swimwear for naturists!!!

[yfenni]

Given that the best swimwear in the world is no swimwear at all, can anyone tell me what is the minimum coverage that is allowed or tolerated in uk swimming pools? For example, how much of the butt can be exposed, and is a visible butt crack acceptable? Also, if the lining of a suit is removed so that it is transparent or almost transparent when wet, is this acceptable, particularly if the costume is not over-brief? I am thinking more particularly on men's costumes, but again, given that women are generally allowed more latitude than men (apart from the nipples!) how brief is brief without being thrown out of a pool?

[yfenni]

Given that the best swimwear in the world is no swimwear at all, can anyone tell me what is the minimum coverage that is allowed or tolerated in uk swimming pools? For example, how much of the butt can be exposed, and is a visible butt crack acceptable? Also, if the lining of a suit is removed so that it is transparent or almost transparent when wet, is this acceptable, particularly if the costume is not over-brief? I am thinking more particularly on men's costumes, but again, given that women are generally allowed more latitude than men (apart from the nipples!) how brief is brief without being thrown out of a pool?

[Bob S.]

Different rules for different pools. Why not go ask the specific pool what their swim suit dress code is?

Bob S.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Bob S.:
Different rules for different pools. Why not go ask the specific pool what their swim suit dress code is?

Bob S. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>I've never met a pool that would answer me if I did talk to it! Sorry, Bob, I couldn't resist a little humor. Yea, I know, VERY little. /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[Fresh Air]

I don't see the point of pushing any limits if suits are required. I always wear a regular bathing suit when rules call for it.

Fresh Air

I don't own a swimsuit and don't go where I need one.

I don't own a swimsuit and I also don't go where I would need one.

[shãybare]

Ditto.

[Stevedaoust]

There's pushing the envelope and there's tearing it open BUT if you GoTo http://www.internationalmale.com and look up their swimsuits I'm sure you find something that you like. There are suits that tan all over WHILE you're wearing them, if that's what you're trying to do. I have seen swimsuits that don't tie around the waist but around the MEAT AND POTATOES 'only' for that 'just' BARELY legal look but that's contraversial in itself because you're showing the PLUMBERS CRACK and very few places allow it.

[Bob S.]

All right you little smart A-double crooked letter of a Jon-Marc.

Personally, I cannot stand to wear speedos. I don't even wear underwear as it is so restricting. When I have to wear a suit, it is the trunk style.

Bob S.

[mel]

Here in Adrian, MI, we have The Christian Family Centre. It's a great health and fitness center with a gymnasium, workout center, large pool, racketball courts, bowling, and even a dining room and snack shop. Their rates are about the same as the YMCA and the pool water is warmer than the Y's. I swim there 2 or 3 times a week so I need a swim suit. This a their rule on that:

Appropriate attire should be worn in the swimming pool area. One-piece swimming suits or swimming trunks are required for anyone using the swimming pool.Gym shorts, tennis shorts, running shorts, racing suits, speedos, cut-offs, two-piece, open front and extreme French-cut swim suits are not permitted. The Centre staff reserves the right to speak to anyone concernimg acceptable attire.

[aunaturelone]

If you're going to wear a suit, wear an average suit for your area. Wearing a thong doesn't do anything for nude rights and isn't particularly comfortable.

In LA the strap up the back has to be at least 2 inches wide. The local social convention is that the only males who'd wear such a thing are gays on the make. Heterosexual males - and conservative gays - wear trunks. (Of course this hasn't always been so and may change again.)

[florida-david]

aunaturelone - too bad homophobia still exists in your neck of the woods. seems kinda immature to judge people by what they are wearing, but hopefully you are only stating what you see and do not believe that b.s.

mel - what kind of silly organization does not allow a speedo?? i think you should protest and than stop going to a place that is so goofy.

don't go to international male unless you have a six pack abs and spend 90% of your awake time in the gym, do they have ANY pictures of normal looking guys in their stuff?? i don't think so. i have bought things from them in the past, and it is very qood quality...

[shãybare]

My take on this issue is this. What is your purpose of going to the pool in the first place? If your intent is to just go swim and have a good time, then wearing what is expected at the pool is what you would do. If you are there to make a statement or protest, then wear something that will catch managements attention and be prepared to be expelled or face the police.

I'm in the water to enjoy the water on ALL of my body without an uncomfortable piece of cloth that serves no useful purpose except to say, "I'm ashamed of the parts I'm covering up"

[aunaturelone]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>what kind of silly organization does not allow a speedo? <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>The state of Arkansas?

