Grown out of junior suits? Which size do I need?

When you are too big for the junior sizes you’d have thought it would be easy to choose the next size up. You’d reasonably expect a size 28 junior to move to a size 30 adults. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Most junior sizes range from a size 22 to 28 but recently on their performance range Speedo has deviated from this and moved to an age based size. Adult sizes then can start as low as a size 18 and go all the way through to size 40. With a 28 junior not being the same size as a 28 adult this is where it all gets a bit confusing.

It’s essential to start using the size guides and evaluating which size will be best for the swimmer. We’ll include some brand focussed guidance below but it’s worth noting the following:

• adult suits are based on adult body shapes which by nature are longer in length for a similar waist or hip measurement.
• It’s useful to look at the body loop measurement to provide an indication of the height of swimmer the suit is designed for.
• suits should be bought to fit now, not with growing room for the future.

Some specific brand guidance is set out below.

Arena Powerskin

Arena’s Powerskin junior suits normally finish at a size 28 and the next size up is the adults 22.

For boys, the waist and the hips are a logical step up so the main thing the swimmer will notice is the increased leg length.

For girls it’s less straight forward and closer attention needs paying to the size guides. For example the 22 women’s has a larger waist, chest and body loop than the girls 28 but the hips guide is 80-85cm compared to 82-86cm for a girls 28. For girls who have a larger hip measurement the next best size may be a women’s 24 where the hip measurement is 85-90cm.

Funky Trunks

Funky Trunks training sizes are easy to follow as the next size up from a boys 28 is a men’s 30. You will notice quite a bit of difference in the leg length though. These jammers are a larger fit than say Arena so boys tend to transition to men’s sizes later in their development.

Funkita

Funkita training suits go up to a girls size 14 and then start at a women’s size 6. The size 8 women’s has almost identical measurements to the size 14 girls.

Funkita performance

Funkita’s performance range only comes in women’s sizing. Girls will fit in the smaller sizes, for example a women’s 18 is similar to a girls Funkita training size 10, but it’s worth noting these suits are narrow in the hip. As a comparison to Arena Powerskin, the girls size 26 is similar to a Funkita size 18 but noting the body loop is 10cm longer on the women’s suit. These smaller women’s suits are a great option for swimmers needing a slender fit.