Have you ever thought about starting a healthy hobby, like swimming? That is undoubtedly a great decision, since you can practice it even if you don’t have much free time. All you need is a professional swimming coach and your own, clean pool at your house, so you don’t have to waste precious hours going to the public pools with your beginner’s swimming equipment.
Of course, you will also need a great starter kit. As a beginner, it is not necessary to buy the most expensive and professional equipment, at least not yet. As you progress with the techniques, you can try other items as well, depending on the level you want to reach, and what your instructor tells you.
Let’s see what the beginner’s swimming equipment should contain:
- Swimsuit: a good coach can recommend the best option for each individual, or for those who don’t know what type of swimsuit would be the most comfortable in the pool. Hint: for women, the one-piece version proves to be a great choice. Men tend to go with swim briefs or swim trunks.
- Swim cap: if you’re planning on swimming in your own pool, a swim cap is not mandatory. However, for someone with long hair, its use is advisable. It is disturbing when your hair gets into your face and you cannot concentrate on your movements. When training in a public pool, caps are required for everyone.
- Swimming goggles: this is something you should definitely have, especially if you’re not yet comfortable underwater. Swimming goggles allow you to stay relaxed without getting water in your eyes. Tip: buy at least 2 different types of googles. If one of them does not work out for you due to the shape of your face or the type/size of the item, it is practical to have a spare one. If you are uncertain of your choice, here’s a great article that can help you choose a nice pair of googles.
Other items
- The use of the next item is optional, since some coaches may tell you that you don’t need it, others may recommend it in order to boost your confidence: nose clip. On the one hand, getting water in your nose can be extremely annoying, and nose clips were designed to save you from that. On the other hand, it is for your own benefit to learn how to control your breathing underwater, without getting water in your nose. For brave beginners, it can be avoided, although there is no correct answer to the question whether it should be used or not.
- The use of the next item is also optional: ear plugs. Getting water in your ears can be extremely annoying, and ear plugs were designed to save you from that.
Summary of beginner’s swimming equipment
These are just some basic accessories that will help you perform better in and under water. Depending on your experience, you can later add other items to your swimming kit. For starters, however, all you need is an experienced swimming coach that can guide you from the beginning, a swimsuit and swim cap, and a pair of comfortable goggles.