Swimming Gear Shopping Guide

When it comes to swimming just for the sake of swimming or swimming for triathlons, many components contribute to fulfilling one's goals and expectations in the water.  Among the categories that contribute to a triathlete's swimming success are the following:

• Triathlon Wetsuits
• Swimming Goggles and Masks
• Hand Paddles and Swimming Gloves
• Swimming Pull Buoys
• Swimming Caps
• Swimming Fins
• Swimming Books and Videos
• Swimming Kick Boards
• Swimming Snorkels

Triathlon Wetsuits

When it comes to triathlon wetsuits, a triathlete must consider the following when selecting the wetsuit that will aid in propelling him or her through the water:

• Sleeveless triathlon wetsuit vs fullsleeve triathlon wetsuit
• Entry level vs mid-level vs elite level triathlon wetsuit

Sleeveless vs Fullsleeve Wetsuits

Selecting a sleeveless triathlon wetsuit (also know as a longjohn) or a full-sleeve triathlon wetsuit will depend on a couple of factors.

Arguments for opting for a sleeveless wetsuit would be:

• The swimmer feels more flexibility in the shoulder area. Many swimmers feel restricted in full-sleeve wetsuits in the shoulder area. Sleeveless wetsuits will alleviate this feeling of restriction.
• Training and racing swims are in warm waters. Sleeveless wetsuits can minimize any feelings of overheating.
• For swimmers with short arms in proportion to their legs, the sleeves on a full-sleeve wetsuit may be too long resulting in excess space in the arms of the wetsuit. Consequently, the possibility of water pooling into the arms is more likely. If water does pool into the arms, any ballooning of water inside the arms can make it difficult to have a smooth stroke. For swimmers fitting this description, a sleeveless triathlon wetsuit can remedy this problem.
• Sleeveless wetsuits will be easier to take off when transitioning from the swim to bike.

Arguments for opting for a full-sleeve triathlon wetsuit would be:

• For swimmers who do not have feelings of restriction in the shoulder area, most top brand wetsuits are very technologically advanced and do a great job of making the neoprene thinner in the shoulder/underarm/latissimus dorsi area to aid with flexibility.
• Training and racing swims are in colder waters. Full-sleeve wetsuits will keep the body warmer in cold waters.
• Having full sleeves will result in less drag and a more hydrodynamic feel

In summary, a sleeveless wetsuit makes sense for the triathlete who is racing and training in warmer waters and who needs more flexibility in the shoulder area due to feelings of restriction when using a full-sleeve wetsuit. Also, a sleeveless wetsuit may be the answer for the swimmer who has shorter arms and can not find a full-sleeve wetsuit with short sleeves. On the contrary, a full-sleeve wetsuit is ideal for the triathlete who races and trains in predominantly colder waters and has no issues with flexibility. The final decision on whether to opt for a sleeveless or full-sleeve wetsuit is vital to the triathlete who continually strives for improvement. Making the right choice is critical and will improve the triathlete's chance of starting off the triathlon on a positive note.

Entry Level vs Mid-level vs Elite Level Triathlon Wetsuits

Most triathlon wetsuit manufacturers offer an entry level, mid-level, and elite level triathlon wetsuit.  The common denominator for triathlon wetsuits at each level is that they offer buoyancy, warmth, flexibility, and hydrodynamics.  The degree of buoyancy, warmth, flexibility, and hydrodynamics will often be noticeable as one goes from an entry level to a mid-level and from a mid-level to an elite triathlon wetsuit.  Additionally, higher level wetsuits do exhibit other enhancements such as textured forearms which are instrumental in providing a more powerful swim stroke.  Furthermore, flexibility and stretchiness of a triathlon wetsuit is also apparent when moving from an entry level to a mid-level or elite triathlon wetsuit.  Most mid-level and elite level triathlon wetsuits also have an scs or carbon coat.  Neoprene that is carbon coated creates an extra layer of bubbles when it interacts with water so in addition to already being buoyant, the swimmer now becomes more hydrodynamic.

Swimming Goggles and Masks

When it comes to swimming goggles and swimming masks, one must consider several factors when making a decision on what goggle or mask to select.  Below are a few factors to consider:

Lens Color

Depending on where one is swimming, it may make sense to select different tints for lenses.  One who swims pro-dominantly in an indoor pool will be better off with clear lenses since most indoor pools are not too bright and not too dark.  Tinted lenses in an indoor pool may make the pool appear to be darker.  Also, one who swims in a pool or body of water in the night time may also be better off with swimming goggles or a swimming mask with clear lenses.

Contrarily, one who swims outside in the sunlight may prefer swimming goggles or a swimming mask that has tinted lenses (or mirrored lenses) which will provide protection against the bright rays of the sun.  Also, if competing in a triathlon, many triathletes have enough trouble as it is sighting buoys that are on the course, and tinted lenses are helpful for those early morning swim legs that are known for blinding sun light which can impair one's ability to sight buoys.

Frame Type

Depending on the swimmer, it may make sense to go with one frame type over another.  Female swimmers with petite facial features are often better off selecting goggles labeled as petite and even junior sized goggles.  On the other side of the spectrum, swimmers who have bigger facial features or who prefer more peripheral vision should consider a swim mask or miniature mask.

Hand Paddles and Swimming Gloves

In an effort to improve one's swimming, distance per stroke is a very important element for a swimmer's success.  Swimming hand paddles and swimming gloves are tools for swimmers to increase strength through resistance training.  With more resistance, a swimmer will work harder to pull more water but the end result will be that the swimmer will travel more distance per stroke.  Additionally, through the use of hand paddles and swimming gloves, a swimmer typically develops a better feel for the water.

As is the case with most training tools, while swimming hand paddles and swimming gloves are good tools for swimming, they should be used periodically for drills and then the swimmer should swim without these tools to feel the difference when swimming with no assistance.

Swimming Pull Buoys

For the swimmer looking to build upper body strength and improve form, the swimming pull buoy is the perfect swim workout aid to accomplish this goal.  Through the use of a swimming pull buoy during swimming drills, the swimmer is able to maximize his or her upper body workout by immobilizing the legs.  Furthermore, the swimmer is able to isolate his or her arm motion to improve stroke form.

Swimming Fins

For the swimmer looking to improve his or her kick, swimming fins are a great tool to use for swim training.  Most swimming fins provide enough resistance for strength training and position the feet to be on the water's surface.  The end result is often improved overall form and a more streamlined swimming position.