See the discussion of "Indecent non-nudity in Arkansas" in the Legal section.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>but hopefully you are only stating what you see and do not believe that b.s. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>LOL!!! Don't get me started on the stupidity of beach fashion! A couple ounces of brightly colored nylon can set you back a hundred bucks.

[mel]

florida-david

I guess it's more of a private organization where their rules can be more stringent than the Y's down the road. I did think about changing to the Y, but their pool water is colder and racketball courts not as nice as the Family Centre's, and the Centre gives you a locker with key and clean towel. Also , the Centre has more open time for their gym and pool, and it's not nearly as crowded.
Have you heard of Merrillat Kitchens. Their main plant and offices are here in Adrian. Mr. Merrillat built the Centre with his own money about 12 years ago. When they first openened, you had to have a minister recommend you to be a member. They have since lightened up on some of it.
I don't use the weight room, but I know you cannot take your shirt off when you are working out. In the locker room, all of the showers are private with two curtains. The first one is a area to change clothes and then another one for the shower area. Alot of people wear their shorts to the shower so no one will see them naked.

[AussieBeachBoy]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Appropriate attire should be worn in the swimming pool area... speedos... are not permitted. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Good heavens! I can't believe this! The speedo is pretty much the standard suit for any competitive swimmer, and an awful lot of guys in my country wear one too. The only swimsuit I own is a speedo. It's amazing that something can be such an internationally accepted swimsuit but still found objectionable.

[aunaturelone]

There are parts of the world where jellyfish are a problem. Nylon shirt and hose are not an unreasonable thing to wear in those areas if there might be jellies about.

[luvnaturism]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by aunaturelone:
There are parts of the world where jellyfish are a problem. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>We were staying at a Carribean resort. I followed my usual routine of getting up early for a run, a swim, and a cup of coffee before going back to get my wife up.

At the nude beach I waded in until the water was deep enough to swim, and then flopped over on my back and started doing the backstroke. When I stopped to rest I noticed that the water around me was black. A closer look showed that overnight millions of little black jellyflish had come onshore. I got of there quickly, and wasn't stung.

Over the course of the day I asked four members of the waterfront staff about the possible danger from the jellyfish. Two of them said there was no danger, that this type of jellyfish didn't sting. The other told told me about time they personally had received painful stings!

I decided to go with the guys with the stings, and stayed out of the water?as did just about everyone else. Fortunately by next day the wind had taken them back offshore, so there wasn't a jellyfish to be seen.

[missouriboy]

And jellyfish are not always visible from all directions. I've gotten into what appeared to be clean surf, only to go out some and look back toward the shore and see many jellyfish that I've waded through. Yikes! It sometimes depends on the angle of the light, so be careful.

[bendigonudey]

This discussion gives me another reason to be glad I live in Oz.

Had a holiday in Queensland in September and wore G-strings on the textile beaches, and of course, went nude on Alexandria Bay at Noosa Heads.

"Most" Aussie beaches are pretty relaxed these days, with topless for females, whilst not usual, is certainly not uncommon, and unlikely to get a negative re-action.

And certainly, I can't imagine any pool operator putting speedos on the list of prohibited swimwear!

[Jochanaan]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by AussieBeachBoy:
Good heavens! I can't believe this! The speedo is pretty much the standard suit for any competitive swimmer, and an awful lot of guys in my country wear one too. The only swimsuit I own is a speedo. It's amazing that something can be such an internationally accepted swimsuit but still found objectionable. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Well, we "damn Yankees" haven't accepted the metric system either. /infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif

Did anyone notice a little blurb on one of the swimsuits: "Accentuating front pouch." Now why would they do that? /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif

[Artie]

The only swim suit I have is too small for me to wear now. I hate them and anymore only go swi,,img im a private place where I can be nude. Speedo's are very uncomfortable. I wore one once to take my Life Gaurding final test. I have never put on on since. In college I took a swimnastics class for my PE component. I was one of the few men in the class. The instructor said I could wear a speedo if i wanted to. I thought to my self, "who in this class wants to see me in a speedo. I should have asked her if I could swim nude, biut that was before I began researching nudism more. I wish I could take that class again and show up in the nude. Well granted that it wouldn't get me kicked out of class.

Artie

[George SoCal]

Mel:

Glad to see that the Family Centre is open to topless swimming, at least from the rules you posted. There is hope! (one piece bathing suit or trunks!)

