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!

I built up my stuff over time, I usually swim about 3x a week. I don't always use everything, as sometimes I don't wash my hair after if I am heading straight to work.

A wet-dry sports bag, the wet section is a decent size. I try to make sure that this is ready to go with-
A swimming costume with a shelf bra. I used to wear a wired one but was worried about rinsing them in a washing machine.
2 swim hats, because they do break eventually. I have long hair and use the swedish cap brand
Prescription goggles, I'm about -7 in both eyes and these are a game changer. I cried when I saw under water for the first time.
Really nice shower gel/soap
A shower presser- my local centre has showers that last approx 3.8 seconds!
Good shampoo and conditioner
A microfibre hair wrap
A mat to stand on and dry.
Moisturiser/deodorant/make up etc.
pound coins for the locker.
a small flask of water
emergency biscuit

I don't like that wet neck feeling (I don't use the changing room hairdryer, it's about as useful as breathing on it). I tie my hair up in a low messy bun, then cover it with a flannel and tie that on with a fabric wide hairband until I'm ready to deal with it. The flannel is perfect for drying it a little too.

If I swim before work, I put my outfit in a packing cube the night before. I wear my swimsuit and joggers etc there. It gives me a teeny sensation that I am on a glamorous holiday when in reality I am dodging plasters in the council pool before the commute.

Mum of 2 competitive swimmers with chronic ear issues. The best type of ear plug is Blu-Tac. They were amused when watching the World champs when they saw the number of medallist’s pulling a wad out from under their caps! We have seen several ENT specialists over the years - they all recommended a ball of blu-tac over the custom or off the shelf ear plugs.

I’m reading about the MP3 players with interest. I’d like to listen to podcasts too rather than music.

I’d also like varifocal goggles. I have prescription goggles for my -5 distance but I can’t see my watch.

My other essential is a nose clip - I’m allergic to chlorine and would sneeze for a day after swimming if I didn’t use it.

Hang on - a shower presser? I did not know there was such a thing! I need one.

@BestIsWest

This is the one I have but other styles are available.

@lidolemon Fantastic! I shall order one immediately. Thank you.

In view of the must haves that have cropped up on this thread (knitting row counter and shower presser being genius ideas) I'm wondering whether anyone knows where to get a swimsuit that is both chlorine proof and has soft cups? Manufacturers seem to think you are either a) super athletic and built accordingly, or b) need support and want to look good, but wear your suit so rarely that it doesn't matter if it goes baggy after a couple of months.

I'd prefer something attractive and not emblazoned with logos but at this point I'm prepared to compromise on those.

One of my speedo leg suits has a built in bra shelf support thing.
It was chosen for the legs without being wildy pricey.

@Mamafromthebeach thanks I'll try that. V fed up of ear infections and expensive useless plugs and oils

Mine was similarly ruined a few years back.

I now use kerastace soleil- both shampoo and hair mask. It's a bit £££ but I've not found anything cheaper that works.

here

@LonelyFlans I'll have to order some, thank you.

And thanks to the PP poster who suggested the Swim Cap stuff, I'll give them a whirl.

The coconut oil gets everywhere!

Sorry to jump on - what’s the best cossie for coping with chlorine? I go 4 times a week & none of my cossies last!

Funkita. My son wears Funky Trunks which is the male version of the same brand and he swims 14 hours a week and they last years.

@crazypiglady
i just get from M&S - chlorine resistant
plus a warm thorough rinse after every swim, no tumble drying. Rarely wash in machine I think it shortens their life.

@crazypiglady I have been wearing Zoggs Ecolast Plus suits for 6 months and they are still like new. I spend 6 hours a week in the pool. Before these I tried all sorts of 'chlorine resistant' suits and they still degraded, albeit more slowly. You need something that is chlorine proof. https://www.zoggs.com/en_GB/swimwear/womens?htm_fabric=Ecolast%2B No doubt other manufacturers make them but Zoggs are the only ones I've tried.

If you can't find chlorine proof suits, you can extend the life of the others by rinsing them out in a Vitamin C solution. I doubled the life of my other suits by adding half an effervescent vitamin C tablet in the rinse water. I know this sounds weird but apparently vitamin C neutralises chlorine, so it does at least get rid of the residual stuff even though you can't do anything about the time you're actually in the water for.

@MontyDonsBlueScarf
great tip re the vit c
I read somewhere it can also be added to normal shower gel if needed (I buy specific tri swim gel as the chlorine was leaving me quite itchy)

I cold rinse mine (Speedo) through the washing machine everytime and I’ve got two of the same costume so rotate their use.
They still do succumb to the chlorine but maybe I put it off a bit

@Mamafromthebeach I've started swimming regularly again because using blue tack means my ears stay dry and infection free. Thank you again for the tip, I'm feeling fitter and happier. However sometimes it won't all come out, it becomes bitty and very tacky. Any tips for this or do I need to change brand?

@rumred so glad it is working for you! I don’t know if you follow swimming but when Ariane Titmus broke a world record she pulled out a wad of blue tack from her ear before giving an interview - she was later asked about it and said something like “I have tried heaps of different ear plugs from custom made to off the shelf and nothing works like blue tack” lol there goes potential ear plug sponsors😂. I am not sure about the solution to your problem - but I do find that you have to experiment with the size of the ball you put in there - maybe bigger is better? Also maybe switching to a new stick more often than you think? Glad it is working for you!

OP here, I NC'd.
I never did find a way to listen to my podcasts. Still holding our hope for some technological advancement. It's 2024 guys we should be able to listen to my dad wrote a porno while swimming!!!!

@Mamafromthebeach thanks. I will experiment with size and brand. I'm determined to swim without pain...

Jumping on for tips… just started up swimming again (yippee!!) and got myself a nice bag today with a wet compartment to replace my plastic bag. On my wish list is a big fluffy microfibre towel from decathlon with matching hair wrap and some fancy chlorine removing shampoo. Oh, and prescription goggles, although I have two very different eyes so don’t know if that’ll ever be a possibility.

@CurlyWurly1991 try the Aquasphere Eagles - I have different eyes, and they are brilliant.

@CMOTDibbler thanks these look great, don’t think they could do astigmatism though? I have strong astigmatism in one eye and very myopic in the other. I have just gotten used to not being able to see anything after the changing rooms ha haha

They have advice on the website (or are incredibly helpful if you ring) on accounting for astigmatism. I have all sorts of problems with my eyes, and though my normal glasses have very complicated lenses and goggles only have the short sighted element they are good enough to get me round lakes - reading my watch is still tricky though!