Category: Swim Gear

Prescription Swim Goggles Are Essential

Prescription Swim Goggles Are Essential

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Prescription Swim Goggles
Prescription swim goggles allow you to see well as you swim.

Even swimmers can have imperfect vision. However, everyone knows that when you swim in the pool, you aren’t going to be able to wear your glasses in the water. While you can still wear contacts with regular swim goggles, not everyone is comfortable with wearing contacts. Others simply don’t want to risk wearing their contacts in the water. For these people, wearing prescription swim goggles becomes essential for a variety of reasons.

Visibility

It is extremely important for swimmers to be able to see while they are swimming. Someone who typically wears glasses or contacts aren’t going to be able to see clearly in the water when they remove their glasses or contacts and put on their goggles. This is why some companies actually offer prescription swim goggles so those with imperfect vision can still see where they are going in the water. This is extremely important, especially as they reach the ends of the pool to make turns or finish a race.

Ease of Use

When you choose to use prescription swim goggles instead of the typical swim goggles, you won’t need to worry about keeping track of your other eye care items while you are at the pool. If you take your glasses off and set them off to the side so you can swim, it can become easy to forget to pick them up again or even forget where you put them. When your goggles are already prescriptions, you won’t need to bring your glasses out to the pool at all. Leave them in your locker instead.

Style

When you choose to use prescription swim goggles instead of the typical goggles with your contacts or with no corrective eye wear, you will have just as much style at the pool as anyone else. The styles of the optical goggles are very similar to the styles of the other swim goggles available. In fact, if you put a prescription and a non-prescription pair next to each other, you likely wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

Wearing prescription swim goggles when you typically wear glasses or even contacts can be extremely beneficial to you in the pool. Not only will they allow you to see where you are going in the pool, they will also allow you to keep your glasses away from the pool completely so they don’t become lost or damaged. With these optical goggles, you will have all the style and flair as the other swimmers, while still being able to see well.

Learn How to Perfect Your Swimming

Learn How to Perfect Your Swimming

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Swimming is one of the most beneficial exercises anyone can participate in. Whether you swim competitively or simply swim for the benefits of weight loss and muscle building, it is a perfect sport to learn to enjoy. If you are unsure about your swimming skills, there are various things you can do to perfect your skills even without a coach telling you what to do.

Swim Training Gear
The proper swim training gear can help you learn to swim more efficiently.

Focus on One Component

Rather than jumping in the water and trying to focus on all aspects of a stroke, such as freestyle, focus on one component. Use a kickboard to stabilize your upper body while you focus on your kick. Take the time to truly build up your endurance through the use of a kickboard, experimenting with your kicks to determine which method gives you the best times and least exhaustive workout. You want to make sure your muscles do not tire prematurely, but you also want to swim lengths in the shortest amount of time. Once you perfect your kick, you can use pull buoys to stabilize your legs while you perfect your arm movements. This will allow you to slowly put all the pieces together to achieve one fluid freestyle stroke.

Build Endurance

A major component of perfect swimming is endurance. Swimming a couple of laps is fine, but if you want to truly feel the benefits of swimming, you will need to be able to swim a large number of laps comfortably. Through the use of exercise and the proper swimsuit, you will be able to build that endurance. Choosing to wear a competitive swimsuit, rather than a regular swimsuit, will reduce the amount of drag you experience in the water, allowing you to build your endurance without experiencing unnecessary exhaustion.

Time Yourself

Through the use of a waterproof lap counter and timer, you can time yourself on your laps. This allows you to push yourself harder each time, consistently trying to beat your own time. You can also count the number of strokes you use to complete each lap. Trying to reduce the number of strokes it takes to complete each lap will help you perfect your swimming even further.

If you wish to perfect your swimming skills, take it slow. Break your strokes down into individual components to truly understand how your strokes affect your swimming. By building up endurance and speed, you will find yourself perfecting your swimming and even gaining the ability to swim competitively in a short amount of time.

