Splashgear Full-Coverage Swimsuit Review

by QA The World
The following is a summary;
read the full product review here
Posted on June 30, 2012


Choosing Splashgear

Splashgear occupies a niche in the full-coverage swimsuit world, which I consider rather unique amongst the Muslim-friendly options! They differ from almost every other full-coverage swimsuit site I’ve seen on several levels (though there are more full-coverage options online now than when I originally bought my suit, I think this still holds true).

• They offer a wide variety of colors and prints (I can’t bring to mind at the moment any other full-coverage suit options that have prints at all, let alone the fact that a large number of them are almost all black).

• They allow you to mix and match all the pants, tops, and head coverings. This offers a lot of variety in choosing the look you want.

• There are several different styles of tops, pants, and head coverings, with many different sizes and looks. Lots of options. More combinations possible than anywhere else I’ve seen, really. On some sites for instance I’ll like one top, but the pants that come with it will be too snug for my taste. Not a problem here because you can mix and match everything.

• You can size the tops and pants separately. I don’t know about anybody else but I’ve changed sizes and shapes quite a bit in the course of life, pregnancy, etc and sometimes the conventional top/bottom sizes just don’t quite match up… then you end up with an outfit that fits on top but not on bottom or vice versa. Again, I haven’t seen this offered elsewhere in the Islamic swimsuit world.

• The Splashgear outfits look like they belong at the pool. This is not completely unique in the Islamic swimwear world, but they do a better job of it than many companies. Now, as a hijab-wearing Muslim in a largely non-Muslim community, I am used to standing out, and that doesn’t bother me. But some Islamic swimsuits simply don’t look or feel like they belong anywhere near a pool. I’ve seen some that are made out of jersey type material that would lose its shape in the water, not to mention being thick/hot, others that go the more water-repellent raincoat route. I suppose they deserve a little credit for trying to make something that works but I can’t imagine actually swimming in some of those. Also, if we’re talking about a public pool, there is some comfort in walking in wearing something that looks like pool wear vs. street clothes. I have never had anyone (fellow swimmer or lifeguard) comment negatively about my swimsuit, but I know this does happen to some people, and I also know that a few people do wear street clothes while swimming in an attempt to fulfill hijab requirements. At the public pools where I’ve swum, wearing street clothes is usually prohibited. You can speculate on the reasons for this, but having also gotten into water recreationally (and also accidentally!) wearing regular clothes, they do create a lot more drag in the water that can pull you down, they inhibit movement and add weight should you find yourself in a position where you are struggling, and from a modesty perspective they usually also cling to you and turn transparent. So I don’t recommend it, and I don’t really think that pools are wrong to restrict this. However, swimming garments can be full-coverage and still be safe and comfortable in the water. We have only to go back a century to find these in common usage amongst non-Muslims as well (I suspect the modern-day offerings are a lot more comfy than those were, based on pictures).

 

Overall

I really like Splashgear’s suits. They work well in the water when properly sized (I will note that with a toddler in tow most of the time, I have not done intensive lap swimming in this suit, just so you know; but I have worn it and swum in it many times with good results). The fabric and stitching have held up very well and presented no problems over time. Splashgear was the best option at the time I ordered and MAY still be the best option out there! ... Throughout my search ... this is going to be the suit that really sets the bar for the other ones I look at!