Few places combine incredible fun with potential disaster like a water park. From the dreaded belly flopping nightmare they pose through to the swimwear choices, a water park is not a place you visit without forward thinking.
You probably cannot wait to visit Siam Park in Tenerife or get Orlando park tickets this summer to the likes of Aquatica, but to be certain that you are making the most of your trip you should plan what you are wearing very carefully.
To avoid any mishaps or embarrassment, we've put together this guide on what to wear to a water park, so that you can enjoy your time in the water without worrying that your bottoms have turned see-through!
Key takeaways:
- Choose secure, sports-style swimwear (cross-back tops, fixed triangle styles) over bandeaus or loose side-ties, which can come undone on fast slides
- A UV rash vest protects against sunburn and slide friction burns, not just tan lines
- Water shoes or flip-flops protect your feet on hot pavements, but most slides require you to remove and hold them
- Avoid white swimwear and baggy board shorts, both of which cause common water park wardrobe malfunctions!
- Leave jewellery, metal watches and handheld cameras at the locker - most major slides ban them for safety reasons
The dos: what to wear
Here we list elements that you should bear in mind for your water park outfit from functionality to fashion, with some true experts weighing in with their experience and advice.
Choose a sports-style top
First off, unfortunately for the ladies, the water park poses a few more issues than it does for the gents. A bikini, while an often flattering and desirable choice of swimwear, comes with its difficulties when it comes to zooming around slides at a water park.
So be sure to choose a more sporty design that is less likely to move or come undone.
Bikini Bird is an online resource for all things swim wear with the idea of bringing California coastal beach culture to those in need of a dose of sunshine, chic and style inspiration. Tiana Gamble and Ally Lopez launched an online swim shop, bikinibird.com, four years after the site’s initial launch. It curates an elite collection of swimwear favourites, cover-ups, clothing, jewellery and accessories. They introduce new brands, host pop-up events, show customers how to create looks and collaborate with industry favourites on exclusive styles available only from Bikini Bird.
Here they exclusively provide their swimwear suggestions for the water park setting:
- Style suggestions: We love bralette bikini tops and one pieces for more active days. Acacia, Cali Dreaming, Fella, Frankie's, Mikoh and Tori Praver offer a great combination of style and functionality. We'd recommend a basic bottom over tie-side and like to pair those with a fun halter or fixed triangle top. Choose bikinis you can rock with the confidence that they'll be there with you at the end of the water slide.
- Must have accessories: Sunnies (we love Wonderland, Valley and Tom's Eyewear), a hat for lounging in the sun between rides (Bikini Bird Trucker Hat), Coola Sunscreen, rubber flip-flops.
- Bikini care tips: Hand wash your bikinis in warm water with delicate laundry detergent and hang dry to keep them at their best. We love The Laundress' Le Labo Rose 31.
Try a rash guard or surf suit
The other issue with traditional swimwear is that it can cause "tan issues". Bikini marks and "permanent shorts" are the bane of the water park-goer's life, so how do you get around it?
Even if you were rigorous with your sun cream application, few brands are fully waterproof and it can result in embarrassing tan marks or, worse, painful and damaging sunburn.
A UV protection rash guard can offer a solution. Once only worn by surfers, the humble rash guard, or a full-coverage surf suit, is quickly becoming a fashionable swimwear staple, keeping you covered, comfortable and sunburn-free without constantly checking your suit.
Here are some top tips for choosing slide-proof water park swimwear:
Choose slide-proof tops
- Be on the look-out for dedicated active and surf brands that specialise in UPF 50+ rash guards and active swimsuits built to handle fast water pressure and movement.
- Try to avoid strapless bandeau tops, since high-speed water slides could pull them down! Instead, opt for long-sleeve crop rash guards, high-neckline pullovers, or tops with cross-back (X-back) straps that stay anchored.
Mind the bottoms
- Leave side-tie bikinis behind, since the high-pressure splash zones at the bottom of the drop slides can easily pull untied knots open - it's a disaster waiting to happen!
- Instead, choose high-waisted bottoms, fixed-band shorts or supportive bikini bottoms that fit slightly snug when dry.
- Wet elastane and nylon expand in the water, so a snug dry fit prevents your bottoms from riding down when you land in the splash pool
Consider a one-piece surf suit
- If you want a seamless look that guarantees zero wardrobe mishaps, a one-piece rash guard or long-sleeve surf suit is a great option to consider!
- Zip-front styles that combine built-in bust support with full back-and-shoulder sun protection let you tackle the steepest drop slides with complete peace of mind.
Go streamlined
Another good idea when it comes to swimming around the water park is to choose a streamlined outfit. Drag in the water can be a real drag, reducing speed and increasing the effort needed by the swimmer, and a snug, low-drag fit is also far less likely to shift or ride up on a fast slide.
