Gear that keepsyou in the waterlonger.
Buying guides for goggles, swimwear, caps, training tools, open-water kit and swim tech, for lap swimmers, competitive swimmers, triathletes and families learning to swim.
Find gear by how you swim
Lap lanes, race day, open water or first lessons. Each section starts with the swimmer, then the gear.
Goggles & caps
Training, racing, prescription and caps
Swimwear
Training suits, jammers and tech suits
Training gear
Fins, paddles, kickboards and snorkels
Open water & triathlon
Wetsuits, tow floats and swimskins
Swim tech
Watches, headphones and pool clocks
Learn to swim & family
Kids, beginners and water safety
Deck & care
Bags, parkas, towels and chlorine care
Snorkel, polo & more
Snorkeling, freediving, water polo and aqua fitness
Know your kit
Choose a first swim kit for adult lessons or lap practice: a comfortable suit, goggles, cap, towel and water bottle, with training extras added later.
- 02
After-Swim Hair and Skin Care: What to Use
Poolside care routine
- 03
Aqua Fitness Belts vs Water Weights: How to Choose
Pool workouts
- 04
Swim Snorkels for Lap Swimming: Fit and Features
Swim training
- 05
Chlorine-Resistant Swimsuits: Polyester vs Nylon-Spandex
Swimwear fabrics
- 06
Cold-Water Swimming Gear: Wetsuits, Gloves and Booties
Open-water layers
Swimming Gear questions, answered
What should an adult bring to a first swim lesson?
Start with a swimsuit, goggles, towel and any pool-required cap or deck footwear. Check the facility's own checklist before you go, because pool rules and supplied equipment differ.
Read: Adult Beginner Swim Kit →What should I use on my hair after swimming in a pool?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends rinsing hair promptly, washing with a specially formulated swimmer's shampoo and following with a deep conditioner. Choose products that suit your hair and scalp.
Read: After-Swim Hair and Skin Care →Should I buy a water fitness belt or water weights?
A belt adds buoyancy for upright movement, especially deep-water running. Water weights add resistance or can provide support and balance, so match the tool to the exercise.
Read: Aqua Fitness Belts vs Water Weights →What is a center-mount swim snorkel for?
It keeps the breathing tube in front of the face, letting a swimmer work on stroke symmetry or body position without turning the head for each breath.
Read: Swim Snorkels for Lap Swimming →What is the most chlorine-resistant swimsuit fabric?
100 percent polyester, including PBT polyester. It has little or no spandex for chlorine to break down.
Read: Chlorine-Resistant Swimsuits →What gear helps in cold open water?
A wetsuit, well-fitted neoprene gloves or booties, and earplugs are options described by U.S. Masters Swimming. Choose each item for the water, conditions and your own experience.
Read: Cold-Water Swimming Gear →Fit first, then features
Every guide explains how the gear should fit and how to tell before the return window closes.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The swimming gear index
- 01Goggles & capsTraining and racing goggles, mirrored and tinted lenses, prescription goggles, masks, silicone and latex caps.4 pages
- 02SwimwearTraining suits and jammers, chlorine-resistant fabrics, competition tech suits, and modest and plus-size options.5 pages
- 03Training gearSwim fins, hand paddles, kickboards, pull buoys, center-mount snorkels, parachutes and resistance tools.4 pages
- 04Open water & triathlonSwim wetsuits, swimskins, tow floats, open-water goggles, neoprene caps and cold-water gear.5 pages
- 05Swim techSwim-tracking watches, bone-conduction and waterproof headphones, lap counters and pace clocks.2 pages
- 06Learn to swim & familyLearn-to-swim aids, kids' goggles and suits, life jackets, swim diapers and adult beginner guides.3 pages
- 07Deck & careMesh and backpack bags, deck parkas, microfiber towels, slides, anti-fog, ear care and chlorine-removal products.3 pages
- 08Snorkel, polo & moreSnorkel masks and fins, freediving basics, water polo caps and balls, aqua fitness and synchronized swimming gear.4 pages