US swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the men's 100m butterfly final during the swimming event at the London 2012 Olympic Games at the Olympic Park on Aug. 3, 2012.
Speedo re-engineered goggles, caps and swimsuits for the US Olympic teams this year, and for the first time ever they were designed to work as a unit — and said to reduce drag by 17%. The goggles also give swimmers 180 peripheral vision—all the better to see who’s gaining on you. In the world of caps, they introduced the two layer cap, a nylon and spandex cap to cover and hold hair, and an outer silicone cap for smooth guiding through the water. Speedo actually went out and scanned the heads of hundreds of elite athletes to create to ensure proper snug fit for the small, medium and large versions. Female swimmers with long hair gain an edge if they form a bun at the nape of their neck under their cap because it creates a more aerodynamic profile, much like those speed cyclists helmets. The system will run you $30 for the hair cover and $40 for the silicone cap, and $100 for the goggles. But you can go cheaper and just buy one of these silicone caps ($12), which doesn’t pull your hair as much as the latex, and either one of the two popular goggles, the vanquisher ($22), or the hydrospexs ($18). Speedo says you should try on the goggles, so see which fits your eye socket best, and adjust the additional nose clip included in the packet to customize the fit.