What are the differences in the selection of spandex swimwear fabric for different water activities?

1. Swimming
Swimming is a widely participated water sport, and the requirements for spandex swimwear fabric are mainly focused on comfort and elasticity.
Elasticity: When swimming, the body needs to move freely, so spandex swimwear fabric should have enough elasticity to adapt to the stretching and bending of the body. Spandex is known for its excellent elasticity. It can stretch to several times its original length without breaking or deforming, and can quickly return to its original shape, which is very suitable for making swimwear.
Comfort: In addition to elasticity, the fabric should also have good breathability and moisture absorption to keep the body dry and comfortable. Spandex fabric can be blended with other fibers such as cotton and polyester to increase breathability and moisture absorption, while reducing gloss and improving wearing comfort.
Chlorine resistance: Considering the chlorine water environment that may be encountered when swimming, the fabric should also have a certain degree of chlorine resistance. Chlorine water will corrode the fabric and shorten the service life of the swimsuit. Therefore, it is crucial to choose spandex swimwear fabric with chlorine resistance.

2. Surfing
Surfing is a more challenging water sport, and it has higher requirements for swimwear fabrics, mainly in terms of durability, warmth and quick-drying performance.
Durability: When surfing, the body will be strongly impacted by the waves, so the fabric needs to have sufficient strength and wear resistance to resist the scouring and friction of the waves. Spandex swimwear fabric is very suitable for making surfing wear because of its strong wear resistance. At the same time, the fabric should also have tear resistance to prevent accidental tearing during surfing.
Warmth: Surfing activities are usually carried out in colder waters, so the fabric should also have certain warmth retention properties. Thicker spandex fabrics can provide better warmth retention, but they will also increase the weight and thickness of the fabric, affecting the comfort of wearing. Therefore, when choosing surfing swimwear fabrics, it is necessary to find a balance between warmth retention and comfort.
Quick-drying performance: After surfing, the body needs to dry quickly to reduce discomfort. Therefore, the fabric should also have good quick-drying performance. Spandex fabric itself has good quick-drying performance, but it can also be blended with other fibers or use special processing technology to further improve the quick-drying effect.

3. Diving
Diving is a sport that requires long time underwater, and the requirements for swimwear fabrics are the most stringent, mainly reflected in the thickness, warmth, waterproofness, breathability and special functional requirements of the fabric.
Thickness: When diving, the body needs to be underwater for a long time, so spandex swimwear fabric should have sufficient thickness to provide sufficient warmth. Thicker spandex fabric can provide better warmth, and also help prevent damage from underwater creatures.
Warmth: Similar to surfing, diving activities also require fabrics to have good warmth. But the need for warmth during diving is more urgent, because being underwater for a long time will accelerate the loss of body temperature. Therefore, when choosing diving swimwear fabrics, special attention should be paid to its warmth.
Waterproofness: When diving, the body needs to be completely immersed in water, so the fabric should have good waterproof performance. Spandex fabric itself does not have complete waterproof performance, but it can be enhanced by blending with other waterproof fibers or using special coating technology.
Breathability: Although the body is underwater during diving, spandex swimwear fabric still needs to have a certain degree of breathability to maintain body comfort and reduce water penetration. Spandex fabric can meet this demand by blending with other breathable fibers or using special breathable treatment technology.
Special functional requirements: For professional divers, they may also need swimwear fabrics with special functions, such as UV resistance, scratch resistance, etc. These special functions can be achieved by adding special additives to the fabric or using special treatment technology