Swimming essentials

[Spicykitten]

I’ve just started going swimming at my local leisure centre. What are your swimming essentials? In hope that I haven’t forgotten anything!

Swimsuit
Dock and Bay towel
Goggles
Wash bag (with shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body puff.
Hair ties
£1 coin for locker

Swim cap.
Hair brush.

I like a really rich facial moisturiser as the chlorine drys out my skin. I usually make a flask of coffee to have after as well so I’m not tempted to buy one on my way home

Flip flops

I also take a towelling hair turban

swim socks to avoid catching verrucas or fungal nail infection as I did from my local pool unfortunately.

Is a dock and bay towel different to a regular towel?

if you’re going to a local leisure centre body puffs are a bit ambitious 😂. Tends to be more of a run around and hope you can catch enough droplets to rinse out shampoo 😂

Deodorant and face moisturiser for after.
I also take a separate towel for my hair.

It’s a changing towel. I only use mine for outdoor swimming.

Yes to flip flops or similar. Don't touch the floor with your bare feet if you can avoid it!

A faded Farmfoods bag to carry your kit in.

Swimcap, goggles, earplugs, paddles, pullbuoy, water bottle, lap counter. Foot towel / change mat and wet/dry bag.

Hair brush. I forget one every single time!

If you're going with your costume on already under your clothes, don't forget underwear for after (I've forgotten that too, more than once!)

Drinking bottle for when you come out of the pool and all you can see in the Reception area are soft drink vending machines!

What are paddles and what is a pullbuoy?

I'm not a strong swimmer so wouldn't need a lap counter.

@Spicykitten They are training aids. If you are not a strong swimmer, I recommend some coaching. It will really benefit you and help you get the most from your time in the pool.

i got Shokz headphones for Christmas they’re brilliant as I find lap swimming very boring

Definitely thongs if you are showering there. We tend to just chuck on a Robie Robe, jump in the car and shower at home.

We also put conditioner through our hair before getting in the water in a swimming pool or beach as it protects it from chemicals/salt. When you finish you just rinse the hair out with hot water, easy. Was a tip from a hairdresser that makes a huge difference.

Big towel -me
Small towel -hair
Wet brush brand speed dry brush
Stretchy thick Bobbles for swimming
Hat and spare
Goggles and spare
Spare swim suit
Shower gel/shampoo/ face wash / c conditioner
Face cream
Body cream
Claw clip for post swim wet hair
Deodorant
Wet / dry bag - I have the 20l osprey
Pull Buoy

Don't bother with dock and bay just use normal towels use it several times before I wash them or I would be endlessly washing

Strong scented shampoo and shower gel I like faith in nature to help reduce chlorine / pool . I have a small clear bag for the shower. I do a full shower at the oool as no way am I warring time and money on a shower at home. I tried a body puff but too messy to bring home

Ooooo wouldn't mind a pair of these

Your list sounds mostly fine to me, I've been swimming regularly for about 30 years it's similar to what I take. But I use a normal towel which I wash at the end of the week after 3 swims.

Costume
Googles
Hair turban
Changing towel
Flipflops or swimming socks
Shampoo and conditioner
I don't like swimming caps but one of those too if you get on with them, I just plait and bun my hair
Hairbands, wet brush.
Swimzi bobble hats for this time of year for after but only as DDs one from competitive swimming is still around, is very warm but quite £££

Pull buoy and kickboard to begin with and then possibly add paddles and training snorkel in a mesh bag. (Maru do a training set). There is little point in getting swim fins as both pools don't allow them during public sessions.
Dry bag like those used for hiking to keep my wet stuff in.

I just take one thin towel, a small mesh washbag with travel size shampoo etc in, swimsuit, goggles and have a trolley token keyring on the zip of my bag. But I walk to the pool and don't want to be carting a big or heavy bag. My extra thing is dusting powder, I sometimes go straight to yoga and it makes getting bra and leggings on a damp body much easier.

I have a thing from speedo that is a float and a pullboy in one. Works well as a float and takes up less space in bag.

I have shortie fins which are great. Means there is more variety of things to do to stave off boredom and they make my legs burn which must be good.

I'm after some headphones next.

Left permanently in my swimming bag are,

Padlock for locker
Plastic bag for wet swimsuit and flip flops
(Swimsuit, not permanently obv.)
No towel (they throw one in)
Flip flops for walking near the pool (slippery floor)
Hair brush & comb.
Body/face moisturiser

No shampoo etc., I only rinse the chlorine off with water, before drying off. I just do my 20 lengths and scoot off.

• earplugs
• wet bag for your damp costume and towel (even if they have a swimsuit dryer)

Also, I wear my swimming costume under my clothes to avoid faffing when I get to the pool, so I try to keep a bra and pants in my swimming bag so I don't forget to bring them for afterwards.