[mel]

I don't see anything wrong with speedo's either as I used to wear them all the time, until my kids kept saying they were out of style. I can only guess that the rule makers thought speedo's show too much.
They would flip out if they knew that my swim suit does not have a liner in them. But they are much more comfortable.

The male youth these days are so ashamed of their bodies that they wear pants and shorts that are so baggy that they can hardly keep them on. They wear big, baggy shorts to swim in for fear that someone can tell how much they've got by the outline in the swimsuit. My mother made me wear baggy pants because she didn't want me to "show my shape" as she put it. I've never had all that much "shape" to show. That's what the young people are afraid of doing now. They're afraid someone can tell how big or small their genitals are by the "shape", so they wear something so big that no one could tell even if they wanted.

[Aaron Adams]

I'm a science fiction fan and once had a science fiction type idea that might be relevant to the topic "swimwear for naturists". The idea was this clothing that was able to adjust the way it felt on your body so that it is as comfortable as possible. If you wanted to you could adjust the way the clothing felt so it felt like you were naked. The idea was to create clothing comfortable enough that even naturist would be comfortable in the clothing.

[HRA2001]

Understanding pool rules AND norms of the environment dictate coverage. In the US I wear trunks only. LIkewise in the UK. In southern European locales I typically go with a thong. Pools allow it, norms accept it, and as far as swimwear goes, thongs are the most comfortable swimwear I have ever tried.

[NakedGary]

As John-Marc mentioned in a few posts back, the youths and many adults [especially males] today are so ashamed of their bodies they hide, avoid being around others when changing, do not shower, or some not even urinate in group or public bathrooms fearing someone will see them.

Why is all this shyness, body shame, and fear of being naked, or others maybe seeing what you have ?

I think some of this shyness or body shame is caused by the media, press, and advertising [not to mention the porn industry]in promoting & showing only the unrealistic images or perception that everone is "10" in body shape, muscles, 6 pack abs, hairless, wedge shaped glossed body,& large flacid or erect genitals, perfect features, hair and etc, and with females the perfect breasts,and bone skinney body just for clothes to hang on, or model.

In comparing or wondering if they are normal seeing all this promotion of image they become fearfull they are not normal and want to hide or not be seen naked, or even the possibility of someone seeing them in a public or group bathroom, or shower facility, even at school, or swiming pools, etc.

The parents are at fault also, for promoting bodyshame as they are unsecure about their own bodies also.

[florida-david]

1. i don't think the baggy shorts craze is so guys do not show their 'shape', i think it is simply to fit in with the herd and look like the rest of the gang. why people have to fit in so much is beyond me, i guess we can't have any individuals?!
2. have you noticed how this wierd societal hang-up with the perfect body has affected homes? now the desire is for each kid in a family to have not only their own bedroom, but also their own private bath room. this is so that no-one sees them in a private moment and so that no one sees them until they have achieved that perfect aesthetic. what a bunch of crap, we are all not perfect, yet we can't even show our imperfections to our own family. silly.

[MikeJB]

Yeah I mean these kids would be sunk if they only had one bedroom or bathroom then theyd HAVE TO accept seeing each other. I mean some people just consider that a part of everyday life. I mean i think its more fufilling to see your family naked than some total stranger, I mean if I had to pick between the two.

[MikeJB]

Swimsuits are stupid and most of them are geared towards sex anyways. Thats why guys wear old baggy grandpa shorts and the girls wear such breif bikinis they might as well just be allowed to go nude. I mean swimsuits dont do anything but promote body shame and restrict your movement in the water and just fuel our sex craze in this society.

[davy]

Unfortunately, swim wear is definitely one area with a huge double standard. Women can wear anything as skimpy as they want, but men have a much harder time. I much prefer the "speedo" type bikinis, but I am often the only such male. If you are planning to do any serious swimming, the baggy trunks and board-shorts so many wear are a big drag in the water. They make swimming such a hassle.

The more you wear while swimming, the more water you're lugging around. That's why Nude and natural" is best--no wet clothes, no clothes to collect sand and other unpleasant things. My body air dries in minutes. /infopop/emoticons/icon_cool.gif

[MichaelJB]

I dont really care what I wear, im gonna wear what I want *as long as its legal* and if I dont fit in with the societal standard, I dont give a crap. Might as well just go nude and teach these nitwits that they shouldnt be ashamed of their bodies. All of the stuff mentioned here just proves how much Stu and Sandy are wrong when they try to say that people merely wear clothes because they dont like to be naked or seen naked and that its just a simple choice for them.