Swim Parkas Keep You Warmed Up

Swim Parkas Keep You Warmed Up

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Swim Parkas
Swim parkas become a necessity when the weather is cooler.

Most people don’t go swimming in conditions you would consider cold enough to need to wear a jacket. In fact, most people only think about swimming when the weather is hot or you are inside. However, when it comes to competitive swimming, it is extremely important to keep your muscles warm in between swims, even if the temperature isn’t incredibly cold. Swim parkas are a great way to keep your muscles warmed up between swims to reduce the shock on your body.

Nike Swim Parkas

Nike makes a line of adult and children’s swim parkas that are specifically designed to keep you warm while you are out on the swim deck. This parka is made from water-resistant 100 percent polyester shell with polyester filling. The hood features a drawstring so you can keep your whole body warm, including your head. This parka comes in navy blue and black with a white stripe down the sleeve.

Speedo Team Swim Parkas

If you are looking for the perfect swim parkas to coordinate your entire team, the Speedo team swim parkas are a great option for you. The water-resistant coat is lined with polar fleece to offer the optimal warmth in between your swims. You will even find a convenient goggle pocket inside so you don’t need to worry about misplacing your goggles. This parka is available in four colors: navy, sapphire, red and black.

TYR Alliance Swim Parkas

Another of your options for swimming in cooler weather is the TYR Alliance swim parka. This coat offers optimal warmth with the fleece lining, as well as resistance to the wind and moisture in the air. This makes it an ideal parka for the coolest weather in which you might swim. One of the unique features of this parka is the Raglan sleeves that provide the best fit, as well as the most freedom of movement possible in a swim parka.

The temperatures in which you may swim can fluctuate, causing you to cool down too much in between your scheduled swims. One of the best ways to ensure you stay warm is by wearing a swim parka in between your swims. These parkas are made from water-resistant material and are lined with warm fleece to help keep you warm. Coordinate your entire team with matching swim parkas or allow each swimmer to pick his or her own.

Finding the Best Swim Backpack

Finding the Best Swim Backpack

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Swim Backpacks
Swim backpacks allow swimmers to keep all their gear together.

Swimming competitively brings the need for carrying many items to help your meet be as successful as possible. In order to have everything you need with you all in one bag, it is important to find the best swim backpack that is functional, comfortable and long-lasting. Each of these swim backpacks comes in a variety of colors for the perfect match.

Speedo Backpack

The Speedo Pro Backpack offers the performance any competitive swimmer needs. The water-resistant bottom allows this backpack to protect, even near the water. One of the most important features of this Speedo swim backpack is the wet pockets that allow you to carry a wet swimsuit or towel without worrying about damaging dry items. With a large number of pockets and ergonomic shoulder straps, you can stay organized and stylish with this Speedo backpack.

Nike Swim Backpack

The Nike Team Swim Backpack offers a stiff bottom that keeps the bag upright, preventing its contents from spilling out, while also providing the water proof bottom to allow you to put the bag as close to the water as you need while competing. The mesh pocket gives you the option to store your wet items away from everything else in your backpack. With a special compartment for shoes, sunglasses, cell phones and keys, you will be able to stay organized so you can focus on your big swim meet.

Swim Stuff Swimmer’s Backpack

For the swimmer who needs a companion that allows you to put everything in its place, the Swim Stuff Swim Backpack is perfect. Whether you need a place to store your swim shampoo or goggles or a way to keep your wet and dry clothes separate, this backpack can handle it all for you.

TYR Swim Backpack

The TYR Alliance Team Backpack 2 is designed just for swimmers with its two carabiners to hang suits and mesh compartment that encourages suits to dry quickly. With two separate compartments for wet and dry clothes, everything will stay safe in this swim backpack. With a dedicated pouch for goggles, MP3 players and various other pouches, competitive swimmers will love how organized and efficient they feel at their swim meets.

