Pictured below, Mark Spitz on the cover of the September 1972 edition of Time Magazine. Spitz had just dominated Olympic swimming with seven gold medals, seven world records, and zero swim caps.
Swim caps have become so common place in the sport, that virtually every experienced swimmer wears them, unless they shave their head. Older caps were made of various cloth materials. One can still find Lycra Spandex caps, though such caps have been overrun by more popular materials, namely latex and silicone. Lycra Spandex is permeable, which creates drag and doesn't even keep your hair dry, the very reasons swimmers wear caps. Latex and silicone it is.
Latex versus Silicone: Each have their advantages and disadvantages. Swimmers usually prefer one over the other for their own reasons. Here's a comparison to help you choose.
| Latex | Silicone |
| Cheaper | More expensive |
| Thin material | Thicker material |
| Stretch easily | Stiffer stretch |
| Stretchy | Super Stretchy |
| Can pull long hair | Pulls hair less |
| Stays on better | Can slide up |
| Gets sticky in the heat | Doesn't get sticky |
| Rips easily | Harder to rip |
| Wrinkles on top (drag) | Less wrinkles |
| One size fits all | Youth and adult sizes |
| Less durable | More durable |
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