Mike says:

I dont really care what I wear, im gonna wear what I want *as long as its legal* and if I dont fit in with the societal standard, I dont give a crap"

and..

Might as well just go nude and teach these nitwits that they shouldnt be ashamed of their bodies"

Mike, I did suggest a Men's Bikini like this:

http://www.bikini-beach.com/mens.htm

For you, but you said it was degrading! Why? After all, you don't "give a crap"..

Would any of those bikinis be legal anywhere? The see-through ones are interesting--why wear anything if one is going to wear a see-through? Does it actually cover anything?

They leave very little to the imagination. Some of them show the shape and size of the man's penis. If it was legal on a public beach, which I doubt, it would be the next best thing to being nude.

[naturalmanwa]

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, if I have to wear something to swim in, I find something else to do. No Nude swimming---no me.

I am not a person with a body that would attract a lot of attention but I have never hesitated to shower when necessary and am not ashamed of the way I was created.

[MichaelJB]

Mike says:

I dont really care what I wear, im gonna wear what I want *as long as its legal* and if I dont fit in with the societal standard, I dont give a crap"

and..

Might as well just go nude and teach these nitwits that they shouldnt be ashamed of their bodies"

Mike, I did suggest a Men's Bikini like this:

http://www.bikini-beach.com/mens.htm

For you, but you said it was degrading! Why? After all, you don't "give a crap"..
-------------------------------------------------

You still dont get it, its degrading because if someone is gonna go to the effort to wear something like that they might as well be nude because it DOES NOT hide anything and covers almost nothing and really does nothing for modesty so at this point there really is no reason to even force people to wear ANYTHING. Its degrading to have to wear a stupid little peice of cloth like this Sandy, its silly.

[Rex]

Originally posted by Jon-Marc:

"Would any of those bikinis be legal anywhere?"

Any beach or hotel pool in Bali and the ladies don't need a top either.

I guess I should have been more specific, Rex. I meant are they legal anywhere in THIS country? Of course, I'm with Mike on this /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif . I don't own a swimsuit and don't care to wear one, and what good is something that barely covers the genitals and leaves little to the imagination? You might as well be nude.

Out of curiosity once I bought some thong underwear. My balls were visible on the sides, and I'm not built all that big. If a thong swimsuit doesn't cover any more than the thong underwear, I can see why heads turn when a man wears one at a beach /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif .

Mike says:

You still dont get it, its degrading because if someone is gonna go to the effort to wear something like that they might as well be nude because it DOES NOT hide anything and covers almost nothing and really does nothing for modesty so at this point there really is no reason to even force people to wear ANYTHING. Its degrading to have to wear a stupid little peice of cloth like this Sandy, its silly"

But....he SAID EARLIER:

I dont really care what I wear, im gonna wear what I want *as long as its legal* and if I dont fit in with the societal standard, I dont give a crap"

Mike, you said you "didn't care what you wore-you were gonna wear it as long as it was legal-if you didn't fit with the society standard-you didn't care!

Mike, be a MAN! Put on your G-String or thong-and walk around! /infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

I think you might look cute in the pink one /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Hey, Mike, just wear one of the see-through ones. That'll give the ladies a thrill /infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif !

[MichaelJB]

Thats not the point though, if society doesnt give a rip about me wearing something barely there or even SEE-THRU then why would they be bothered by me being naked and why in the world should I not be able to be nude? Its cheaper. All buying a little thong does is shows how stupid society is and gives more money to the fashion industry for them to run around and push their perfect image concept on everyone, I dont wanna support that sort of thing, id rather go nude and let those nitwits go bankrupt and then everyone would have to go nude because they couldnt make anymore thongs /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

Gee, Mike, no sense of humor, huh? Take a deep breath and COOL DOWN! You're getting all heated up over nothing. Of course, I can't see any reason to wear something that's transparent. Since everyone would be able to see everything, you might as well be nude.

[MichaelJB]

Im not upset, I was just saying that its silly if youre gonna let someone wear a see-thru thong to make them wear anything at all because being naked hides nothing more than the thong does.

I can't figure out what purpose a see-through thong serves.