Arena Team Backpack

The Arena Team Backpack is perfect for swimmers on the go. This swim backpack features a separate compartment for all your wet items, padded shoulder straps and a water-resistant bottom to best fit all your needs. The main compartment is large, allowing you to carry everything you need to the pool. Organization is also easy due to the small side pockets, perfect for storing all your small necessities.

The Best Waterproof MP3 Player

The Best Waterproof MP3 Player

by kturtenwald ♥ 1 Comment
Waterproof MP3 Player
The best waterproof MP3 player can make your time in the pool more enjoyable.

Everybody loves to listen to music at some time or another. For some, it is a distraction from things going on around them. For others, music is a relaxation technique. No matter what the reason, the use of a waterproof MP3 player while you train in the pool can be a useful asset. If you want to be able to listen to music as you train or workout, you will need to find the best waterproof MP3 player available on the market.

Speedo Aquabeat 2.0

The Speedo Aquabeat 2.0 is a great option for a waterproof MP3 player. Available in black or pink, this 4GB MP3 player provides you with room for plenty of songs so you can have easy access to all your favorite songs whenever you spend time in the pool. The LED screen provides all the song details you need. You can also use the player for FM reception. This MP3 player clips to your swim goggles, floats if you drop it and can be submerged up to 10 feet. It also features a pedometer and stop watch.

Speedo LZR Racer Aquabeat

Speedo also makes the LZR Racer Aquabeat waterproof MP3 player that holds up to 2GB of music for your listening enjoyment. This MP3 player also comes with waterproof earplugs and features an ergonomic design that makes it easy to use. You can use this MP3 player up to 10 feet down and it floats if it becomes detached. The LZR Racer Aquabeat also includes playlist editing software that makes it easy to add, delete and arrange your music.

Finis SwiMP3

The Finis SwiMP3 waterproof MP3 player is a great addition to your workouts. The MP3 player has a capacity of 2GB so you can store all your favorite music easily. The clip makes it easy to attach to your goggles so it will be out of the way while you swim. A unique feature of this MP3 player is the ability to listen to your music without the use of ear buds. The sound resonates through your cheekbones instead, providing you with clear sound while you are underwater.

Want to listen to your music while you are swimming? Finding the perfect waterproof MP3 player will allow you to enjoy your music while you are working out in the pool, training or just swimming for fun. Each of these players offers great features that will allow you to enjoy your music, even when you are in the water.

The Many Uses for Water Shoes

The Many Uses for Water Shoes

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Water shoes are special shoes designed specifically to wear in the pool, lakes or rivers. They provide the perfect amount of traction and allow you to walk without slipping or scraping your feet. Swim shoes have various uses that prove to be beneficial to those who spend time in any type of water.

Water Aerobics

One of the most popular uses for special aqua shoes are for water aerobics classes in the pool. During these classes, participants are jumping and moving around quickly, making it easy to slip or scrape your feet on the bottom of the pool. When you protect your feet with protective shoes that can be worn in the water, this will not occur, allowing you to maximize the results of your aerobics class, rather than taking it easy to protect yourself from getting injured.

Open Water

If you spend time at the beach, it is beneficial to wear special water shoes to protect your feet from the harsh bottom of the lake or ocean. You never know what the ground of the body of water consists of when you explore the water. You could put your feet at great risk for scrapes and other injuries without proper footwear.

Water Shoes
Water shoes help protect your feet in and out of the water.

Speedo Surfwalker Pro

The Speedo Surfwalker Pro is the perfect pair of aqua shoes. They offer a modern look to classic water shoes and are available for men and women. The mesh top and jersey material of these shoes dry quickly, allowing you to experience comfort, even when you are not in the water. These swimming shoes are also easy to slip on when dry and take off when wet, still allowing you to have a comfortable fit in and out of the water.

