At last the women’s swimming costume with combined shorts/legs has become more mainstream. No longer do the majority of women have to feel shy or embarrassed about wearing high-thigh swimming costumes that put on display that one area that most agree they DO NOT LIKE IT AT ALL. For too many years the traditional swimming cossie has been revealing, as well as tight, giving no room for the imagination and laying bare the upper thigh, hips and bums to the general public. Men, yes we know you like that area, but us girls aren’t so keen about putting it on show to everyone.

Swimming costumes with legs and more coverage

They are known as swimming legsuits or kneesuits and they look like a swimming costume with shorts combo.  I’ve been thinking for many years that this kind of swimming costume would be the perfect way to encourage more girls and women back into the swimming pool. You do see more  employing their own upper leg hiding techniques, such as wearing sports or surfer shorts over their swimming costumes or keeping the towel wrapped around them until they dive into the pool.

My own choice used to be the tankini: A shorts and crop top swimming costume combination. It was the most comfortable and flattering swimming costume I could find. But then they style I liked was discontinued. It also avoids that horrible swimming cosy up the bum discomfort that so many women put up with but never  like!

So for a couple of years I resorted to wearing my triathlon suit to every swimming session, and even on the beach! I like the longer legs of the trisuit and the coverage and support it gives. It doesn’t creep up my bum (sorry to be graphic there) and it feels comfy from shoulders to thighs. But trisuits can be an expensive outlay and if you’re wearing one twice a week in a chlorinated pool it’s a significant outlay.

Swimming legsuits go mainstream

Then I started to notice that on-line swimming shops and stores were stocking a few mainstream-styled swimming costume legsuits. Genius, I thought! Now these swimming costumes are fast becoming one of the most popular buys. I have seen so many more women wearing them at the pool and at leisure centres.

Swimming costume legsuits are great for all kinds of swimming sessions and for pool-based activities such as aqua aerobics. There are shorter and longer-legged versions and the designs are as different and as funky as any other swimming costume of bikini. many swimming legsuits are designed to make you more streamlined inn the pool, as well as for comfort and boosted self-confidence.

I already own a couple of these swimming legsuits and I’m a convert so I asked my guest reviewer Super Runner Rachel to try the Speedo Endurance Plus Superiority Legsuit. (Thanks to Simply Swim for sending this for testing.)

The labels says:  Women’s chlorine resistant legsuit in black and white from Speedo swimwear. This stylish legsuit is ideal for fitness swimming and aqua aerobics and is great for women who prefer to cover their upper legs. Features include:

• 100% chlorine resistant
• Longer lasting – 20 times more fade resistant than conventional elastane swimwear
• Quick drying
• 4 way stretch for softness and comfort.

Super Runner Rachel, who has decided to become a better swimmer as well as a great runner, gave the swimming costume a good try out in a Glasgow Triathlon Club swimming session. She said: “Brilliant. This is the most flattering swimming costume I have ever worn. It is really comfy and I felt confident in it, even surrounded by all those super-sleek triathletes! I also wasn’t as slow in the pool as I thought so maybe part of that was the swimming costume! I can’t imagine going back to a swimming costume without legs after wearing this.”

If you’re keen on swimming, or thinking about getting back into the pool, and you want a swimming costume that is practical and comfortable and also looks flattering I’d recommend a swimming costume legsuit. I can’t understand why it has taken so long for these to become more mainstream!