Essential Equipment

For less than the cost of a cheap date, you can have all the necessities for full participation in the sport—swimsuit, goggles, cap, towel, and water bottle. With this minimal outfit, you can get a workout or even compete in any suitable body of water. And when it’s time to travel, you can take comfort in knowing that, with towels and water available everywhere, your suit, goggles, and cap are all you need in order to swim anywhere in the world. As you search for variety and shortened learning curves, you’ll probably end up with more than the bare essentials, but this minimum configuration will come in handy.

Swimsuit

Of all the pieces of equipment you’ll need, your suit is the most important. There are, in general, five types of suits in the swimsuit universe—competition suits (what you are looking for), high-performance suits (what competitors wear for important competitions), fashion suits (what you see in Sports Illustrated), casual swimwear (what cool people wear at the beach), and monstrosities (what my grandmother wears at the beach).

The term competition suit doesn’t mean that the suit should be used only for competition. It is a term that describes a variety of suits that offer a minimum of drag in the water. If you swim laps, this is important. The key is to wear a suit that is comfortable but that snugly fits your body, leaving no loose fabric to flap around in the water.

Two common workout-suit materials are Lycra and polyester. If you stick with major brands, you’ll get a 128-grade Lycra fabric that is more resistant to chlorine and mold than cheaper Lycra suits—well worth the extra expense. Lycra suits will stretch one full size within your first few sessions in the pool. If in doubt, buy one that is a bit small rather than too big. Polyester, on the other hand, will not stretch with use, so how it fits in the store is how it will continue to fit. It will last longer in chlorinated water than Lycra will, but many people find that it is not as comfortable. Not all suit styles are available in polyester. If you swim daily, get at least two suits. Putting on a cold, wet suit, especially first thing in the morning, is about as much fun as watching a cat cough up a fur ball.

For women, choosing a suit only begins with the size printed on the tag. Because swimming involves so much range of motion of the arms and shoulders, the way the back and strap configuration fits you will influence the way you move. Try on suits of various styles and manufacturers, making sure to stretch yourself into a full streamline position and to move your arms through swimming motions in order to see if the suit will hamper your movement. It is particularly important to not get too big a suit. A suit that is not snug enough will catch large amounts of water and act as a drag chute. In general, if the shoulder straps can stretch higher than your ears, the suit might be too big. Women have the option of a one-piece workout suit (figure 2.1) or a two-piece workout bikini. 

Figure 2.1 Women’s one-piece workout suit and men’s Jammers.

 

For men, for the most part, a suit is a suit is a suit. Once you decide which size fits you best, you will likely be happy with any suit from any of the major manufacturers. Some guys just can’t bring themselves to wear skimpy little racing suits. 

Several manufacturers offer a line of fuller-cut suits with 4- or 5-inch (10 or 13 cm) side panels instead of the standard 3-inch (8 cm) side panels. Jammer suits (figure 2.1) that snugly cover the thighs are gaining popularity for workout swimming. Briefs (figure 2.2) are still the most popular style for workout swimming, however.

If none of these will suffice and you just have to have a pair of beach baggies, do yourself a favor and sew the pockets shut so that they don’t balloon up like drag chutes as you plod down the lane.

Women’s top-quality suits in the latest prints usually cost $50 to $75 U.S., and men’s suits cost about $35 to $45, depending on style. In many swim shops you’ll find a rack of discontinued prints of the same high-quality suits for as little as half the price of the latest prints. Additionally, now performance suits are made from high-tech materials that, according to the manufacturers’ claims, offer less resistance to water flow than your skin does.

Figure 2.2 Men’s briefs. 

Different styles of these suits cover different amounts of the body, up to full-body suits that cover all but the head, hands, and feet. Many competitors wear these for high-level competition. Because they cost anywhere from $150 to $500 or more and can be worn only a few times, these suits are not for workout swimming. But who knows—if you follow the advice in this book, you might one day need one!

Goggles

Goggles maintain a small pocket of air directly in front of the eyes, and they have a transparent lens that allows for nearly normal vision. They also protect swimmers’ eyes from the discomfort of chlorine exposure.

Modern materials and a growing swimming population that is willing to part with its cash have spawned an abundance of inexpensive, compact, lightweight, comfortable goggle styles. Only a few of those styles, however, are likely to be right for you. Aside from your swimsuit, there is nothing within your control that will more greatly affect your comfort and appreciation for swimming than the right pair of goggles. Here are a few things to consider when choosing your perfect pair of goggles.

Shape The two basic shapes for goggles are what I refer to as “sort of round” and “more oval.” If you find one pair of oval goggles that works well for you, then most likely any goggle that works well for you will be more oval in shape. The same kind of thinking also applies if you find that a pair of sort-of-round goggles works well.

Nosepieces Most goggle styles come with an adjustable nosepiece that is made of plastic, silicone, or string, which, once properly adjusted, will seldom, if ever, need readjustment. Some models have nonadjustable, molded nosepieces that are part of the frame. These are fine if you have average nose and eye placement.

