Swimming Equipment Recommendations to Get You Started

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If you’ve ever considered swimming as a potential hobby to embrace – and, to be honest, many of us are thinking about it after seeing Michael Phelps win 8 Gold Medals in the 2008 Beijing Olympics – then you’ve probably looked into local swimming pools, as well as memberships in clubs that give you access to warm pools, even during the wintertime.

But what kind of equipment will you need?

Swimming is, after all, a minimalistic sport, requiring very little else than a good pair of swimming trunks and a source of water. Right? Well, here are some of the lesser known aspects of swimming equipment that you might find advantageous to you in your pursuit of – if not 8 gold medals – at least a better, healthier body.

-Nose plugs.

For the novices, and the more sinus-sensitive among us (I count myself among these people), swimming underwater for the first time in a while can be a bit of a shock to the system. This is particularly true if you don’t like the sensation of water in your nose, which can be more than a minor annoyance if you can’t get it out of your head. Why not nip the situation in the bud by getting a pair of nose plugs for when you dive and try a lot of underwater swimming?

-Ear plugs or a swimming cap.

Either one can help cover your ears if you also don’t like tilting your head and tapping your skull to get water out of your ears after a particularly intense swimming session. The swimming cap will also help you keep your hair dry, if you don’t want to put up with wet hair afterwards.

-A nice pair of flip-flops.

It’s not always a good idea to have bare feet around the swimming area, unless you’re swimming on a beach. Because surfaces can get slippery, it’s easy to slip on a pair of flip-flops that will help you get traction, and it’s just as easy to take them off when it’s time to head onto the diving board.

Besides, you don’t want to walk into locker rooms without some protection on your feet, as you don’t know what kind of germs or creepy-crawlies might be waiting to attack your toes.

-Tight swimming goggles.

You’ll want to get a nice pair of swimming goggles – don’t cut corners and buy the cheap ones – in order to keep your eyes protected underwater. You also want to wear a pair that’s comfortable to you, or at least a pair that can become comfortable after a bit of getting-used-to.

Photo Credits: evoo73

Originally posted 2009-03-23 05:14:57.

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