Equipment

Essential Equipment

Swim Goggles

Critical for comfortable, effective training. Proper fit prevents leaks and fogging.

Key Considerations:

• •Gasket type: Silicone for comfort, foam for racing
• •Lens tint: Clear for indoor, tinted/mirrored for outdoor
• •Anti-fog coating: Apply anti-fog drops regularly
• •Fit: Should seal without pressing strap too tight

Swimsuit

Training suits differ from racing suits.

Training Suits:

• •Chlorine-resistant polyester or PBT blends
• •Durable construction for daily use
• •Jammers (men) or one-piece (women) for lap swimming

Racing Suits (if competing):

• •Tech suits with compression and hydrophobic properties
• •Studies show 3-7% drag reduction (Toussaint et al., 2002)
• •Reserve for competition only (limited uses)

Swim Cap

Reduces drag, protects hair, and keeps goggles in place.

• •Silicone: Durable, comfortable, easier to put on
• •Latex: Tighter fit, lighter, less durable
• •Neoprene: Cold water swimming (open water)

Training Equipment

Pull Buoy

Isolates upper body, improves body position awareness.

Evidence: Pull buoy training improves stroke mechanics and upper body power development (Morouço et al., 2012).

Kickboard

Isolates lower body for kick-specific training.

Paddles

Increase resistance for strength development.

Sizes:

• •Finger paddles: Technique focus
• •Medium paddles: Strength with technique
• •Large paddles: Power development (advanced only)

Caution: Overuse can cause shoulder strain. Limit to 20-30% of training volume.

Fins

Improve kick technique and ankle flexibility.

Types:

• •Short fins: Sprint work, quick leg turnover
• •Long fins: Kick development, dolphin kick
• •Monofin: Butterfly/underwater technique (advanced)

Snorkel (Center-Mount)

Eliminates breathing rotation for stroke mechanics focus.

Evidence: Snorkel training improves bilateral stroke symmetry (Psycharakis & Sanders, 2010).

Tracking & Technology

Swim Watch

Waterproof GPS/accelerometer for tracking.

Key Features:

• •Pool and open water modes
• •Stroke detection and counting
• •SWOLF efficiency scoring
• •Rest interval tracking

Recommended: Garmin Swim 2, Apple Watch Ultra, COROS Pace 3

Smart Goggles

Display metrics in-goggle for real-time feedback.

Example: FORM Smart Swim Goggles show pace, stroke count, distance.

Budget Tiers

Minimal Budget ($75-150)

For getting started:

• •Quality training goggles ($20-35): Speedo Vanquisher, TYR Socket Rockets
• •Chlorine-resistant training suit ($30-50)
• •Silicone swim cap ($10-15)
• •Pull buoy ($15-20)
• •Mesh equipment bag ($10-15)

Moderate Budget ($250-500)

For regular training:

• •2 pairs of training goggles (indoor/outdoor) ($40-70)
• •2 training suits for rotation ($60-100)
• •Pull buoy + kickboard combo ($30-40)
• •Medium-sized paddles ($25-35)
• •Short training fins ($40-60)
• •Center-mount snorkel ($35-50)
• •Swim-specific watch ($150-250): Garmin Swim 2
• •Quality mesh backpack ($40-60)

Comprehensive Budget ($700+)

For serious swimmers:

• •Premium goggles including FORM Smart Goggles ($200-250)
• •Multiple training suits + tech suit for racing ($200-400)
• •Full equipment kit: pull buoy, kickboard, multiple paddle sizes, fins, snorkel ($150-200)
• •Premium swim watch ($300-450): Garmin Fenix, Apple Watch Ultra
• •Resistance bands for dryland ($30-50)
• •Underwater video setup for stroke analysis ($50-100)
• •Drag suit for resistance training ($40-60)

Open Water Specific

Wetsuit

Required for cold water, optional for triathlon racing (temperature dependent).

Thickness: 3-5mm full suit for cold water, sleeveless for racing

Safety Equipment

• •Bright swim cap (orange/pink for visibility)
• •Tow float: Visibility and emergency flotation
• •GPS watch with open water tracking

Sighting Skills

• •Practice head-up freestyle
• •Learn to sight buoys efficiently

Pool Etiquette Equipment

• •Tempo trainer: Pacing device for consistent stroke rate
• •Waterproof MP3 player: Entertainment for long sets
• •Anti-fog spray: For goggle maintenance

Dryland Training

Resistance Training

• •Stretch cords for swim-specific resistance
• •Medicine balls for core work
• •Resistance bands for shoulder prehab

Flexibility

• •Yoga mat for stretching
• •Foam roller for recovery

Sources

1. 1.Toussaint HM, et al. (2002). "Effect of a Fast-skin™ body suit on drag during front crawl swimming." Sports Biomechanics.
2. 2.Morouço P, et al. (2012). "The effect of different training programs on upper-body strength in young swimmers." Journal of Sports Science & Medicine.
3. 3.Psycharakis SG & Sanders RH (2010). "Body roll in swimming: A review." Journal of Sports Sciences.