Fastskin LZR Racer Elite: Technology Behind It

Definitely, the revolutionary Fastskin LZR Racer was one of the top inventions of 2008. The suit utilizes many forms of high-tech technology to give the wearer as many benefits as possible. It is nothing like other performance swimwear. It does not use a full polyurethane coating, but still gives the advantage of reduced friction.

The fabric is designed to trap air, improving the buoyancy of the athlete and reducing drag. Furthermore, the fabric optimizes muscle compression that reduces fatigue by stopping your muscles from vibrating. As well, the innovative fabric facilitates optimal blood circulation and slows the build up of lactic acid (this acid makes it harder to move oxygen to the muscles and this causes fatigue and pain) in your muscles. A lot of these technological breakthroughs were developed based off of comprehensive researches of bio-mechanical movements in water and the skins of various sea creatures, such as sharks and dolphins. The final product was the ultra lightweight fabric called LZR Pulse. Finally, this fabric was used to create hydrodynamic performance racing jammer and recordbreaker kneeskin. These suits were developed in the Speedo Aqualab.

These performance swimsuits offer low skin friction drag and are fast drying, so there will be no worries. The bonded seams make an ideally smooth, on the other hand flexible surface. Furthermore, the suits have Speedo’s one-of-a-kind 3D, 3 piece pattern that has been dynamically developed in order to optimize the shape of the wearer. Their engineers came up with a unique design which put panels of polyurethane over parts of the body that create the highest drag. Obviously, besides the fabrics the important part is the swimsuit design. No one wants a swimsuit which traps water as it flows around the wearer. So, one more important innovation is to use fabrics that squeezes and slims down swimmers in order that the skin does not wobble around as they glide through the water. Small pieces of fabric were put through wind-tunnel tests in order to check for drag. Developers used computational fluid dynamics to model the suits' aerodynamic qualities, as if they were trying to find out how a new jet will fly. Next, athletes put this new revolutionary design to real-world tests in swimming pools. No wonder it is considered to be the best in both competitive and performance swimsuits.

Luckily, the LZR Racer Elite has not been banned as a result of the new FINA 2010 restrictions, which claimed that polyurethane based swimwear were making swimming a sport based on too much sophisticated technology and not the skill of professional swimmers.

Because of the great results the Speedo LZR Racer Elite swimsuits won in the Beijing Olympics some competitor swimwear manufacturers responded designing swimsuits that one-upped the Speedo by using nothing but polyurethane.

At the moment (as we already discussed in this Blog), there is a great deal of controversy in the swimming world surrounding polyurethane suits. A lot of strict rules banning these types of swimsuits in professional swimming have already been put in place; on the other hand have not yet gone into effect.



Some interesting facts about Beijing Olympics:
- 23 world records were broken by the athletes who wore LZR Racer suits,
- 2 world records were broken by athletes not wearing these suits.
- 89% of all the medals in swimming and a total of 94% of the gold medals were won by Fastskin LZR Racer athletes.

If you wish to add something regarding FastSkin LZR Racer Elite swimwear, do not hesitate to post your comment.

FastSkin FSII: Women’s Raze Recordbreaker Kneeskin and Men's Raze Jammer

The FastSkin FII swimming suits were designed and manufactured by the worlds leading swim equipment manufacturer the Speedo. These sophisticated suits mimic the shark skin of having low friction surface in water. And as you probably already know, the shark is the fastest fish in the sea reaching estimated speeds of up to 95 kilometers per hour (which is around 60 miles per hour). Basically, they take swimming to a whole new level. These innovative suits were first introduced back in 2004. They are the same as their predecessor, the Fastskin, however, featuring many enhancements.

Women’s FastSkin FSII Raze Recordbraker Kneeskin is unbelievably tight. It has a legacy of being a record-breaker piece of swimmers’ equipment. It’s basically a professional high-tech racing swimsuit that has been developed and manufacturer for best results and made to fit like a dream. Needless to say, the fabrics and seams are positioned to maximize the flow of water over your body to reduce drag and help hold your body in a more streamlined shape. The super stretch thread is highly respected because of its elasticity and fitness as well as strength. The freedom of movement is great since there is nothing around the calves yet still enough to cover your chest. Although this swimsuit is great for professional swimmers, the FSII is also practical and functional and are great for amateurs.

It’s always good to know the fabric composition. It is made out of 75 percent polyester and 25 percent elastane. Such use of combination of materials allows increased performance and flexibility while maintaining their durability. And since appearance is important for women, Speedo has made them to not only look good but to give the wearer a fashionable look. No wonder they have become so popular that many consider them to be an essential part of the standard swimmers kit. Fabrics are soft yet have a fair amount of body, and have a pleasant hand or as some people like to say, they have a nice ‘feel’ as a whole.

Men's New FSII Raze Jammer is developed with racing in mind. Basically, it has same features as the Women’s Kneeskin. Engineers have made it especially for professionals striving for perfection. Also, there are many other people who could take advantage of this revolutionary suit, such as instructors, lifeguards, pool managers, attendants and on-site maintenance personnel as well as other aquatics staff.

The only downside of these essential pieces of equipment for any professional swimmer can be the price. Especially Women’s FSII Kneeskin is especially pricey. With a price tag of over $220 they are not for everyone.

In today's competitive sport’s arenas, however, every advantage is welcome. Men’s Fastskin FSII can be found at more affordable prices (around $130) while remaining an excellent investment.