Category: Swim Gear

Using Competitive Swimming to Lose Weight

Using Competitive Swimming to Lose Weight

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Water Fitness Equipment
Working out in the water can be a great way to lose weight.

When you think about losing weight and the various exercises you can perform, the standards of jogging, aerobics and weightlifting likely come to mind. One exercise many people do not think of that is sometimes even more effective than the standard methods is competitive swimming. Swimming offers one of the most effective all-over body workouts with the least amount of impact, allowing you to exercise without the risk of serious injury.

Weightlessness

If you have tried other exercise programs but have had to quit or delay your efforts due to serious injury, you will love the benefits of swimming. Once your body hits the water, you become weightless, taking away all the aches and pains your body previously felt. This allows you to exercise in the water more frequently than other heavy-duty exercises that wear on your muscles, creating the need to relax to allow the muscles to repair themselves.

Various Strokes

There are a variety of strokes you can perform in the water, each of which burns a different number of calories. If you switch up your routine often, you will give your body the most benefits by working different muscles each time. The various strokes you can perform in the water include the freestyle, backstroke, butterfly, breast stroke and side stroke. Create the perfect routine to incorporate all the strokes into your workout, and you will realize the greatest benefits in your weight loss efforts.

Equipment

Swimming is a sport you can do without any equipment, but if you want to add more intensity to your workout, there are various pieces you could use. If you want to take a break from swimming but still want to work out in the water, water dumbbells are a great way to lift weights while still remaining in the water. If you want to increase the resistance of the water while you are swimming, you can wear aqua fitness gloves to give your upper body a more intense workout. If you want to focus solely on your legs, you can use a kickboard to keep your upper body stable, causing your leg muscles to perform all the work.

There are a variety of competitive swimming methods you can use to achieve your weight loss goals. Whether you have a large amount of weight to lose or you simply want to tone your body, swimming is one of the best exercises you can do. It is appropriate for almost anyone in any health condition and is easy on the body, reducing the risk of serious injury while you meet your health goals.

The Importance of Swim Pace Clocks

The Importance of Swim Pace Clocks

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Swim Pace Clocks
A swim pace clock can be an important tool to keep on the side of the pool.

If you are on a swim team or are training to be on a swim team, one of the most important things you need to understand is how to read swim pace clocks. At first glance, they might seem intimidating and something only seasoned coaches can read, but with a little practice, you will get the hang of it. You will be glad you understand them in the long run because they will help you improve your lap times with or without a coach.

Speed Up Your Times

One of the best uses for the swim pace clocks is timing your laps. It is easy enough to glance at the clock when you start your lap and then again when you finish. This will allow you to determine your lap time for each lap you take. When you take your swimming seriously, this allows you to determine if you are slowing down or speeding up. This is especially helpful if you have changed anything with your stroke or are trying a new stroke. It is also a great way to practice without your coach if you want to sneak in some extra practice time.

Second Hand

If you are using an analog pace clock, such as the Accusplit Swim Pace Clock, you will notice there is no hour hand. Swimmers use the second hand to gauge their lap times. The top of the clock is marked with a 60 and the bottom with a 30. If you hear the coach mention starting at the top or bottom, they simply mean starting on the 60 or 30. The red hand is the hand that counts the seconds, and the black hand is the hand that counts the minutes.

Digital Clocks

Some swimming pools have digital swim pace clocks, such as the IST Cut Swimcount Clock. The digital clocks work similarly to the analog clocks except they are easier to read at first glance. The seconds are displayed after the colon and the minutes before the colon. They can be used for the same purposes as the analog clocks.

Understanding how to read swim pace clocks is one of the best ways to allow yourself to improve your swim times. Whether you are on a swim team or simply want to increase your swim times for your own benefit, using the pace clock is the best way to determine if you are reaching your goals in the water.

Use Water Barbells as a Way to Gain Muscle Strength

Use Water Barbells as a Way to Gain Muscle Strength

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Water Barbells
Water barbells can be the perfect way to get a workout that is easier on your body.

Exercising in the water is a great way to stay fit, as well as lose weight. There are many types of exercises you can participate in while in the water other than water aerobics, which most people think of as the only water exercise. Weightlifting with water barbells is a great way to increase muscle mass and strength. The combination of the weights and the resistance of the water makes it possible to tone your muscles while participating in a low-impact exercise. Water dumbbells are also easy to hold, typically only requiring the use of one hand on each weight, making it possible for people of all fitness levels to use them.

Buoyancy and Resistance

The pure buoyancy of aqua barbells, such as the Swim Stuff Aqua Fitness Barbells, gives you the perfect amount of resistance in the water. When you use controlled movements with the barbells, you will be able to give your arm muscles a great workout by not allowing them to come back to the surface of the water, which they will naturally want to do. The resistance of the water will add to the strength you are able to add to your muscles, giving your body an incredible workout without any risk of high-impact injuries. This is the perfect exercise for those who are recovering from illness or injury, as well as those who are fitness enthusiasts.

