5 Best Swim Parkas for Getting Dry and Staying Warm
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
Author, swimmer. Obsessed with helping swimmers level up in the water (and life).
Looking to stay warm and dry outside of the water? Here are the best swim parkas to get dry and comfortable for swimmers.
Swim parkas are a form of outerwear for competitive swimmers to dry off and get warm after getting out of the water.
Whether it’s to bundle up for the drive home after an early morning swim practice or getting comfortable and maximizing a warm-up in competition, swim parkas offer warmth, fast-drying fabrics, and storage for swim gear like goggles and caps.
In this guide to how to choose the best swim parka, we’ll dive into the top options on the pool deck to keep you warm, dry, and ready to swim fast.
Let’s dive in.
Best Swim Parkas
The best parkas for swimmers include:
Next, we will look at each swim parka, compare them, highlight key features and pros & cons, and help you choose the perfect swim parka to stay warm and dry at the pool.
Arena Swim Parka?
? Best overall swim parka
The Arena Swim Parka is the best overall parka for swimmers to stay warm and dry around the pool. If you were watching the Paris 2024 Olympics and feel like this parka looks familiar, you’d be correct. As one of USA Swimming’s official partners, Arena’s parkas covered Team USA Swimmers in competition.
The Arena Swim Parka is available in three colors, has an insulated lining with a fleece interior lining to wick away moisture after getting out of the water. The parka has a fleece lined hood, perfect for protecting wet hair from cold winds when leaving the pool.
One of the common issues with swim parkas is a cheaply made zipper that makes closing the parka feel more like you are wrestling with the jacket. Arena uses premium YKK zippers in addition to snap buttons to fully insulate body heat.
While the Arena Swim Parka is the most comfortable, durable and insulated parka on the market, it is pricier compared to other parkas, and Arena currently only offers it in three solid colors.
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Speedo 2.0 Team Parka
? Best team parka for color options
Speedo is the big-name brand when it comes to essential swim gear for both competitive and recreational swimmers. Whether we are talking about swim paddles or swim goggles, Speedo delivers.
No different with the Speedo 2.0 Team Parka, which brings Speedo’s 100+ years outfitting competitive swimmers to a warm, fast-drying parka.
The shell of the parka is made of water-resistant polyester, the inside has a microfleece lining that is soft on the skin and sucks up moisture.
The Speedo Team Parka is offered in an almost unlimited number of colors (over 30, last time I looked), has multiple pockets, including two exterior and one “sneaky” pocket on the inside breast, and a heavy-duty zipper for excellent durability and ease of use.
Speedo updated their popular parka with an extra wide hood that accommodates larger headphones, making the Speedo Team Parka an excellent option for race day when you want to get your best psych-up playlist booming into your ears.
For swimmers looking for that perfect parka color, Speedo’s legendary durability and comfort, and an extra-wide hood for your huge headphones, the Speedo 2.0 Team Parka is the ticket.
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Sporti Fleece-Lined Swim Team Parka
? Best budget-friendly parka
The Sporti Fleece-Lined Swim Team Parka is the best choice for swimmers who want a comfortable, fast-drying, and inexpensive.
Sporti is popular swim site SwimOutlet’s in-house brand, so swimmers and parents benefit from the lowered cost and quality construction.
The parka has a polyester exterior, which is awesome for keeping dry on rainy morning walks from the pool to the car, a soft fleece lining to quickly dry off when you get out of the water, and a hood with tightening drawcord to protect wet hair from cold winds.
Sporti’s Team Parka has lots of pockets for storing and protecting all your meet gear, including racing goggles, cap, and spare goggles. A vent out the back promotes air flow (and also helps quicker drying), and Sporti offers the parka in over a dozen different solid colors and patterns.
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Dolfin Unisex Swim Parka
Best lightweight swim parka
The Dolfin Unisex Swim Parka is the best parka for swimmers who find standard parkas too warm. The lightweight design still helps swimmers get warm and stay dry between swims, but it’s not made with extra thick fleece that can leave some swimmers feeling like a hot dog being microwaved for too long.
