How much do speed skins help?

They are incredible. I use the Arena "powerskin" and found that it makes a huge difference. The reduced friction even reduces the stroke count per length. (number of strokes I take to swim each length of the pool).

I tested it out at the same meet for example, my 1000 split for a 1650 wearing the Arena was faster than my 1000 shaved and wearing a speedo. I have found it can make about a second per 100 difference, sometimes more. I have tested it in other meets, wearing it for one event and not for another, so I am in the exact same shape, same pool, etc. I swear by it.

Some folks say the difference is especially helpful for folks (like me) who have some extra muscle and/or fat on their body, due to the "girdle-like" control"

I won't swim a big meet with out them.

consider styles:

I prefer the full length (down to ankles) for freestyle, and butterfly.

I want to try the kind with the arms (like Thorpe wore)

Breaststrokers (and most IMers') generally don't like the kind with the long legs. They actually want the friction or "grip" on the kick.

Try em out, you'll see!

most likely you are familiar with the speedo fastskin. most of the fast "speed skins" talked about are called technical suits, and they are supposedly to help you in the water. They cause less drag, therefor are tighter, and speedo's fastksin is made of a shark-like skin which is fast because sharks swim fast underwater. Some other technical suit manufacturers are TYR, Arena, and Speedo.

How much speed skins help is DIRECTLY proportional to how good of a swimmer you already are and how much distance you are swimming.

Ewwwwwwwwww!!!! They don't help that much at all and they are so tight on boys. It's disgusting.