Swimming Shirts for Men Question

[BuzzBiteyear]

Okay, I have not been in a pool or any water (except for wading) in probably 20 years. I find removing my shirt to be embarassing due to my "big-boned" body and grizzly bear appearance, and least of which my sporty farmers' tan.

I'm wondering if many guys actually tend to wear these. And if so, does it seem like the whole family generally wears them? Just something I've always been very self-conscious about, and like I said has kept me basically out of the pools for most of my life.

Also, if anyone has these, are they skin-tight, along the lines of Under Armour?


TIA

 

[Orsino]

I saw several guys with shirts on in the pool (including yesterday :sigh. And not all were "grizzlies." I think some wear shirts to prevent sunburn.

Personally, I like grizzly bear men; but if you want to wear a shirt, no one will care. Have fun!

 

[MariDisney]

My DH is also "big boned" and "grizzly bear like". He insists on wearing a shirt when he's in the water. I personally think he looks hot no matter what, but he's really self conscious about being so hairy. He has a shirt made out of some sort of material that reminds me of basketball shorts. So, it dries quickly. It's not skin tight at all. I don't believe it's made for swimming specifically. He got it at a sporting goods store.

 

[mollymar]

My husband and son are both fair skinned and always wear rash guards when swimming outdoors. They are not tight fitting at all and as pp said are made of a material that dries super fast. They are fairly cheap at places like Target, Walmart etc.

 

[Hoppypooh]

Please do whatever makes YOU happy.

We are always our own worst critics when it comes to our appearance.
In general, other people are not judging you by your weight or body hair as harshly as you are. Disney is for fun! Life is too short to worry about what other people think. And really, when are you ever going to see these people again?

 

[es45]

My DH is "a bear" too. He wears a rash guard and he loves his. His is black, which I thought would be hot, yet he finds it very comfortable. They are not tight-fitting and several of his friends, who are all shaped differently, wear them too. We ordered his from Zappos (it is an Oakley shirt) since we couldn't find one he liked locally. My girls wear them occasionally; I never do.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Please do whatever makes YOU happy.

We are always our own worst critics when it comes to our appearance.
In general, other people are not judging you by your weight or body hair as harshly as you are. Disney is for fun! Life is too short to worry about what other people think. And really, when are you ever going to see these people again?

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'll have to check these out some more. And for at least our oldest son as well. He takes after DW and is very fair-skinned.

 

[lvinay]

Under Armour makes a loose fit t-shirt that my dh likes to wear to the pool/beach. He doesn't always wear it in the water, but does put it on when he knows he's been in the sun too long. It wicks away sweat and is not too tight at all. They are expensive in sports stores, but I see them at Marshalls and TJMaxx a lot. I think Amazon has them too. He has tried rash guards, but they are too tight for his liking, plus he hates the high neck on most. My boys wear rash guards when we are at the beach, but not at the pool usually.

 

[autigger]

Check out Lands End.

I have two swim shirts (one long sleeve and one short sleeve) from there and they work great! I prefer the short sleeve one and it is not tight fitting.

You can either look online or check out a local Sears’s store. Most Sears now have a Lands End section (most folks don't know this). Also, if you go to the Lands End section at Sears and they don’t have your size they will order it for you with free shipping.

Swim shirts are very common and you should not feel self-conscious at all about wearing one. I wore one to Blizzard Beach during our last trip and it worked great!

 

[Manda]

My husband wears one (as well as my son). He's not especially big-boned, but he's very fair and burns easily. He was resistant to clingly, lycra-ish ones, but we found a good one from Speedo (speedo.com) that's a different feel, but still quick dry. It's not especially tight or clingy. He got it in Navy and just looks and fits like a regular t-shirt. While the majority of men aren't wearing them, my husband definitely wasn't the only one. He also found it helpful on the fast body slides - prevents those friction rubs on your shoulder blades.

 

[disneyfaninaz]

I second Lands' End. My DH does not like to wear anything around his neck and T-shirt type collars bother him. I was able to find a zip up SPF Rash Guard shirt for hiim to wear. He loves it. P.S. He has also had skin cancer surgery and needs to protect a scar, the shirt works perfectly.

 

[Tara922c]

My DH intends on wearing one. I can relate, I wouldn't there would be no way I would show my stomach at the pool. I don't care one way or another, I just want DH to be compfertable. You should wear what you feel compfertable in. I promise, no one is going to be stareing at you either way! If you feel more compfertable in a rash guard, then wear it. You will enjoy yourself more if you feel compfertable!

 

[sharadoc]

My DH and DS both wear shirts in the pool. They are both fair and it's much better to prevent sunburn, especially on vacation. I missed putting sunscreen on my neck last august and I was really uncomfortable for the rest of the time.

Honestly, no one is even looking at you in the pool, let alone judging you. Please - we are all there to have fun. You deserve the same - have a great time and wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.

 

[DutchsMommy]

2 things:

1) wear the shirt - DH does, being both red-haired and hairy
2) I truly believe WDW is the BEST place on earth to feel free to be, act, do whatever. I feel like I am a tubby most of the time, but there I will put on my bathing suit and have a great time in the pool and on the waterslide. I love how freeing it is at Disney to just be a kid!

 

[itradehilton]

As previous posters have stated get one of the sun gaurd shirts with a looser fit. My DH wears them to the Parks too if he knows we will be hitting the we rides.

 

[GME]

Check out Lands End.

I have two swim shirts (one long sleeve and one short sleeve) from there and they work great! I prefer the short sleeve one and it is not tight fitting.

You can either look online or check out a local Sears’s store. Most Sears now have a Lands End section (most folks don't know this). Also, if you go to the Lands End section at Sears and they don’t have your size they will order it for you with free shipping.

Swim shirts are very common and you should not feel self-conscious at all about wearing one. I wore one to Blizzard Beach during our last trip and it worked great!

I have a swim shirt from Lands End- it's very comfortable. The biggest benefit is that I am pretty sensitive to the sun, so wearing the shirt is a much better bet than putting on the sunscreen and missing a spot.

 

[DaniB]

I keep reading how hot it is, and how easily it is to sunburn in Florida -that I purchased a matching "swim shirt" with my son's "swim shorts". I want to find some kind of light, dries quickly type shirt for myself and daughter. Husband wants one as well.

 

[Coach81]

Which is why I'm working on my last 6 - 8 lbs before we leave!!!! Want to be able to feel GOOD about taking my shirt off!!!

 

[tallen429]

DS (15) is allergic to extreme temps. (Yes, it's a real allergy...LOL!)
He breaks out in hives in pools, and he's very self conscious about it so he always wears a t-shirt. I've never seen the loose fit swim shirts, only the tight style he probably wouldn't like, so I'll be investigating getting him one of those! He loves to go in the water but he won't if he can't cover himelf, so this would make it more fun for him and dry faster than a regular t-shirt.

 

[BuzzBiteyear]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions everyone.