Resistance Both Ways

The water can provide resistance on your muscles when you are pushing the dumbbells down beneath the water, as well as when you bring them back to the surface. It might be tempting to allow the water to do the work when you are bringing the dumbbells back up, but to give your muscles the greatest workout, it is essential to push against the water to maximize the benefits to your muscles.

Different Positions

There are many ways to use water barbells. They are the perfect choice for all levels of fitness, including beginners and those who are experienced in weightlifting. The Speedo Aqua Fitness Barbells are the perfect choice for those who bring their barbells back and forth from the pool because they are lightweight and easy to use. These fitness barbells are perfect for using while standing in place and simply exercising the arms or in combination with aerobic exercise, such as jogging or treading water. Working out with weights in the water is a perfectly safe yet effective method for physical fitness.

Replacement Pool Lane Equipment Is Necessary

Replacement Pool Lane Equipment Is Necessary

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Replacement Pool Lane Equipment
Replacing your pool lane markers is important.

Keeping your pool in good shape is critical, whether you are simply running practices or you are hosting meets. While you may already have the pool lane lines you need, you will need to know where to get the replacement parts whenever you need them. In fact, keeping some of these parts on hand can be useful so you can fix any problems quickly without causing a major delay, especially if you are in the middle of hosting a major meet.

Cables

The cables that hold the pool lane floats in place are critical to the function of your pool lane markers. If this cable snaps or stretches out too far, your lane markers won’t be able to hold the lanes and swimmers won’t know where to swim. Therefore, you need to keep the supplies you need to repair the cable if something goes wrong. This includes keeping a roll of the cable on hand, as well as the take-up reels so you can quickly replace them so your lane markers can function properly again.

Lane Marker Floats

Lane marker floats are often made from plastic and are prone to breaking, especially if they have been exposed to the elements. Therefore, you should keep a stock of the lane marker floats in the same design and colors as those that are already on your pool lane markers. This will ensure you can replace them quickly if they break. While a broken lane marker float won’t have a major impact on the function of your pool markers, it is best to replace them to prevent swimmers from hurting themselves on it.

Being able to quickly repair your lane markers can be critical to the success of the swimmers in your pool. While you can easily continue practice without the lane markers, if you happen to hold a meet and something goes wrong with your lane markers, it isn’t the time to find out you can’t fix it. If you keep the proper supplies on hand, as well as know exactly how to fix any problems that may arise, you will be able to resolve the problem as quickly as possible so you can continue on with the meet. As long as you have a length of cable and the proper lane markers, you will be prepared for just about anything that can go wrong.

New Swim Team Warmups

New Swim Team Warmups

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Swim Team Gear
Warm-up jackets are the perfect way to keep your team warm between races.

The weather isn’t always warm enough to run from the locker room to the pool. Even when it is warm enough, you may need to keep your muscles warmed up from your pre-swim exercises. No matter what the case, the perfect way to give your team a unified look when they aren’t in the pool is with one of the three new swim team warmups available from some of the top names in swimwear.

Dolfin Team Warm-Up Jacket

If you are just looking for a warm jacket for your team to wear on their way out to the pool, between races or even after the meet or practice, the Dolfin team warm-up jacket can be a great option. This jacket is made from 100 percent polyester and comes in black with white accents for a crisp look. The jacket also features two zippered pockets, an MP3 player opening and a neck loop for the ear bud wires. This allows for easy listening when you are trying to relax before or after your meet. A comfortable collar and the embroidered Dolfin logo complete the jacket.

Arena Throttle Warm Ups

If you are looking for a full warm-up suit with pants and a jacket, the Arena Throttle warm ups are a great option for your swim team. This set is made from a 100 percent polyester shell with a mesh lining for better air flow and comfort. The jacket features two zippered pockets and the Arena logo on the front and printed down the centers of the sleeves. This warm up suit is available in four colors, including white, black, navy and royal blue, to allow you to choose the best one to match your team colors.

Speedo Boom Force Warm Up Jacket

Speedo also offers a brand new warm up jacket option for women: the Speedo Boom Force warm up jacket. This jacket is made from 90 percent polyester and 10 percent spandex with a full lining to provide the utmost warmth and comfort for the wearer. This jacket is a great option for many teams because of the number of colors in which it is available, including black, navy, black/red, black/green, navy/red and sapphire, so you can choose the option that matches your team colors.

With these new options for warm up gear, your swim team is sure to remain warm and ready to go on the sidelines of the pool. Choose the one that best fits the needs of your team.