Water Sandals

 When you are not in the water but will be near it, whether at the pool or beach, it is also good to have water sandals that can handle getting wet while you are on the sidelines. There are various styles for men and women that offer incredible comfort, style and performance that lasts no matter how wet they get. For women, one of the more popular styles is the Dolfin Uglies Flop Flops; with their flexible sole for traction and incredible style, they are the perfect pool side shoes. For men, one of the more popular styles is the Speedo Poolside Men’s Pool Slide, which provides incredible traction, a comfortable sole for long-term wear and an adjustable Velcro strap for a secure fit.

Two Types of Water Swim Shoes

Two Types of Water Swim Shoes

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Whether you are looking for a great pair of water swim shoes to wear for your day on the beach or an afternoon at the pool, you may feel a little overwhelmed by the choices you have. There are many brands that make these shoes that are meant for use in the water, but how do you find the right one? Are the cheaper pairs just as good as the more expensive brands? Understanding the two basic types of water shoes will help you decide which pair is right for you.

Speedo Surfwalker Pro

If you are looking for more traditional water swim shoes, the men’s and women’s versions of the Surfwalker Pro by Speedo can be a great option for you. With a sleek fit and great colors, you will enjoy the way these shoes fit your feet and allow you to enjoy the water without worrying about stepping on anything. These water shoes are made from quick drying mesh, which allows you to enjoy them while you are in the water and not feel as though you are walking in slush when you are out of the water. Choose the pair that matches your swimsuit or best fits your style.

Water Swim Shoes
Water swim shoes are a must-have when you participate in water training.

Speedo Hydro Trainer

Not everyone uses water swim shoes for swimming alone. If you are enrolled in a water aerobics class or another type of water fitness training program, the Speedo Hydro Trainer shoes for men and women give you a sturdy fit more like tennis shoes. In fact, they even look like tennis shoes at first glance. The main difference in these shoes from the tennis shoes they replicate is their ability to use in the water. The advantages of these shoes for water training are better traction, good shock absorption and breathability. The bungee laces will allow you to get the best fit from these water swim shoes.

When you are in the water, protecting your feet should be your top priority. Whether you are swimming in the pool or enjoying a day on the beach, the type of swim shoe you wear is important. If you are just looking for a casual fit for your leisure, the Speedo Surfwalker Pro is a great option. However, if you need more support for water aerobics or any other water training, the Hydro Trainer can provide you with all the comfort and support you need to ensure your safety in the water as you train.

Training with Kickboards

Training with Kickboards

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Swim Training Kickboards
Kickboards can help with swim training on all levels.

Kickboards used to be used strictly for new swimmers to teach them how to float and kick in the water. Today, they have become well known as one of the best swim training aids for adults as well. Competitive swimmers can use kickboards to enhance their cardiovascular workouts, as well as use them as a training aid to enhance their swimming skills. There are various different types of kickboards available, each with their own unique benefits. Training with kickboards is done to isolate certain movements to aid the instructor or coach to better help the swimmer. They also help swimmers isolate specific muscles, such as legs, hips or stomach muscles, to enhance the workout, allowing swimmers to focus on particular body parts that need more strength.

Combined Swim Training Aids

There are various swim training aids, such as the Arena Pull Kick, that offer several different workouts, reducing the need to carry many bulky tools to and from the pool. The Pull Kick gives swimmers the ability to work on upper and lower body maneuvers in the water with one tool.

Perfecting the Butterfly Kick

When swimmers undergo training with kickboards, they can keep their head above the water, listening to the direction from their coach, while isolating the movement in their legs. This allows swimmers to truly focus on the kick, which is the essential part of this type of swimming. With the kickboard supporting the upper body, swimmers can simply relax their upper body, while focusing 100 percent of their attention on their lower body. The Arena Swim Kickboard Pro offers the versatility and strength competitive swimmers need to perfect kicks, such as the butterfly kick. With its ergonomic design, swimmers have a variety of choices on the placement of their hands to give them the most comfort while they train.

