The following are the items in my swim bag. This is the gear I swim with every day.
These are my personal favourites and I’ve used them for hundreds of hours so I know they can stand the test of time.
Swim Bag
My swim bag of choice is the Speedo Unisex Adult Duffel Bag. It’s so compact and light.
Speedo Unisex Duffel Bag
- Super compact
- Waterproof pouch for wet swimwear
- Lightweight
When I need to bring lots of kit to the pool such as training aids my swim bag of choice is the classic Speedo Unisex Teamster 2.0 Rucksack.
Speedo Teamster 2.0
- Extra large for lots of gear
- Made with durable material
- Lots of pockets
Swim Goggles
My goggles of choice are the Speedo Unisex Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Goggles, which are suitable for male and female faces.
Speedo Unisex Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Goggle
- Very comfortable
- Fits a wide range of face sizes
- Good anti-fog protection
I also have a pair of these in the junior size, which are brilliant for adult swimmers who have smaller faces. They look exactly the same as the adult size and feel so comfortable.
Speedo Junior – Futura Biofuse Flexiseal Goggle
- Great for small adult faces
- Very comfortable
- Good anti-fog properties
In summary, they work really well and have excellent anti-fog properties with a lovely soft seal which has helped me to reduce my “racoon eyes” after each swim.
Swimming every day, with just a gentle rinse in cold water after each swim, you can expect to get three months of use from these, which is normal.
Swim Cap
I have been swimming with the basic Speedo Plain Moulded Silicone Swim Cap for years.
Speedo Plain Moulded Silicone Swim Cap
- One size to fit a range of head sizes
- Soft and comfortable
- Keeps the head streamlined
This cap is made from soft silicone and comes in one size.
Like nearly all swimming caps it does not keep my hair dry, (click here to learn how to do this), but it does fit really well, is comfortable and protects my bleached hair from too much exposure to chlorine.
For those interested in swim speeds, this cap shapes the head into a smooth surface that will help you to glide through the water.
Sports Microfibre Towel
Towels are so important for swimmers and so many of us just grab a standard towel which is bulky and hard to store in your swim bag.
I have purchased the Eono Microfibre Towel, Swimming Towel and Beach Towel, and it is amazing!
I cannot believe how space-saving it is. The size I purchased was 170cm by 40cm, which is large, but they do come in bigger sizes. This is such a great purchase.
Unlike some microfibre towels, which can have a “prickly” feeling, this is smooth. The best I can compare it to is the soft cloth you get when you clean a pair of glasses…..assuming you know what I am talking about!
Eono Microfibre Towel
- Really compact
- Lovely to touch
- Very durable
Kickboard
My kickboard of choice is the Speedo Unisex Adult Kickboard. It is soft to the touch and the extra hand holds make training with this kickboard very easy.
Speedo Adult Kickboard
- A good size for all adults
- Soft-to-the-touch foam
- Handholds
Hand Paddles
My hand paddle of choice is the Speedo Adult Tech Paddle which I find helps me to hold a good palm position and pull in the water.
Speedo Adult Tech Paddle
- Contoured palm design
- Strong plastic for a strong pull
- Single finger option for good technique
Pull Buoy
Pull buoys come in many different shapes and sizes. For compactness, I love this simple design from Versa.
Versa Pull Buoy
- Compact
- Suits a range of swim styles
- Excellent training aid
Swim Mesh Bag
To hold all my training aids, I use the Speedo large swim mesh bag.
Speedo Mesh Bag
- Large and spacious
- Has an ID tag for your name
- Soft and fast-drying material
Chlorine Removal Shampoo
When you swim every day, chlorine starts to take an effect on your hair and skin.
Male and female swimmers across the country could avoid bad hair days and that chlorine smell by using chlorine removal shampoos.
I asked my hairdresser if chlorine removal shampoos actually work, and she give a firm “Yes, they do work”. You can read all about the impact of chlorine on your skin and hair in this article, Do Chlorine Removal Shampoos Work? (A hairdresser weighs in)
There are many chlorine removal shampoos on the market, but “TriSwim” is the brand I regularly use and it works for my hair.
Chlorine Shampoo
- Moisturises hair
- Nice fragrance
- Leaves hair feeling smooth and soft.
In addition to chlorine removal shampoo, they also offer a chlorine removal conditioner and chlorine removal body wash.