Drag is such an important issue in swimming that Speedo’s LZR racer swimsuits, which have been designed to mimic shark skin, caused FINA (Fédération Internationale de Natation), the international governing body of swimming, to ban the suit from competitive swimming after it led to 23 of the 25 swimming world records being broken at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The original full-body LZR Racer was discontinued over a decade ago once the ban came in, and Speedo has since redesigned the line to meet current competition rules.
The good news is you won't need race-level gear to feel the benefit at a water park - a few simple choices go a long way:
Contain your hair
Loose, long hair creates drag and can catch on slide restraints or safety bars. A swim cap, tight braid or secure bun keeps it out of the way and stops it whipping around on faster rides.
Choose fitted, low-drag fabric
A high-waisted, high-neck or cross-back one-piece in a dense, chlorine-resistant fabric sits close to the body and glides through water more easily than loose or baggy styles.
For men, fitted swim jammers or tailored shorts do the same job as loose board shorts, minus the drag and the risk of them pulling down!
Skip loose accessories
Anything that flaps or trails in the water - like long necklaces, loose cover-ups or dangling straps - adds drag and can snag on slide equipment, so it's best left in your locker for the day.
Wear water shoes or flip flops
Wearing flip flops or water shoes is definitely recommended as it will help protect your feet when you are walking around. Pavements and surfaces can get extremely hot if the sun has been beating down on them and they can feel rough on the bottoms of your feet.
Know before you slide
Most major slides require you to remove flip-flops and hold or sit on them for the ride, so they're best treated as footwear for walking between attractions rather than something you'll wear on every side.
Water shoes that stay secured to your feet are generally more practical if you want to keep something on throughout the day.
Good options to look for
Lifestyle brand Animal has a great selection of flip-flops and sandals that are perfect for a day at the water park.
The Swish is their current flagship style, with soft padded straps, a comfortable fabric toe post and a cushioned EVA outsole that handles water well and dries quickly - a great fit for both men and women!
For heavier walking across large parks, the Mart offers a slightly more supportive, rugged alternative built for all-day comfort.
Pick the right material
Whichever brand you choose, look for flip-flops or sandals made with moulded EVA or non-porous rubber rather than soft cloth or foam linings, which can soak up pool water, become heavy and chafe between your toes after a long day!
Leave valuables behind
The last thing you want to do is take an expensive watch or piece of jewellery to the water park and forget you have it on before jumping on a slide!
Many major slides ban metal watches, jewellery and other hard accessories outright, both to prevent scratching the fibreglass and to protect other riders, and pool chemicals like chlorine can damage plating over time too. It's usually best to leave watches and jewellery in a locker rather than relying on a "water resistant" rating to keep them safe.
The don'ts: what to avoid
There are many don’ts of the water park, from no diving at the shallow end of the pool to wearing the appropriate swimwear. When it comes to the latter there are a few key things to bear in mind that you might not have thought about.
Avoid wearing white
First things first, it is always best to avoid white swimwear. It may look stylish, but the risk it poses of turning see-through is rarely worth the fashion points. Unless you opt for a high quality suit, it might be better to choose a different colour. It might have worked for Mr Darcy, but we’re sure you would rather keep your modesty during your holiday!
Avoid side ties
Bikinis that tie up are another controversial issue. Unless you have triple knotted, it could pose the threat of becoming untied during the twists and turns of your favourite slide at PortAventura. Bikini bottoms with side ties aren’t difficult to avoid in this day and age, with many swimwear companies producing appealing alternatives.
Just try to remember that size is important when it comes to swimwear intended for water slides. Too tight and it could ride up, too loose and it could fall down. So consider your options carefully; Seafolly has a great range of high-waisted swimwear options so you can look stylishly retro without having to worry about your side ties coming undone.
Avoid baggy bottoms
This next swimwear advice is aimed more at the gentlemen. Loose board shorts may be fashionable and work just fine when surfing or wandering down to the beach, but at the water park they are notorious for causing havoc.
Not only do they pose the risk of getting caught on slides, but they also hold a lot of water and therefore weight. While this might be fine when you’re in the sea, at a water park you are constantly getting in and out of the water and all that extra water weight can be heavier than you might think and cause the shorts to fall. So opt for a style that is slightly shorter; Simply Swim has plenty of options from Speedo’s Aquashorts to Zogg’s Penrith shorts.
Ready to make a splash?
Now you've got your water park outfit sorted, all that's left is picking your park. Browse our water park tickets for Aquatica, Siam Park, Caribe Aquatica Park, Discovery Cove and more, and get ready to make a splash!
