Advanced Resistance Swimming

This maybe the session you've been waiting for. We practice swimming in jeans and a T-shirt, the legendary classic swimwear. It will give you a somewhat harder workout but also is great fun.

Start this swimming lesson dressed in tight fitting jeans and T-shirt. These are easy to swim in as long as they don't chafe. If your jeans are too tight your freedom of movement may be limited, especially with the breast stroke leg kick. Notice how streamlined tight jeans can be. You just glide through the water. Once you have gained enough confidence swimming in tight clothes, get out and dry off for the second part.

For your next swim put on baggy jeans and a loose T-shirt or two. Loose fitting jeans avoid chafing but cause more resistance when swimming. If you have two T-shirts wear the smaller one underneath and tuck it into your jeans. As you slowly get into the water you will notice a few differences. Your jeans may balloon a bit with the air moving up, especially when wet. As you get in deeper notice how your T-shirt floats loosely around you. This may cause a hindrance if you're not used to it, hence this training.

Many lifeguards wear jeans because they offer protection from sunburn, stings, cuts and scrapes. Divers and dinghy sailors use them to protect their wetsuits. For others its just convenient swimwear with pockets to keep your locker or car keys away from thieves.

 Reader Comment: High School Swim Team

When I trained with my High School Swim team, one of our coaches encouraged us to practice our swimming in tee-shirts and jeans. Hoodies or track-suits were suggested for those who wanted to push themselves harder. This should make us stronger and faster for swimming meets, due to the extra drag and weight.

I am not sure if it worked but it certainly was good fun and I love swimming in jeans to this day. I had a pair of jeans that rarely dried out during the academic year.