responses. I'm definitely going to ask the next time I go to the gym. I was kind of hesitant before because I feel like here in the U.S. people expect others to know what "appropriate" swimwear is without saying :o . If I ask, they might think, "Wow, does this guy have no idea what inappropriate swimwear is? Is he planning on wearing some thong or transparent brief?" I don't want them to think I'm planning on wearing something overly revealing in order to to stir up trouble.

50 Free, I realize that FINA and all the other governing boards allow brief style swimwear, but they've banned suits that are far from "inappropriate". Like Bede735 said, they banned the LZR suit even though it covers most of the body. I realize brief style swimsuits don't constitute "technological doping" like the LZR supposedly does.

Point being, an individual gym swim facility isn't necessarily going to have the same regulations as FINA.

I'll tell you guys their answer when I get back from my next workout :)

LeanHunk,

My advice to you is to just wear a brief that is no less than 2" and just go and start swimming - that will mean that, as a swimmer, you know what's appropriate swimwear. I don't think that you should even ask.

D67

I am with D67. Put aside all the US crap, the US is not as awful as you make it sound. A Speedo swim brief is the accepted standard of lap swimmers everywhere.

As I have said on numerous occasions, this board is riddled with insecurity. This poor dude has read a problem into a sign that early states the obvious. You are not swimming in an all male pool so wear something that is appropriate for mixed company. At last check, that includes just about any swimsuit. Being so insecure he has to ask us cuz he hasn't the balls to ask management what is meant by the sign.
As usual, it is lets bash the U.S. and their attitudes about swimwear. Again, you can't take a nation of varied attitudes and lump them up as all having one attitude. Generally, it is the person saying the US males are too shy to wear a speedo when it is actually the person writing that is too insecure to wear what he wants. I have traveled all over the US and always worn a 2" black Speedo. Never have I had a comment or been told I am inappropriate. Don't blame the US preference for the more practical board shorts for your own insecurity about wearing what you want to wear.

PS before you all jump up and say that you hate board shorts, remember you are being as judgmental about them as you say they are being about your speedos.

Maybe a good experiment idea?
 

Hey guys. I didn't mean to generalize about the entire U.S., nor do I have anything against people who prefer board shorts. I myself wear board shorts whenever I go to the beach. However, you have to admit that in general there is a bit of a negative attitude towards brief-style swimwear here, at least on the beaches.

Anyway, last night I decided it isn't necessary to ask management. They have a lap pool, swimmers wear briefs at lap pools, so that was what I was going to wear to their lap pool.

By the way, these are the trunks I wore:
http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTE3NlgxMT..._id=880000500F

The sides are about 1.6". Definitely less than 2", but not so revealing as the 1". Bottom line, they're great for laps.

The result? Aside from a few brief stares, no one in the locker room or pool reacted at all. There were at least three other guys in the locker room and eight people in the pool area, two of the latter being management staff. Not one person said anything.

I wonder if other guys will start wearing brief style swimwear? Will keep you guys updated ;)

Nice briefs.

Out of curiosity, does inappropriate swimwear also apply to women? Personally I don't have a problem if they wear very little. :)

The less the better :D

Good for you, LeanHunk and nice choice for the swim briefs. And as for women and inappropriate swimwear, I agree with you and Bede.

D67

I'm all for "equal opportunity and prohibition of discrimination based on gender" in near nudity!!!

Good call Lean... I suspect you are not the only guy who wears the right kind of swimwear to that pool.

Personally, if I am swimming in a public place I always wear genuine Speedos. I find them very comfortable anyway, and they always have the logo clearly on them. Speedo is so well known for its close association with competitive swimming up to Olympic standard that nobody could ever challenge you for wearing one of their suits. Some guys might wear a suit saying Aussiebum with a centre back seam at their local pool, but personally I wouldn't.

Speedo is an awesome brand. Their suits last a really long time and are very comfortable.

Originally I was leery of the center back seam before I bought these Arena trunks because I thought it would stretch too tightly and become transparent when wet. However, I've found that this isn't the case. Personally, I like the back seam on the Arena trunks (given that the size isn't too small) because it prevents sagging, yet isn't too tight that your buttocks are pretty much exposed when wet. The suit lasts a lot longer.

i wear a seobean swimsuit at my local YMCA all the time. in the summer its an outdoor pool and anyone working out at the Y can see through the glass. winter time its covered by a bubble and only people that are swimming can see. the tan lines are great. It has maybe 1 inch side and the front and back covers just enough. Never had any problem. As long as its not a thong i dont see any problems. just my 2 cents.