Swim Team Gear Boosts Morale and Spirit

Swim Team Gear Boosts Morale and Spirit

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Swim Team Gear
Swim hats are the perfect piece of swim gear both at the pool and away from it.

When you are the coach of a swim team, you need to make sure you do whatever is necessary to boost the morale of your team and create a spirit of unity in your team. This will ensure that everyone works together as a functional unit and help them get along better, both in and out of the pool. One of the ways you can do this is through purchasing various swim team gear your team members can wear at the pool and in their daily lives to show their pride in their team.

Swim Team Hats

If it is cool outside, your swimmers will need a way to keep their heads warm when they aren’t in the pool. In addition, they may want to wear these hats in their daily lives as well. Available in a Speedo beanie or a Speedo straw hat, you will be able to choose just the right option for your team. If you choose the beanie, your team members can wear the hat by the poolside when it is cool or anywhere around town in the cooler months. With the Speedo logo, everyone will know your team members are swimmers.

Swim T-Shirts

Another great piece of swim team gear to boost the team morale and spirit is the swim t-shirts. You can choose t-shirts with cute swim-related sayings that will make people smile and show them you are part of a great team. Of course, you always have the option to have t-shirts imprinted with your team logo or anything else related to your team. Your team members can show everyone just how proud they are to be part of your team.

Swim Hoodies

Hoodies are a great option when the weather is cooler. Just like the swim t-shirts, the swim hoodies feature sayings that are related to swimming. You can also get them imprinted specifically for your team.  Your team will be able to show their pride in swimming and your team, even when the weather is too cold for swimming.

Providing your swim team with the swim team gear that shows everyone around them about how much they love swimming and their team is a great way to boost morale and team spirit. Your team needs to focus on working together. This swim team gear is the perfect way to help your team work together.

Support Breast Cancer Research with Special Merchandise

Support Breast Cancer Research with Special Merchandise

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Breaststroke 4 Hope
Support breast cancer research through Breaststroke 4 Hope.

Breast cancer awareness has become a major cause in the fight to save more women’s lives. Just about everywhere you go, you will be able to find something you can purchase that provides you with the opportunity to purchase something that will send a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer research. Whether you know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, you have been affected yourself or you want to support the cause, you can purchase special swim items to support the efforts.

Swimsuits

You can show your support of the cause with a new swimsuit you can wear while you practice, during your leisure swims or even during meets. There are several suits available that show your support of the cause, including the Speedo Graphic Daisy Flyback suit in pink, the Speedo Spliced Energy Back in black and pink, the Speedo Piped Moderate Ultraback in black and the Speedo Voyager Splice two-piece in black and pink for women. Men can opt for the Speedo Solid Jammer in black with pink accents.

T-Shirts

Those who would prefer to wear a t-shirt to show their support for the cause, there are several options from which to choose. Each shirt comes in a combination of pink and black or white and pink. The shirts feature slogans, such as “Breast Team Ever” and “Breaststroke 4 Hope.” Both men’s and women’s options are available.

Swim Gear

There are several swim gear options you can also purchase to send your support for breast cancer research. You can choose from several swim caps and swim goggles that will lend a portion of their proceeds to this important research. Each of these items comes in pink, allowing you to show your support with the colors known to represent breast cancer research. When you wear these items, everyone will know you support breast cancer research.

Breast cancer is something that has touched so many people. Whether it has had a direct impact on your life or not, it is an important cause to support because of the odds of it touching your life at some point. When you purchase any of these special swim items, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful pink items that let everyone know you have supported the cause. You will also be sending a portion of the proceeds to the research so that someday, there may be a cure.

New Low Price on the Accusplit Swim Pace Clock

New Low Price on the Accusplit Swim Pace Clock

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Pool Equipment
The Accusplit swim pace clock is a critical piece of equipment for your training.

Pace clocks are an important part of any competitive swimmer’s equipment. When swimmers swim sets, it is important to know the progress that is made, which is only available through the use of a quality pace clock. Whether you are swimming with a coach who is watching the clock for you or you are watching it yourself, understanding your times will help you become a better swimmer by attempting to beat your own times. Swim teams also use the pace clock to choose intervals for their laps. Watching the clock or having the coach watch the clock will allow you to stay on pace with the rest of your team. The Accusplit swim pace clock is affordably priced and the perfect addition to any swim team.

Large Face

The Accupsplit swim pace clock has a large, easy-to-read clock face, making it easy for swimmers to see while they are swimming. The minute hand and sweep second hand are also large enough to see from anywhere in the pool, making it easy for swimmers to keep track of their own time or for the coach to inform the swimmers of their times and intervals. Because you can see the hands from the pool, you can wait until the second hand is on the 60 or at the top of the clock to effectively measure your time. If you leave when the second hand is on any other number, you will have to do a little math in your head to figure out your exact time.

