Swimming must haves

[splishsplash3]

I started swimming again at my gym few weeks ago, I go 3 times per week and am really enjoying it.

I don't have any 'accessories', I literally take my cozzie and a bath towel.

Do you have any recommendations for things to jazz my experience up a bit? Or make life easier?

Any hints/tips/hacks also welcome.

Someone recommended some waterproof earphones which i want to look into so I can listen to a podcast so that's already on my list although no idea which brands are good.

Thanks!

@BogRollBOGOF oooh webbed gloves! I've never heard of them before!!

I've ordered some waterproof earphones but no idea if they'll work for swimming we'll see. I'll report back!

@PrimalOwl10 that's not true at all. You can get pretty decorative swim caps that have nothing to do with drag/speed. People want caps to keep hair dry!

Not sure how that works! My hair is absolutely soaked with sweat under my cap and always needs washing after a session.

I wonder if it depends how hard / fast you swim.
I'm a slow gentle swimmer, and never really noticed a sweaty head.

AppleWatch

I want a dri-robe or massive onesie or something so that I can just get out of the pool, take costume off, put dry robe on and drive home to shower and dress.

Any recommendations? Something decent enough that I can be seen wearing to walk to my car in? 😂
I loathe getting dried and dressed in a rush after swimming.

Ok earphone update!!!

I got these ones amzn.eu/d/hIrAOsG and I DON'T recommend. They're waterproof but every time water touches them they pause so it was pausing and playing constantly and my podcast was unlistenable. They just don't work for me.

Does anyone have a recommendation for proper swimming earphones that I can listen to a podcast (not music) with?

You might struggle with podcasts unless they can be downloaded onto an MP3 type format and device.

I have a waterproof MP3 player, but it uses old school connecting to the PC and wired earphones. (Decathlon, works well BTW) Bluetooth systems don't tend to work through water or at much distance.

@BogRollBOGOF yes I've read the same. Not sure how to download a podcast onto mp3!

I feel like we should have better technology than this!!!!

I like wearing swim shorts as it pisses me off that men are expected to cover up, but women aren't. I mean they're quite short shorts (thanks, socialisation), but they don't look like tiny knickers.

Primark mens swimshorts are great, come in every colour so you can mix and match with a tankini/bikini top and it looks like a set, cost less than £5 and often have zip up pockets.

My hair has been absolutely ruined by the chlorine. I just tied it back and swam.

Yesterday I decided to pop a swim cap on over coconut oil as I had it in and really need to do something. My hair has turned to straw, it so so dry and is splitting.

I've seen some leave in conditioners that I'll try, but what shampoos do people use? Not sure I'll need the swim shampoo if I stick with cap and add in leave in conditioner?

https://www.ocado.com/products/klorane-detox-shampoo-with-organic-aquatic-mint-for-pollution-exposed-hair-574095011?gclid=CjwKCAjw5_GmBhBIEiwA5QSMxLaz9hf7UmSWZZo-fuKQjwcdcerlpBVgsHFZQFCr80jtmBNvunu3NBoClrwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
tried this first time today, feels really soft

Is the range really good enough to pick up the Bluetooth from a locker in the changing rooms? Genuine question as these confuse me lol!!

I love this bag for swimming https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/500-30l-pool-bag/_/R-p-4047

also cheap prescription goggles and a swimsuit material hair cap.

I often wear a slightly longer leg cossie.
Sometimes a rash vest in winter when I'm in full natural insulation mode 😂

It's good that cossie styles are diversifying. I wear standard styles and bikinis too, it just depends on what I'm doing/ how I'm feeling.

Her next post said they weren't very good. Her podcast was dipping in and out.

I don't think wireless will work through water. I think it needs to be a mp3 device that music is loaded into. Unless your head never goes underwater.

The other issue is metal lockers Probably won't let airwaves through either.

I just have goggles, and the Child’s Farm children swim 3 in 1 is amazing at removing the chlorine smell!

Saturate your hair in the shower before getting into the pool, if it's wet then it can't soak up more chlorine/pool water.

Bluetooth only has a straightline range of 10m or so and doesn't penetrate metal, masonry walls, or water. It will only work if you keep the sending device (phone etc) by the side of the pool and swim with your head up.

I have a speedo waterproof MP3 player earbuds (it's quite a few years old now, but I love it) I also have a knitting stitch counter on a leather bracelet so I can count my lengths as I go up and down the pool. I'm hoping dh might get me waterproof Fitbit or similar for birthday or Christmas, but the stitch counter works, I try and do a minimum of fifty lengths (in a 30m pool). My goal is 100 lengths. I also have silicon squeeze refillable bottles which have a hanging loop for shampoo and conditioner, the hanging loop makes life so much easier, as I can hang them on the shower instead of them constantly dropping to the floor! Rest of kit, hair brush, hair turban (I have studiedly long hair), towel and an old nappy wet bag to keep it in, oh yeh and an old changing mat to stand on as I hate putting wet feet into my trouser leg!!

Agree with saturate hair before putting on swimming hat. You shouldn't enter a pool with stuff in your hair as it has negative impact on water quality.

Look at Decathlon website as they will have loads of gear

I use:
Foot mat
Hair turbin
Microfiber towel
Speedo goggles
Speedo costume
Kickboard
Paddles for hands

I don't use flippers but am tempted

I use this:

https://www.philipkingsley.co.uk/swimcap-75ml.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw5_GmBhBIEiwA5QSMxFoIqSbcqgemJQ8dixNCyuRPtQFFnh6tOUXgMQqRH3st37Tt08dNmBoClNkQAvD_BwE

I usually put it in my hair at home and then if I can be arsed putting a swim cap on as well I will but if I don’t, I know my hair is semi protected. Has worked well so far, my hairdresser was horrified at my bleached hair before I started using this. It’s pricey for the amount you get though so I try to get it with some kind of discount.

I’ve got these, from Sony: https://www.sony.co.uk/store/product/nwws623l.cew/WS620-Walkman-C2-AE-WS-Series

Downloadable MP3 and also Bluetooth. I hang my phone in my swimming bag on a hook halfway along the pool and they’re fine. MP3 player works really well and I sometimes use the Bluetooth to listen to a podcast - I tend not to put my head completely under the water and the sound dips in and out a bit, but not too bad.

I'd add prescription goggles are great. Got mine on amazon, not my exact prescription but near enough

I don't swim as much as I want because I get ear infections too often. I've tried a range of plugs and recently an expensive ear spray but no luck

Anyone have a bulletproof ear protection tip please? I do crawl and back stroke