Editor’s Introduction

Thanks so much for checking out our 2021 12 & Under SwimOutlet Tech Suit Review!

This is the ninth year of the annual review and first-time ever we are working with an age group swim team and it’s also the first year our reviewers have focused on 12 & Under compliant tech suits.

The main reason for the different format this year is the new USA Swimming rule change for younger age group swimmers. This rule change has led to a new category of race suits from the top brands geared towards 12 & under swimmers. 

You can read the full USA Swimming rules about 12 & Under legal suits here including a link to a list of compliant and non-compliant suits. Our own SwimOutlet introduction to the new 12 & Under Tech Suit Rules can be found here.

We hope you as the reader will find this a fun and useful way to learn about information while you are shopping for this category of racing suits.  

How the Review Process Worked

Our suit reviews featured 5 boys and 5 girls at the Mariemont Aquatic Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. They tested the suits between January 15-February 15, 2021 and scored each suit on a score of 1-5 (1-Unsatisfactory; 2-Satisfactory; 3-Good; 4-Very Good; 5-Outstanding) across six different categories for each suit: 

• Fit
• Looks + Design
• Comfort + Ease to Put On
• Materials + Fabric
• Compression
• Overall Impression

All of our swimmers were aged 11-14 and, as you can imagine, none are either professional swimmers or writers.  So even more critical than in years past is to view the review as just one tool in your race suit purchasing decision along with several other resources at hand: brand information, word of mouth, customer service feedback, past experiences with suits, sizing charts, suit videos and more.

And remember, everyone has different preferences for their suits and different body types meaning there are varying options and opinions for all the suits out there!

In the end, we want our 2021 12 & Under SwimOutlet Tech Suit Review to help swimmers with their suit purchasing decision.

We averaged the scores out for each suit by category and listed them for each. Please note, for the FINIS Fuse Jr., we dropped two sets of male and female reviews due to our reviewers being bigger than the youth size range (6-14) available in the Fuse Jr.

Thanks again for checking out the SwimOutlet Tech Suit Review — enjoy the reviews, happy swimming & fast times!

12 & UNDER BOYS TECH SUIT REVIEWS

FINIS Boys Fuse Jr. Tech Suit
Price: $120

• Fit 2.7
• Looks + Design 3.3
• Comfort + Ease to Put On 2.2
• Materials + Fabric 3.2
• Compression 3.9
• Overall Impressions 3.2

This suit is the Jr. version of the bonded FINIS Fuse tech suit for swimmers older than 12. Designed with the intent of lasting a full season, the fabric is very durable, featuring hydro-reflective properties, flexibility, compression and UVA/UVB protection. Using the required stitched seams for swimmers 12 & under, it also uses silicone edges to provide a comfortable non-slip grip on the legs without limiting range of motion.

With Fuse Jr. sizing aimed at 12 & under and several of our reviewers a bit older, we did encounter some mismatches. Most important in the design of the Fuse Jr.  is that most swimmers under the age of 12 are not used to the fit and compression of a technical suit. [Editor’s Note: Older swimmers spend 10–20 minutes to put on the tech suit and younger kids need to realize it might take them five minutes or more to properly put on a suit like the Fuse Jr.]

FINIS designed this suit with a fun combo of blue and pink color called Cotton Candy and one reviewer remarked “I really liked the colors and the compression of the suit,” but did add “…everywhere except the waist.” 

Several reviewers commented on difficulties with fit around the waist, mentioning it felt like the “suit was going to fall off” — but in the end, the Fuse Jr. stayed on for everyone and the compressive qualities of the Fuse Jr. ended up being one of its strongest suits: “I would recommend this suit for a swimmer that wants their legs to be compressed as much as they can,” said one of our wear-testers. “It makes me feel like my legs are the focus,” added another.

This suit finished with several scores of 4 in the all-important compression category and perhaps this reviewer’s final comment is the most important of all: “This suit made me feel like I was swimming so much better than in a regular suit.” 

We asked FINIS about the tighter fit issues and they highlighted that they developed the Fuse Jr. to fit true to size, even using sizes 6 to 14 to make it easier for parents to relate to a size that might correspond with the swimmer’s age. If the swimmer is of average size, the size and age would correspond but if the swimmer is larger or smaller than their age, they would adjust accordingly. 

In the end, if the fit works for you and you like leg compression in your suits, then the compression and durability of the FINIS Fuse Jr. might be exactly what you’re looking for!

12 & UNDER GIRLS TECH SUIT REVIEWS

FINIS Girls Fuse Jr. Tech Suit
Price: $150

• Fit 3
• Looks + Design 4
• Comfort + Ease to Put On 2.0
• Materials + Fabric 3.7
• Compression 3.7
• Overall Impressions 3.16

This suit is the junior version of the bonded Fuse tech suit for swimmers older than 12. Designed with the intent of lasting a full season, the fabric is highly durable while still offering flexibility, compression and UVA/UVB protection. With its focus on 12 & under ages, the Fuse Jr. was outside of the size range for two of our female reviewers.

FINIS works with American freestyle and backstroke star Oliva Smoliga who races in the high-end FINIS Rival 2.0 but keeps the Fuse on hand for test sets and practice because of its durability, compression and flexibility. Not surprisingly, the Fuse Jr. received some of its highest marks for compression similar to its male counterpart, garnering an average score of 3.7.

With its eye-catching “Cotton Candy” pink and blue colors, the Fuse Jr. made an instant impression on our female reviewers. “I really liked the bright colors”… “Loved the color combo”… were just two of the comments from our group as it scored a 4. 

It’s important that young swimmers realize it might take 5 minutes or more to put on a tech suit in order to get fit and compression right. For a suit like the Fuse Jr., it needs to be pulled up fully on the lower back and waist to assure the straps are comfortable over the shoulders. Proper compression distributed across the legs and buttocks helps lock in the core for powerful swimming. [Editor’s note; elite swimmers often spend up to 20 minutes putting on suits!]

The suit’s good scores for design and compression were weighed down a bit by ease to get on and overall comfort. Several swimmers highlighted some difficulty with getting the suit on and two reviewers noted that the legs on the kneeskins were the shortest of the bunch — but another highlighted the water-repellency: “this suit made me feel quick since it repelled water so well.”

The sizing available is “true to size,” according to FINIS, based on youth sizes 6-14 to make it easier for parents to relate to the size that may correspond with the swimmer’s age. The feedback from most of the reviewers was to size up at least one size with the Fuse Jr: “I would definitely recommend that swimmers try the suit out before a big meet since the fabric is so restrictive at first,” emphasized one reviewer. “I would suggest perhaps going up at least one size on this one.” A suit “developed especially for 12 & under smaller swimmers” is how one wear-tester succinctly put it.

We asked FINIS about the tight fit and they noted that without the experience of putting on racing suits and swimming with compression, figuring out a tech suit for younger swimmers is not an easy task — but ultimately the benefits of core compression will make the performance better. 

Click here to read the full article.