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The bottom of the Dolfin Unisex Swim Parka features flapped openings to allow swimmers to walk without being impeded by the bottom of the parka. Multiple pockets keep swim gear tucked away. And the fleeced hood can be fastened snugly to keep your head warm.
Inexpensive, available in a range of sizes, and perfect for swimmers on the move, the Dolfin Unisex Swim Parka is an excellent alternative to the big swim brands for a quality parka.
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Sporti Striped Youth Swim Parka
Best youth swim parka
For youth and junior swimmers not quite large enough for a full-size swim parka, the Sporti Striped Youth Swim Parka gives smaller swimmers full-size warmth.
This parka features a thick, plush fleece lining that provides superior warmth, keeping young swimmers warm after practice in December and on day three of a swim meet.
The water-resistant polyester shell keeps water out, and the fleece-lined hood protects the head from the elements. A durable two-way zipper makes it easy to fasten and a large mesh vent ensures breathability and further moisture evaporation.
Functionality is obviously important with a swim parka, and youth swimmers have three internal pockets for storing swim essentials like goggles, caps, smartphones, and more.
Developed with unisex sizing, the Sporti Striped Youth Swim Parka is versatile, warm, and designed to keep younger swimmers ready for fast swimming and comfort.
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How to Choose the Best Swim Parka
Choosing the perfect parka is essential to help swimmers stay warm and dry before and after swimming.
Whether you are looking for a parka for those long swim meets or to bundle up before and after practice, here are the essential things to look for when picking the right swim parka for you.
Materials and Insulation
Swim parka material and insulation are what help to keep swimmers warm. Look for a parka with a fleece lining, which not only helps insulate body heat but also wicks away water from the skin.
An exterior shell made of polyester or nylon also further insulates heat and prevents more water from seeping in.
Size and Fit
Parkas are available in a variety of sizes, typically in unisex sizing, which makes it easy to find a good fit. Parkas are also not sized as specifically as a tech suit or other types of swimwear, so it’s okay if it’s a little looser.
Choose a size that allows for layering while still being snug enough to keep that precious body heat locked in.
Hood and Cuffs
Swimmers with longer hair should be especially cognizant of choosing a swim parka with an insulated hood that can be drawn snug. Hoods protect wet heads and the neck from cool winds and temperatures after swimming.
Elasticized cuffs also serve to seal in warmth by preventing colder air from entering up the sleeves. These features are particularly important for outdoor swims and early morning workouts when temperatures can get chilly.
Ventilation.
Obviously, swim parkas are designed for warmth and dryness. But it’s also important to have ventilation to help promote some air flow into the parka, helping remove moisture and prevent overheating.
Fleece-lined parkas are very effective at boxing in heat, sometimes to the point that they work so well that swimmers end up red-faced and sweaty.
Mesh vents allow air circulation, reducing excess moisture build-up and keeping swimmers comfortable.
Storage and Pockets.
Swim parkas are not just a form of jacket to keep you warm—they are also a de facto storage tool, centralizing important swim gear like goggles and caps. In competition, swimmers use their parkas to pocket a smartphone, store headphones, and other swim gear to competitive success. Look for a parka with ample pocket space so that all your racing essentials are close at hand.
Colors and Customization.
Customizable swim parkas are a great option for team swimmers who want to add a club logo or swimmer name for added team spirit.
Most swim parkas include panels on the sleeves, chest, and back where team logo and individual names can be stitched.
The Sporti Team Parka, for example, offers this feature for individual (and team) parkas for just $12. Colors and stripes can also add a touch of style while maintaining functionality.
Wrapping Things Up
The swim parka is an excellent accessory for not only staying warm when going in and out of practice, but it can also help “extend” your swim meet warm-ups, keeping your muscles and body warm and ready to perform when you step up on the blocks.
By paying attention to different swim parka fabrics, fit, and functional storage, you find a parka that will keep you dry, comfortable, and ready to swim like a boss.
Happy swimming!
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