Swimming Trunks vs. Speedos

If you buy cheaper jammers (my finnis brand ones were $17) they aren't really any more than baggy trunks.   Also, you will likely be swimming at the exact same effort regardless of which type of suit you wear.  You will just be going slower in the baggy ones.   I have also heard swim coaches say that baggy shorts hamper your development of proper hip rotation in the water.  I say go with jammers/speedos if you can

i've heard the same thing, and I could see it being a reality having swam in both types of suits.  Besides if you think about it, if swimming in baggy shorts really made you faster without sacrificing form, then every pro and high school/college swimmer would train in trunks and not the old bananna hammock.  They do make 'drag shorts' which are jammers with poof parachute pockets to add resistance if you want that effect.

yes, but what about "train as you race?" 

When I arrived for my lesson last summer with tri shorts instead of the baggy trunks, my unpaid (what a nice guy) swim coach said, "you finally got some decent swimming gear."  I tried the argument that training with trunks would make me faster, but he pointed out that they not only create drag, the cause sinkage and poor form.  I then went out and got some cheaper swimming shorts, like compression shorts, and have been wearing them instead of the more expensive tri shorts.  Chlorine eats lycra so these will have to be replaced fairly soon, but the cost of replacing 10 dollar shorts instead of $40 tri shorts is worth it. 

I have a tri suit which I may wear once in the pool, but probably only once.  Again, chlorine is hell on them (so I'm told) as well as the wetsuit.  Best is not to wear it indoors, but if you have to, rinse it like crazy immediately afterwards.  I know I've got to train at least once with it, but I'll try to find some open water for this if at all possible.

While Speedo may be a great brand, "speedos" have got to be banished, forever.

you can get a pair of TYR jammers made out of polyester for around $30.  Chlorine doesn't eat polyester like it does lycra, so you never have to worry about them going transparent (been there done that).

After doing all my swimming in jammers, I wore trunks for the first time last August.  Getting out of the water and having the baggy nylon clinging to my legs was the most disgusting feeling ever.

do you think you are taking my point to its' extreme?  c'mon, you get the idea.  sheesh.