Straps A good-fitting pair of goggles will stick to your face without the strap. They stay on simply because of a bit of suction and a good seal. Nevertheless, the strap keeps your goggles in place while swimming. A wide, light-colored strap that allows plenty of space to write your name on it is a plus in case you lose your goggles. A double or split strap may stay in place better than a single strap because the forces are spread around more parts of the head.

Strap Adjustment One of the things you can judge about a pair of goggles before you reach the checkout counter is whether the strap and buckle system allows for easy adjustment. Swimmers with arthritis or any other dexterity-limiting condition should pay particular attention to this. It doesn’t get any easier to adjust the goggles when you’re poolside.

Gaskets The gasket is the soft material around the goggle’s eyecup that fills the voids at the goggle-to-face union. There are several types to choose from: foam, silicone, polyvinyl, or none. For simplicity, ease of care, and length of service, “none” tops the list. Popular Swedish-style goggles have no gasket, allowing for the most streamlined, face-hugging fit. If, however, your face doesn’t have the same contours as the goggle, you will be happier with a gasketed goggle. Solid silicone or polyvinyl gaskets make a good seal if the goggle is the correct shape for your face, and they offer excellent resistance to microbial growth. Foam gaskets, although more forgiving in making a leakproof seal, are prone to grow low-order life-forms if not properly maintained.

Lens Color Goggle lenses come in a variety of colors and shades. If you plan to swim outdoors in daylight, you should stick with darker goggles that have UV protection.

Antifog Properties Goggles fog up when moisture in the warm air trapped in the eyecup condenses on the inside surface of the goggle, which has been cooled by the surrounding water. Many goggles on the market tout antifog properties. In addition, antifog sprays or liquids are available. You can make your own by mixing equal parts baby shampoo and water. I have yet to encounter, through experience or anecdote, any better antifog system than good ol’ swimmer’s spit. A thin coating of saliva on the inside of the eyecup keeps it from fogging for a good portion of your workout. Alternatively, a few drops of pool water in the eyecup, just enough to roll around freely, works a bit like windshield wipers for a long swim.

People who wear glasses or contacts need not swim blind. Many contact-lens wearers are afraid to wear their lenses with goggles. You are less likely to lose lenses while swimming, however, than you are while taking them out and putting them back in. You will be much happier if you keep your lenses in while swimming because you’ll be able to see. If you wear glasses, check with your optometrist about prescription goggles or prescription inserts for your favorite goggles. There are also off-the-rack corrective-lens goggles available through swim shops and Web sites. You likely can find a pair that allows you to read a pace clock from across the pool.

Price has nothing to do with which goggle is right for a given swimmer. Your goggles could easily be the least expensive item in your swimming bag—or they could just as easily be the most expensive. Most swimmers are able to find a comfortable, leak-free fit in the low end of the price range. Yet many a swimmer doggedly applies the “whatever it takes” attitude to fussing with an expensive pair of goggles, trying in vain to coax perfection from them. After spending $30-plus on a pair of the latest high-tech goggles, some people are loath to abandon their investment for a pair of $5 goggles that they know will fit better. Once you find your perfect goggle, buy several pairs. Murphy has a law. I don’t recall the exact wording, but it has something to do with the availability, at any point in the future, of the only goggle style that fits your face.

Swimming Cap

For anyone whose hair is more than a few inches long, a swimming cap is a necessity. Caps are one size fits all and serve multiple purposes, including keeping your hair out of your eyes, nose, and mouth; affording less water resistance than hair; keeping your hair from absorbing too much chlorine; coordinating with your swimming ensemble; and proclaiming your affiliation.

The three common materials for caps are latex, silicone, and Lycra. Latex caps are the most popular and the least expensive, and they fit most swimmers. Silicone caps are more expensive and they last longer (unless they get even a slight tear, in which case they are instant history). Silicone caps are harder to keep in place, and they work well for fewer swimmers. Lycra caps are the least popular and most expensive. They look funky and they don’t protect your hair at all. I’m not sure why there is a market for them.

Regardless of what kind of cap you use, dry it thoroughly after each use. Dust it lightly with baby powder before you store it. Avoid leaving it wadded up in the bottom of your bag or in a hot car. Carry several, in case one becomes damaged.

Water Bottle

Despite being immersed in cool water, your body still perspires when you swim, and you are constantly blowing off water vapor as you breathe. Replenishing that water is vital to a safe and productive workout. Drink before you get thirsty and drink more than you think you need. You will want a container with a cap on it that will keep out water that could be splashed into the container from the pool. If you train outdoors in the hot sun, you will want an insulated water bottle, or you can freeze a half-full liter-size water bottle overnight. Just before you head to the pool, fill the bottle the rest of the way with water, which will provide you with cold water throughout your workout. Even if it is just an old milk jug full of tap water, bring this precious elixir of life to the pool with you.