Look for polyester or nylon-spandex blends. Avoid cotton linings.

Fabric is everything. Quick-dry swimsuits are made from synthetic materials that don’t absorb much water. Polyester and nylon-spandex blends are the standard. They dry in minutes, not hours. Cotton holds water like a sponge and stays heavy and cold. Same goes for cotton-lined suits — check the inside.

Most swimsuit linings are polyester or mesh, which is fine. If you see “100% cotton” on the tag, put it back. Also avoid thick neoprene if you’re not surfing — that stuff traps water too. Brands like Speedo, TYR, or even budget options from Amazon with “quick-dry” in the title will do the job.

One more thing: a little spandex helps the suit keep shape and dry faster than a rigid nylon-only shell. You don’t need to spend a lot, just read the fabric content.

Don’t overthink it. Synthetics good, cotton bad.