Swimming Shirts for Men Question

[TrustedTraveler]

Due to my size (think Biggest Loser week 1) I've stayed out of pools and out of the water for 25 years, until... we rented a pool home in Kissimmee. Now the pool is one of my favorite parts of our vacation.

 

[Sam's_Mom]

Old Navy has a variety of types and sizes with good prices too!! My guys complain about some friction type problems if they are too loose or too tight so the right middle size is important

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

DH has always insisted on wearing a t-shirt in the pool, he's self concious about his extra weight. He's lost 75lb since we had our DD5. He looks great and I encourage him to do what makes him comfortable. I am pooh sized as well. I used to always wear something over my swim suit then after I had my DD5 I finally accepted that a t-shirt is not going to fool anyone If you are horrified look away, it's not like I'm wearing a bikini

 

[Kaarup]

Not sure how to make this PC... there will be many older European men there in speedos.... you have nothing to worry about!!! We are also Pooh sized and LOVE the pools at the resorts and the water parks!! Have fun!!!!

 

[tzolkin]

My DH is neither hairy nor "pooh-sized", but he has his nipples pierced and feels uncomfortable taking his shirt off in some places. I really can't see what the big deal is, but it bothers him when he feels that children and adults are staring at him. He usually just wears an undershirt/tank top, but last trip I bought him a swim-type shirt.

DS (almost 4) sunburns easily, so he always wears a swim shirt. I have purchased his at Old Navy and Target on clearance.

 

[mrodgers]

"Big boned", from guys? Come on guys, really? Big boned? Just come right out and say it, we are guys....

I have a BIG *** Belly! Yeah, you can see the ripple of muscle still in my calves and I guess they would be quads as well. Everything below the waist I look like I'm still 20. Above the waist is a different matter. Oh, yeah, and grizzly bear is exactly how my wife and girls describe me too, though I've seen worse, much worse.

I've looked up some of these shirts folks are mentioning here. Tight can be described differently depending on the person. I like my t-shirts big, really big. I'm 5'10" and 230 lb, most in the belly. It's not that t-shirts don't fit. I just like how loose and maneuverable a 3X t-shirt is. These shirts in this thread that I've looked up don't look tight, just form fitting. No one wants to see that form when I'm walking towards the pool, hehehe. Form fitting to someone else may not be tight. Form fitting to me is tight, really tight. I'm not too sure about these shirts that I'm seeing mentioned in this thread.

Though, if I'm going in the pool, I'm going in the pool. I'll be up to my neck in water, so I'm not too sure if I would worry about wearing a shirt. I wear a shirt when I take the girls to the lake, but that is just basically wading around in the water near shore, not doing any actual swimming in the water.

I haven't been to a public pool since the old belly matched those legs of steel I still have, LOL.

 

[Yoshi]

I usually just wear a sleeveless shirt when I go to a waterpark. One thing I like about Disney is they let you wear a shirt on the slides, even body slides like Slusher Gusher (my local waterpark makes you take off your shirt on any body slides)

 

[badblackpug]

There's always waxing...............

 

[ariel53098]

8yo DS has a growth that is under his shirt. Specialists believe it will go away in the next year (or they'll remove it). He is ok with it and tends to like to show it off. However, I don't want some kid to start making fun of it and make him self-conscious. So, our whole family is wearing rash guards this summer with the "we are going to protect our skin from the sun" reason.

I'm fair skinned so I really benefit but the rest of my family is olive complexion and tans easily. My DDs suits came with the rash guard. I got DS's at Target and DH found one at Walmart. I had to special order mine because I didn't want tight.

I'm a little "top heavy" and with all the bending, twisting, etc I do with twin 2 yo DDs, I don't want to worry about a wardrobe malfunction at the pool.
I also wanted a loose fitted rash guard to try to NOT draw attention to my chest. Try searching online for "Loose fit rash guard" and see if you can find something.

That all being said, I agree that most people won't even notice you if you decide not to wear the rash guard. I like mine so much now that I doubt I'll ever go without a rash guard again! I feel like I can actually swim and play without being worried about being too revealing.
Rachel

 

[lllGurulll]

how are these swim shirts different from say a sports shirt that wicks away sweat.

 

[ariel53098]

how are these swim shirts different from say a sports shirt that wicks away sweat.

Mine is SPF 50 but sport shirts protect as well as a regular tshirt. RIT (the company that makes color dye for clothes) has some type of stuff that you can wash clothes in that gives it some SPF protection. It is possible to get sunburned in a regular t-shirt (story of my life growing up on the gulf coast of FL!)
T-shirt is better than nothing though. My rash guard is also made of a thicker like material so that even though it is a looser fit, it doesn't float up in the water like t-shirts can do.
I'm sure others have more to add!
Rachel

 

[MichelleinMaine]

DS (15) is allergic to extreme temps. (Yes, it's a real allergy...LOL!)

My DD breaks out in cold too. I can't even count the times I've said "yes it's an actual allergy", lol!

I agree with all those who say check Lands End. I got all of us (including DH) rash guards there. In addition to the general coverage, they are a much higher SPF than a wet tshirt.

Sign up for their emails, seems I'm getting offers every other day for % off and/or free shipping!

 

[abooch]

I've been trying to find a sleeveless rash guard...anybody help me out?

 

[mmmears]

Lands End is good, or a good dive shop if there is one near your home. You wont be the only one -- my DH wears one or he'll be lobster-red in about a 1/2 an hour. Plenty of people are sun-conscious these days.

 

[Belle5]

DH and my sons wear them.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

there's always waxing...............

yoooowwwww kelly clarkson!!!!!

 

[Tomh]

Probably true. I just don't want some poor kid on his/her trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth" being traumatized by the man-bear in the pool.

I've struggled with my weight for most of my adult life, and at times I've been pretty fat. I stay out of the water for the most part as well, partially because of my weight, but also because I'm not a great swimmer, and not terribly comfortable swimming.

I have slimmed down quite a bit over the past few years, but still carry the big belly from stretching the skin out so much. In the past, I've worn a loose T shirt when my kids drug me into the water with them. Last year, DD insisted that I go swimming with her, and DS. Sadly, at 15 years old, she had never seen her father swim, and I'm not entirely sure she believed that I could, so I went swimming with them while we were in Disney.

I have to say that it was a relief to see that I wasn't the only big person at the pool. I chose to take the shirt off, there were others there both with, and without shirts on.

I think, what ever you feel most comfortable with will be fine. It is most likely that there will be other "big boned" people there, and perhaps another bear or two as well. Just do what makes you feel best, no one will even look twice, and I doubt any children will run away crying.

 

[Coach81]

Agree.. don't worry.. there will be PLENTY of big people at the pool or waterslide...

 

[tallen429]

My DD breaks out in cold too. I can't even count the times I've said "yes it's an actual allergy", lol!

I agree with all those who say check Lands End. I got all of us (including DH) rash guards there. In addition to the general coverage, they are a much higher SPF than a wet tshirt.

Sign up for their emails, seems I'm getting offers every other day for % off and/or free shipping!

I get the LE catalogs and emails...I guess I just never paid much attention to the men's swim section. I'll look through the catalog I got a few days ago. it's has some swim deals, I think.

Had to laugh at your comment about the "countless times"! We had to explain to DSs high school that he can't take swim class. Not because of the self-conscousness, but because his doctor wasn't sure what kind of effect being in the pool every day would have on his breathing problems. in the end they were good about it, but we get a lot of raised eyebrows...until they see him.

 

[Explodo]

I'm hunting down one of these

I'm a huge fan of 1920's stuff.