by
Olivier Poirier-Leroy
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.
The top parkas for swimmers include:
Next, we will highlight key features, pros and cons, and help you choose the perfect swim parka for staying warm at the pool.
⭐ Best overall swim parka for swimmers
The Speedo Team Swim Parka is the standard-bearer of swim parkas. It’s the one I have most consistently seen on pool decks and the one I’ve rocked personally with a couple of different swim teams over the years.
The inside of the parka is lined with fleece, which will keep you nice and toasty. The outside is nylon, a water-resistant outer layer that will come in handy on soggy pool decks.
The hood has an adjustable drawcord so that you can tie it up nice and tight on your head while pockets on the front are ideal for storing the essentials: swimming goggles, cap, and a gangster playlist to get you fired up before your next race.
It’s got a simple, clean look. As far as swim parkas go, it’s got everything ya need. The Speedo Team Swim Parka comes in unisex sizing and a whole bunch of different colors, as well.
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Best overall parka | Exterior pockets not very large |
| Speedo’s most popular parka | |
| Size options for youth to larger adult swimmers (XXXS-XXL) | |
| Updated hood width for over-sized headphones | |
| Lightweight design |
⭐ Best swim parka for swimmers who get cold easily
The Arena Team Line Swimmer’s Parka is unique from the others on this list as it features an insulated shell that boosts heat and warmth retention while you are on the chilly pool deck.
Two large pockets keep your essentials (swim goggles, smartphone) at hand, a hoodie protects wet hair, and zipper closure keeps cold air from giving you the chills.
Swim coaches love this swim parka for walking the pool deck on cold mornings, and swimmers love how hot they can keep their muscles between races.
The Arena Team Line Swimmer’s Parka is available in a variety of youth and adult sizes, fits true to size (the XL perfectly fits my frame at 6’5), and simply looks great.
In sum: An excellent swim parka for the chlorinated athlete and coach.
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Extremely comfortable | Pricer than other swim parkas |
| Lightweight and still provides excellent warmth | Limited color options |
| Best range of size options (XXS to XXXL) | |
| Premium zipper and snap enclosure for maximum insulation | |
| Fleece hood to keep head warm | |
| Extra large pockets for storing swim gear |
🏅 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.
| ✅ PROS | ❌ CONS |
| Top budget-friendly parka for swimmers | Unisex sizing may not be form-fitting for curvier swimmers |
| Fast-drying fleece interior | |
| Polyester exterior to stay dry on rainy days | |
| Can be personalized (for $12) | |
| Multiple front and sleeve pockets for storing swim gear |
⭐ Best swim park for junior swimmers
For youth swimmers, the parka is one of the absolute essentials for those long swim meets. The youth swimming parka helps you retain the warmth after warming up and they keep you from getting the chilly shakes while sitting on cold metal bleachers between races.
The TYR Youth Alliance Podium Parkas is a comfortable and warm parka that will help you keep warm. With a soft outer shell that doesn’t retain water and a fleece inner that keeps you toasty, this is one of the warmest swimming parkas on the market.
Available in three different block color combinations and in three sizes, the TYR Youth Alliance Youth Swim Parka is an excellent parka for younger swimmers.
⭐ Best swim parka for durability
Another one of the major players in the swimwear industry, TYR is a popular maker of goggles, swim bags, and tech suits. Naturally, they also make their own little line of parkas for swimmers.
The TYR Alliance parka takes comfort and heat-retention to the max with nylon on the outside and a polyester microfleece inside. The parka is loaded with pockets so that you can chill behind the blocks waiting for your heat with your jacket stocked up on your racing equipment.
It also features a pocket for your smartphone with Velcro closure to keep your phone from bouncing out of your pocket when you are running behind the blocks to make your heat.
⭐ Runner-up for best budget-friendly swim parka
Adoretex is a smaller brand in the swimwear industry, but the parka they make is rather comfortable (and well-priced).
It’s got the usual bells and whistles that swimmers and coaches would want from their swim parka: it’s got an artic fleece interior, the water-resistant nylon outer layer, and a drawstring hood. It comes in sizes of XS to XXL and in a huge array of colors. (Adoretex themselves recommend ordering a size up so that the swimmer can continue to grow into it.)
It comes with two front pockets and a handy pocket on your shoulder with a Velcro closing to put your heat card/smartphone/earplugs in. It’s got a very clean look, as well: with no logos on it you are getting a swim parka without the branding that is typical of most swim clothing manufacturers.
Swim parkas are unique to competitive swimmers in the sense that they are a piece of swimming equipment that never gets in the water.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Swim parkas are primarily used for warmth, but they can also be used as a blanket, a place to store your swimming equipment (goggles, swim cap, and so on), and can also be used as your own private changing stall.
Competitive swimmers use them to make the most of their swimming warm-ups so that their muscles are warm and loose when it comes time to stand up on the starting blocks and race.
(See also: Why Do Olympic Swimmers Wear Coats Before Racing?)
Swim parkas are brandable and customizable, which means you can order a parka that features your team logo, team colors, and even your name stitched on it.
The front chest area is typically where your name is stitched in cursive or block lettering.
For the back of the parka, most swim retailers embroider using tackle twill to customize according to your design and brand colors.
Swim Outlet charges a flat $10 fee for customization of their popular Speedo Unisex Team Swim Parka or the Sporti Comfort Fleece-Lined Swim Parka.
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.
To recap our top choices:
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!
The Beginner’s Guide to Swimming Equipment. Here’s a full rundown on the swimming equipment you will need to dominate the pool, as well as our top picks for types of swimming accessories that work best.
Olivier Poirier-Leroy Olivier Poirier-Leroy is the founder of YourSwimLog.com. He is an author, former national level swimmer, two-time Olympic Trials qualifier, and swim coach.
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