[Naturist Mark]

Swimwear for naturists: http://www.clothesfree.com/swimsuit.html

-Mark

[slowpoke]

Let's face the facts guys and gals most of the world has no idea of what we like to do. We are a very small minority in the grand scheme of things. That does not mean we should not fight for our rights. Just the fact that we have to realize that the Stus and Sandys of the world do not agree with us. We are not going to change their minds. So why inflate their egos by responding. Ignore them and they will lose interest! Then we can go about our business of enjoying the places where we can go an quitely develope new ones. Just remember the old saying, " water wearest away the stone" Rome was not built in a day.

Slowpoke says:

We are a very small minority in the grand scheme of things. That does not mean we should not fight for our rights. Just the fact that we have to realize that the Stus and Sandys of the world do not agree with us."

Not a case of "not agreeing with you"-you do have to work within a larger framework though /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif BTW...what rights do you think you have?

Slowpoke says:

We are not going to change their minds. So why inflate their egos by responding. Ignore them and they will lose interest!"

Probably not..but nothing is certain. I wouldn't lose interest if no one responded to what I said.

Mike said:

Its degrading to have to wear a stupid little peice of cloth like this Sandy, its silly."

Jon-Marc commented on the bikini, though:

.... it would be the next best thing to being nude."

Mike says:

I dont really care what I wear, im gonna wear what I want *as long as its legal* and if I dont fit in with the societal standard, I dont give a crap"

which contradicts:

All buying a little thong does is shows how stupid society is and gives more money to the fashion industry for them to run around and push their perfect image concept on everyone, I dont wanna support that sort of thing, id rather go nude and let those nitwits go bankrupt and then everyone would have to go nude because they couldnt make anymore thongs"

Mike, you said, FIRST you didn't give a "crap" what you wear...so why not? These g-strings aren't all that expensive-especially compared to the cost of wearing what you have to right now! I think you should get one...put it on...and wear it around your parents! Also, walk around your streets in it..

Next best thing to being nude........

/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif

[MichaelJB]

Sandy I dont care what I wear as far as what anyone else thinks and that includes being nude. I would rather be nude than wear a thong. The only reason I said I didnt care what I wore is because I meant I didnt care as far as pleasing anyone else. Besides if I was to wear a thong, it would be a different and probably brighter color than anything else on me and that would draw people's eyes to me down there and theyd be starin at that more than at my face and if I was nude it would be less suggestive and thus people would be less likely to look at it especially if they dont like the sight of it. I guess not likeing the sight of it gives people good incentive to keep their eyes where they should be doesnt it. I want people to talk to my face, not to me down there.

Mike,

You don't think people would look "down there" if you were walking around nude?

I think they would! At least a lot more than if you wore shorts!

BTW...you gonna go to that nude thing in Clovis CA? 4 months to plan-I think you should go..

[MichaelJB]

If people look down there its of their own chosing and if they chose to look down there and see something they dont like, thats THEIR fault and they get what they deserve. I wouldnt do anything to make them look there and I dont ask or suggest that they do. Most people dont look at stuff they dont like and then turn around and whine about it.

Mike says:

If people look down there its of their own chosing and if they chose to look down there and see something they dont like, thats THEIR fault and they get what they deserve"

Mike, people IN PUBLIC have the right to look WHERE EVER they like-so if they look at your genitals and are offended-they don't get what they deserve-they get disgusted.

It's a moot argument though, because your nitemare will never be a reality /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif

You didn't answer the question about Clovis and the nude water rides. If I was a nudist in CA you would have to put me in chains to keep me away! Are you gonna go? It's 4 months away..it's NOT THAT FAR from you..are you gonna go?

These statements show how confused Mike is....

He said earlier about the bikini:

Besides if I was to wear a thong, it would be a different and probably brighter color than anything else on me and that would draw people's eyes to me down there and theyd be starin at that more than at my face and if I was nude it would be less suggestive and thus people would be less likely to look at it especially if they dont like the sight of it"

So...it would draw attention to the genitals..and away from Mike's face (probably a good reason to wear the bikini) /infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif so Mike shouldn't wear the bikini.

But then he says:

"If people look down there its of their own chosing and if they chose to look down there and see something they dont like, thats THEIR fault and they get what they deserve. I wouldnt do anything to make them look there and I dont ask or suggest that they do. Most people dont look at stuff they dont like and then turn around and whine about it."

In other words..it's their fault if they look..Mike doesn't make them look.."

That applies to the bikini as well...Mike! People can look or not look-if you look at it that way..

You've already said you don't care what you wear..Jon-Marc has admitted it's a good as nude..so what's the problem? /infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif

[missouriboy]

Nothing more to see here, folks. Move along, move along.