Durable

The Accusplit swim pace clock is water-resistant and housed in a heavy duty clock stand. The clock movements are heavy duty, making it a durable pace clock to have for your swim team without having to worry about it breaking down or becoming burdensome to use. It can also be mounted on the wall for even easier viewing for all swimmers.

Economical

The swim pace clock is an economical way to increase your swimming abilities. Understanding your times will help you learn to better yourself and become as competitive as you want to be without expensive equipment. All you need is the pace clock to tell you your times and your own motivation to push yourself harder every day. When you can do so in a more affordable manner, you will benefit in more ways than one.

Fun Colors in Speedo Vanquisher Goggles

Fun Colors in Speedo Vanquisher Goggles

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Fun Speedo Goggles
The Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 goggles provide fun colors for swimmers to enjoy.

Swimming is a serious sport that requires a lot of hard work, training and dedication to learn to swim well so you can compete well and succeed. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun in the water as well. While there are plenty of colors and designs available in competitive swimwear, there aren’t a lot of choices when it comes to your eyewear. The Speedo Vanquisher goggles have changed all that.

Great Fun Colors

Even though you won’t really notice the colors in the water, the Speedo Vanquisher goggles come in a vast array of fun colors so you can stand out from the crowd at the pool. In fact, there are 11 different colors to choose from, most of which you can’t find in any other type of goggle on the market. You can choose a color that goes well with the suit you wear the most often or just pick your favorite one. Some of the available colors in these goggles include Kelly green, maroon, pink, aquamarine, purple/teal, rainbow and Pacific blue. Everyone will be asking you where you got these great goggles.

Superb Functionality

The Speedo Vanquisher goggles aren’t just pretty to look at; they also provide you with the functionality you require when you are swimming in the pool. The Vanquisher goggles feature the same seal system used on all the other Speedo goggles, keeping the water out of your eyes consistently as you swim. In addition to this tight seal, you can expect about 25 percent more visibility with these goggles, providing you with the ability to see exactly where you are going in the pool. This can be a useful asset to swimmers. The goggles also offer a low-profile design for less resistance, a double strap for comfort, interchangeable nose pieces for the best fit and UV protection and anti-fog properties.

The Vanquisher goggles have long been known for their superb performance in the water. Now Speedo has released a line of these goggles that come in a vast array of fun colors that allow swimmers to express their individuality in the water. You can purchase these fun goggles to use in practice and at meets without sacrificing quality and functionality in exchange for the fun look. Choose your favorite or buy several so you can exchange them out to go with your various swimsuits.

The Best Swim Fins for 2012

The Best Swim Fins for 2012

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Swim Training Fins
Swim training fins can help you strengthen your legs and improve your performance.

Swim fins are one of the most important pieces of swim equipment for every swimmer, regardless of the skill level or reason for swimming. Even swimmers who swim for recreation could benefit from using swim fins. Fins help swimmers perfect their kick, encourage proper swimming position and strengthen your ankles as you swim. There are a large variety of fins to choose from; how do you know which pair is the right fit for you and your needs? Below is a list of the top swim fins for 2012.

Swim Stuff Rubber Fins

The Swim Stuff rubber fins are the perfect all-around fin for any swimmer. Inexpensive, durable and powerful, these fins make the perfect starter set. The long blade on these fins makes it possible for even short thrusts to turn into long, beautiful kicks. The full foot pockets make them comfortable to wear, especially for long workout sessions.

Swim Stuff Short Fins

The Swim Stuff short fins are a good fit for swim teams or people who swim for fitness. Their short blade allows swimmers to practice their flutter kick without resistance. They offer the perfect balance between your power and tempo to give you the most fluid kick. These fins offer a closed foot pocket to provide you with comfortable wear for many hours.

TYR Crossblade Training Fin

The TYR Crossblade training fin is a multi-purpose fin, which makes it the perfect choice for training. The length of this fin contains the best attributes of both the short and long fin to give swimmers exactly what they need with different training techniques. Swimmers are able to work on their speed and tempo, in addition to creating a stronger leg with the resistance of a longer fin. Made with a soft foot pocket, these fins are comfortable to wear for long swim sessions.

Speedo Short Blade Training Fin

To build a fast flutter kick, you need the short, soft silicone blade of the Speedo short blade training fin. The silicone offers extreme comfort, while the foot pocket makes them easy to wear. These fins are the ideal choice for master swimmers who need to increase their kicking speed.

Razor Short Training Fins

If you need to perfect your kick and spend hours in the pool working on it, you need the soft comfort of the Razor short training fins. They are short enough to help you work on your kick without making your legs too tired from too much resistance. These fins are the perfect choice to increase your racing speed.