Hi, Vega1210.. can you find a pic online somewhere (or take a pic of you in yours) so we can see what you are describing? :D

Vega, is this the approximate cut of your suit? Or is it something like this? If so, I admire your courage.

app... Swimwear
 

to Bede 738, i like to see women and pics in there bikinis, because they are very similar to mens briefs (speedos) besides they also are nice when men wears them they both are very similar

The reviews of the Seobean suits on Amazon are fun to read, especially as guys encounter a suit skimpier and tighter than they are used to wearing.

One guy titled his review "This would be a fine suit for any guy who does not have external genitalia!"

Seobean suits have a pouch front, there is plenty of space there so long as you don't get excited, then you are liable to pop out. So try them on in a calm state and tie up the waist chord fast.
Trying to put a suit like this on in an already excited state is doomed to failure.

Of course you should always try to upsize Asian swim bikinis as they tend to be on the small side. Their Large is about a 32", what UK call Small.

i wear these in this list from ebay. sorry it took me so long to get back. as long as you are not walking around in the gym in just this i dont see the problem walking from the locker room to the pool and swimming laps.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Seobean-New-...e=STRK:MESE:IT

Cute! Too bad they're out of the blue :P

In my experience "appropriate/proper swim attire" simply means that it is at the discretion of the establishment to ask anyone to change their clothes. They don't post specific rules, because they don't want to get into semantic discussions. If briefs are allowed, can someone wear a see-through brief? They'd rather not get into that line of reasoning.

For practical purposes, these are the rules that I think apply in 99% of situations. If an establishment has a different policy, they will usually state it explicitly.

Men:
Lined briefs, square cuts, jammers, swim trunks, and board shorts are all appropriate. Briefs should have a full back coverage. Sides should be 1" or greater. Rash guards may be worn.

Women:
Lined two-piece or one-piece swimsuits are appropriate. All swimsuits should have moderate (3/4) back coverage. Board shorts and rash guards may be worn over swimsuits.

I've never heard of anyone having issues when following the preceding rules. If an establishment does not explicitly state that briefs aren't allowed, they should be acceptable.

Beaches
Beaches tend to be far less restrictive and usually guided by state/city decency laws. Some states allow women to be topless or persons of both gender to be nude. In Seattle nudity is allowed as long as it isn't indecent exposure. A number of waterfront city parks are frequented by nudists without issue. When the rules aren't posted, the genitals and (women's) breasts must be covered. In more conservative areas, the buttocks should be covered too. If you're not comfortable walking back to you car in a wet suit while a cop is watching, it's probably not appropriate.

Women's Back Coverage
Back coverage on women's suits tends to be the only big gray area. Because even modest one-piece competitive suits leave at least 1/4 of the buttocks exposed, places tend to be more lenient when it comes to how much back coverage is required. Often, as long as it's not a g-string it's okay. In general, 1/2 coverage will be considered appropriate anywhere and 1/4 coverage will be fine on most beaches.

This would be fine almost anywhere.
Attachment 397

However, this bottom might be a problem at certain establishments. In most cases, however, it would be acceptable on the beach.
Attachment 398

They certainly seem to be a fair set of rules, but I still wouldn't object to this!

Attachment 399

Even better when they bring friends...
Attachment 400

Of course, the best bathing suit is the one you're born with.
Attachment 401

Looks like Studland Bay in Dorset, England.

Well then, I'm off to England! :D

I currently have a request in to Hurricane Harbor in Arlington, TX to provide something like this. It's all I ask. I wore my Turbos and Aussiebums last year with no issues, but before I buy a season pass this year I'd like to make sure I'm going to be welcome all year.

Last night at Poirier Pool a pretty good crowd tied up six lanes with some swim lessons, swim team, and lap swimming. Not to mention the play pool and enormous hot tub. Of course most men wore huge baggies because they can't swim anyway. Amongst the actual swimmers were myself, three other men and two boys in speedos compared to probably ten in jammers. The boys in speedos were on the swim team, one was one of those absolutely perfect specimens of the superbly proportioned swimmer's body at about 16-17.
So this is to report that the public here had no problem with what I wore in the pool and it was quite the norm. Just like everywhere else I have ever been.