Money Saving Tip: If you find the chlorine removal shampoos too expensive, you could use your regular shampoo but just invest in the chlorine removal conditioner only. This will help remove the chlorine while treating your hair and leaving it soft to the touch.
Chlorine Removal Body Wash
As a regular swimmer, you may love the smell of chlorine but do not want to carry it around on your skin all day.
There are dedicated chlorine removal body wash products on the market which help to soothe dry skin from swimming and remove the smell of chlorine.
I use the chlorine removal body wash from TriSwim. It has a nice fruity smell and it leaves my skin feeling moisturized.
Chlorine Body Wash
- Nice fragrance.
- Leaves skin feeling soft.
- Removes chlorine from the skin.
This product is particularly good if you swim before work, and are self-conscious about the possible smell of chlorine on your skin.
If you find that your regular shower gel or body wash is not very effective at removing the smell of chlorine then this is a good investment.
If you find your skin drying out because of chlorine, then this is an excellent investment.
The downside with this product is that it is expensive for shower gel, but it works.
Money Saving Tip: The TriSwim store on Amazon has a deals section which is really good for finding bargains. It is worth keeping an eye on this to see if you can get any of their chlorine removal products on offer. Secondly, TriSwim sells smaller 90ml bottles of their chlorine removal products. This is a great way to sample a selection of products before investing in a larger bottle.
Fitness Tracker
Until recently I have been using a Fitbit to monitor my swim distances. This is an effective fitness tracker and I still have it in my swim bag.
However, I have found a much cheaper and excellent swimming watch.
Currently, I swim with the Amazfit Band 5 Smart Band Fitness Tracker which works amazingly well and costs just £25.
Amazfit Band 5 Tracker
- Brilliant value for money.
- Tracks swim distance & SWOLF
- Can be used for multiple activities
This smartwatch will track your swimming SWOLF, (click here to learn what swimming SWOLF is) your swimming pace, heart rate, number of laps and calories
I absolutely love this device and still can’t believe you can get so much for less than £30.
Unlike FitBit, which automatically detects your swimming, with this watch you must remember to tell it that you are swimming, by clicking on workouts, then “pool swim”.
When I first started using this fitness tracker, I kept forgetting to do this, but now that I am in the habit, it is great.
A Wet Bag
Managing wet swimwear can be a pain. After your swim, everything gets soaked and it can be hard to manage your wet swimwear and towels.
Using a small wet bag, you can store your wet swimming suit and towels without getting everything else in your bag wet.
This is an amazing piece of kit to have in your swim bag and I would not be without mine.
We all have to deal with wet swimwear and instead of rolling your wet swimsuit up in a towel, just place it in this bag and you can be sure it will not soak everything else in your gym bag.
KONUNUS Wet Bag (Waterproof Washable Bag)
- Keeps wet swimsuit separate
- Perfect size for a swimming suit
- Washable.
- Although too small for a towel, it will store a large microfibre towel. (140cm x 70cm is the size I use)
Although not essential, once you get used to using a wet bag for your wet swimming gear, it is hard to be without it.
A Phone Protector
Most of us have phones and they need to come with us to the pool.
My phone nearly always falls out into a puddle of water on the changing room floor, so I invested in a waterproof cover.
I have never submerged my phone in deep water with this bag so I can’t say if it works well as a waterproof bag, but it is really good to keep my phone safe from splashes which happens often after a swim.
Swim Ear Plugs
Swimming earplugs can be hard to get right the first time. As all our ears are different shapes and sizes, it can take some experimentation to find a pair suited to your needs.
Personally, I love the Zoggs Aqua Plugz as they are soft, comfortable and are not easily lost as you can tuck the extra moulded earpiece under your swim cap.
I have written a very detailed product review about the Zoggs Aqua Plugz, which you can read by clicking here.
Swim Wear
I am a Speedo fan all the way.
Although I have tried different brands over the years, the best swimming suit I have ever had is the Speedo Proleg Swimsuit. This is definitely a winning swimsuit that is super comfortable and beautiful to wear.
I don’t have much body confidence, but this swim suit really helps with that!
Unfortunately, as fashion changes, so do swimwear lines so I cannot easily find my exact swimsuit again, but you cannot go wrong with Speedo, and if you do, their customer service is amazing if you buy direct from their online swim store.
