The best training suit is the one you can put through five, six or more pool sessions a week without worrying about fading, sagging or losing its shape. This Funky Trunks training suit review looks at why the brand has become a familiar sight on poolside, particularly for squad swimmers who want serious chlorine resistance without settling for plain black kit.
Funky Trunks is built for training rather than sitting on a sun lounger. Its bold prints are the obvious calling card, but the more useful question for regular swimmers is whether the fabric, fit and construction stand up to repeated turns, dive work and long aerobic sets. For most pool-focused swimmers, the answer is yes - with a few fit and style choices worth getting right first.
What is a Funky Trunks training suit?
Funky Trunks is the men's and boys' performance swimwear brand within the Funkita family. The range is known for graphic patterns, bright colours and technical polyester swimwear intended for frequent chlorinated-pool use. Depending on the collection, swimmers can choose from briefs, trunks, jammers and training shorts, with cuts suited to junior, teenage and adult swimmers.
For a club swimmer, a training suit has a different job from race kit. It needs to be comfortable enough for daily use, secure through push-offs and dives, and durable enough to remain presentable over a season. It does not need the compression, hydrodynamic panels or careful race-day handling of a technical racing suit. That is exactly where Funky Trunks sits: dependable training swimwear with much more personality than the standard navy option.
Most core Funky Trunks styles use the brand's C-Infinity fabric, a polyester construction designed to retain colour and shape in chlorinated water. Product specifications can vary by style and season, so it is always worth checking the individual garment before buying, but chlorine-resistant polyester is the central appeal of the range.
Funky Trunks training suit review: fit and feel
Fit is where shoppers should slow down. Funky Trunks suits are made for swimming, so they should feel close to the body rather than relaxed like holiday swim shorts. A properly fitted brief, trunk or jammer stays put during streamline work and does not collect water as pace increases. The fabric has enough stretch for breaststroke kick, starts and regular gym work around a swim session, but it is not designed to feel loose.
The popular Classic Trunk offers more coverage than a brief while keeping a compact, training-led profile. It is often a sensible middle ground for swimmers moving out of baggier shorts, or for junior squad swimmers who want a secure suit without a longer jammer leg. Briefs provide the least coverage and the clearest freedom around the upper leg. They are a practical choice for swimmers who already train in briefs and know they prefer that feel.
Jammers suit swimmers who want coverage to above the knee, especially for cooler pool decks or personal comfort. The trade-off is simple: they use more fabric and can feel warmer than trunks or briefs during a tough set. They are still training suits, not a substitute for a compressive race jammer.
Funky Trunks sizing tends to reward accuracy. Do not deliberately size up expecting a more comfortable training experience. An oversized suit can shift at the wall, lose its clean fit quickly and become heavy once wet. If a swimmer is between sizes, body shape and preferred level of coverage matter. A lean swimmer wanting a very secure fit may favour the smaller option, while a swimmer with a broader build or stronger thighs may be happier in the larger size. Check the garment size guide and use waist measurement rather than guessing from everyday clothing.
Fabric and chlorine durability
This is the strongest reason to buy a Funky Trunks training suit. Regular pool water is hard on swimwear, particularly fabric blends with high elastane content. A suit may initially feel soft and supportive, then fade, thin or go baggy far sooner than expected if it is used for several sessions every week.
Polyester-based performance swimwear is the better long-term choice for pool training because it handles chlorine more effectively. Funky Trunks' training fabric is made with that repeated-use environment in mind. Colours stay lively for longer than many fashion-led swim shorts, and the fabric is less prone to the rapid loss of shape that swimmers recognise all too well.
That does not mean any suit is indestructible. Leaving it damp in a kit bag overnight, rinsing it poorly, or repeatedly sitting on rough poolside surfaces will shorten its life. Sunscreen, hot tubs and harsh detergents can also affect fabric over time. Rinse the suit in cool fresh water as soon as practical after swimming, gently squeeze out excess water rather than wringing it, and let it air dry away from direct heat. Those simple habits make a genuine difference across a busy term of training.
Are the prints practical for club swimmers?
The prints divide opinion - and that is part of the point. Funky Trunks does not try to blend into a lane full of plain competition suits. Its designs range from loud geometric patterns to playful artwork and vivid colour combinations. For many junior swimmers, having a suit they actively like wearing can make early-morning sessions and hard training blocks feel a little less routine.
There is a practical benefit too. A distinctive suit is easy to identify in a changing room or on a crowded poolside, especially when several swimmers have similar goggles, towels and mesh bags. Parents of younger swimmers may appreciate that more than they expect.
For swimmers whose club requires specific colours or branded kit, a Funky Trunks suit may be better as a personal training option than official teamwear. Always follow the club's rules for galas, league events and presentations. At training, though, colourful kit is usually welcomed as part of the wider squad culture.
Comfort through a full session
A good training suit should disappear once the warm-up starts. Funky Trunks generally performs well here, with a secure waistband and drawcord helping to keep the suit in place during dives and fast turns. The close fit also reduces drag from excess fabric, which matters when sessions include repeated pace work or long-distance sets.
The fabric can feel firmer than a softer fashion swimsuit, particularly when new. That is not necessarily a drawback. For structured swimming, a little firmness often translates into a better-held shape after weeks in the water. Swimmers who are used to loose boardshort-style swimwear may need a session or two to adjust, but regular squad swimmers are unlikely to find the fit unusual.
Comfort still depends on choosing the correct cut. A breaststroker who dislikes fabric around the knee may prefer trunks or briefs. A swimmer who feels more confident with additional coverage may naturally favour jammers. There is no universally fastest or most comfortable option for training - the best choice is the one that lets the swimmer focus on technique rather than adjusting their kit between repeats.
Value for frequent training
Funky Trunks is not the cheapest option on the rail, but price alone is a poor way to judge a pool suit. A cheaper fashion suit that loses stretch after a short period is false economy for a swimmer training multiple times each week. When a chlorine-resistant suit remains supportive and retains its colour for longer, it can offer stronger value across the season.
The brand is particularly good value for committed junior swimmers, teenagers in regular squads and adults returning to lane swimming who want something better suited to the pool than general holiday swimwear. It also makes a useful second suit for swimmers who rotate kit between sessions. Having two training suits allows each one to dry properly and reduces the temptation to leave damp swimwear in the bottom of a bag.
For race day, many competitive swimmers will still want a separate competition suit chosen for their event, level and governing-body requirements. A Funky Trunks training suit is for the work behind the result: drill sets, skills sessions, aerobic volume and the unglamorous lengths that build fitness.
Who should choose Funky Trunks?
Funky Trunks works best for swimmers who train regularly and want a secure, chlorine-resistant suit with character. It is a particularly strong fit for club squads, school swimmers, masters swimmers and anyone bored by plain training kit. The range of cuts also makes it easier to match a swimmer's preference without moving away from performance-focused fabric.
It may not be the first choice for someone who wants loose-fitting swim shorts, a muted design for every session, or a technical suit specifically for racing. Those are different needs, and choosing accordingly will lead to a better purchase.
For swimmers who want kit that lasts through real pool training and still brings some energy to the lane, Funky Trunks earns its reputation. Choose the cut carefully, look after it between sessions, and let the suit do what it is made for: taking the hard work in its stride while you get on with swimming.