Investing in the right equipment at the beginning is practical and can save you a lot of frustration with leaking glasses, high resistance of your loose boardshorts or hair in the face. This article will go through everything a beginner swimmer should have.
Swimsuits
Men
Perhaps the most common choice is so-called jammers – with legs just above the knee. They will not create resistance in the water and are also very comfortable. You can also choose other cuts, such as briefs (old-school classic) and trunks – or boxers. Choose the appropriate size, so the swimsuits are not loose or too tight. If possible, try it on.
Unsuitable swimsuits are any board shorts with pockets which are more for a beach or surf. These swimsuits put a lot of resistance, and swimming with them is more difficult because the fabric soaks up more water and slows you down.
Women
The sporty one-piece swimsuit is a must for women. However, for summer you can consider Two-piece swimsuits which are made for swimming training.
Women's swimsuits have countless cuts in both hips and backs. In this case, you can choose entirely according to your taste and comfort.
Try different cuts and choose the most comfortable for you. In addition, you can go fashionably and choose from various palettes of colours and designs. However, bikinis are not suitable for swimming lessons.
Goggles
Make sure it sits nicely on your face and seals perfectly. When you try your goggles, they should always hold onto your face without a head strap. I prefer softer seals to reduce eye marks. If you swim in a chlorinated pool, expect to replace goggles once a year because chlorine causes them to degrade.
Swimming goggles are manufactured in different sizes. Competitive swimmers most often use goggles that sit inside eye sockets. You recognise them by their minimal size and low water resistance. I recommend smaller swimming goggles with a silicon seal. I can confirm that this type of glasses sits comfortably on most women and men.
Another type of swimming glasses sits outside your eye sockets and makes a more extensive view area where the gasket touches cheekbones and eyebrows. This type of glass is popular among fitness swimmers and triathletes, but you must choose the size carefully. Again, it would help if you distinguished models for men and women because of the different shapes of the face (men are mostly larger than women). Women, therefore, choose goggles types for women or, in some cases, goggles for children may work too.
And the last category is swimming masks. The swimming mask resembles diving or snorkelling but lacks a silicone nose cover. Masks are suitable for casual swimmers or children. Children can better deploy their masks on the face and function better in their "fun mode". For adults, I can recommend swim masks only if no other type of goggles fits.
To keep your glasses longer without fogging, avoid touching the glasses from the inner side. There is a special treatment that prevents fogging. If glasses are already fogging, there are still many of grandma's advice (spit in it, dishwasher, shower gel) or specially designed anti-fog sprays to treat the inside of the glasses. If you have long eyelashes, don't blink when you are wearing goggles, so you keep anti-fog protection in place :)
Lens colours
Think about where you will swim the most. Always choose indoor clear or light-coloured lenses such as light blue or orange/yellow. We recommend choosing smoked lenses or mirrored glass protection from the sun for outdoor swimming.
Swim cap
Here it is straightforward: a swimming cap is needed if you have long hair. It is almost always true for women. For men, it's optional. Caps are made of various materials, from polyester to silicone. We recommend a high-quality silicone cap. Pure cloth caps do not hold on to your head so well and also not protecting your hair against chlorine.
Kickboard or Pull Kick
Get a simple small kickboard. A small board is enough for two reasons. On the one hand, it takes less space in the backpack; on the other hand, it will not displace the body's swimming position during training. You can opt for a pull-kick board, a combination of board and pull buoy; it's even more universal.
Short Fins
Fins make learning Freestyle easier. They can also be used in training to strengthen the leg muscles, but we mainly use them for technique drills—an excellent tool to consider buying.
Front snorkel
Swimming with a front snorkel can help to perfect your technique without focusing on head rotations on Freestyle. It's good training gear, It's good to have it, but it's not required.
Other equipment
Nose clip - in case you can't exhale with your nose
Ear plugs - when you feel dizzy or have ear irritation
Paddles - for improving technique and strength
Mesh bags - for all your swim gear
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