General Training

For general training or cardiovascular workouts, the Speedo Adult Kickboard offers exactly what swimmers need. Training with kickboards is easy with the Speedo kickboard. Because of its large size, competitive swimmers can focus on intense kicking drills in the pool or simply focus on cardiovascular workouts to strengthen the muscles in the lower half of their body. This allows swimmers to have the extreme strength required to be a competitive swimmer. If there is an area in which a swimmer does not excel, they can use the benefits of swimming training aids, such as the kickboard, to enhance their swimming skills.

The Importance of Hair Care for Swimmers

The Importance of Hair Care for Swimmers

by kturtenwald ♥ 2 Comments
Swimmer Hair Care
Taking care of your hair is important to swimmers.

Proper hair care for swimmers can mean the difference between smooth, silky hair and dry or damaged hair. Whether you are a competitive swimmer or simply a leisure swimmer, the chlorine wreaks the same havoc on any hair without the proper hair care. The chlorine and various other chemicals used in pools build up on the swimmer’s hair, leaving behind a residue that breaks hair down and causes it to become unmanageable. With the proper hair care, swimmers can still have gorgeous hair and spend as much time as they want in the pool. After swimming, swimmers should immediately rinse their hair out, but a proper shampoo and conditioner are also required to deliver beautiful hair.

The Best Shampoo for Swimmers

Malibu C’s Swimmers Water Action Shampoo is the best shampoo on the market for swimmers. It offers gentle, daily cleaning that removes the harmful chemicals, residue buildup and hard water minerals that leave hair dry and damaged. It might seem logical to use a harsh shampoo after exposing your hair to the chemicals and minerals of a pool, but the harsh detergent would simply damage the hair further. After swimming, your hair needs a gentle nurturing from a moisturizing shampoo.

Swimmers Water Action Shampoo offers the ultimate protection for swimmer’s hair. Made with all-natural vitamins and botanicals, there are no harsh chemicals or damaging ingredients that could further harm your hair. Green hair, itchy scalp and hair that will not process will be a thing of the past with this exceptional swimmers’ shampoo.

The Best Conditioner for Swimmers

Once you wash your hair with Swimmers Water Action Shampoo, you should follow it with Malibu C’s Swimmers Water Action Conditioner. Conditioning your hair is just as important as washing it after swimming. Conditioners give your hair a chance to regain the moisture it lost from the harmful chemicals and minerals in the water. The Swimmers Water Action Conditioner can be used safely on a daily basis and even provides your hair with a protective sunscreen to prevent further damage to your hair.

Protecting Swimmers’ Hair

If you follow the proper regimen for hair care for swimmers, you will have gorgeous, shiny, manageable hair without the worry of chemical buildup or harmful mineral damage. This will allow you to partake in competitive swimming or swimming for exercise or leisure without running the risk of sacrificing the beauty of your hair.

Swimming Pool Backstroke Flags

Swimming Pool Backstroke Flags

by kturtenwald ♥ 0 Leave a Comment
Plastic Backstroke Flags
Backstroke flags let swimmers know where the end of the pool is.

The backstroke is one of the most difficult strokes in the pool because you aren’t able to see where the edge of the pool is while you are swimming. Unless you know exactly how many strokes it takes to get across the pool and count your strokes as you swim, you can easily become disoriented and run into the side of the pool or attempt your turn too early. The best way to avoid this is by using swimming pool backstroke flags to let swimmers know they are approaching the end of the pool.

Backstroke Flag Options

When you are outfitting your pool, you will find there are many options for backstroke flags. If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, your best option is the generic plastic backstroke flags that are available in 100 foot lengths. These plastic flags come in a variety of color pairings so you can pick your team’s colors or any other color that fits your pool. If you prefer something that is more customized, you can build your own backstroke flags in any length, color and design. All you need is to purchase your customized pennants with logos, letters or pictures, rope and swivel hooks.

Uses for Backstroke Flags

The backstroke flags have a primary purpose of letting swimmers know they are approaching the end of the pool so they don’t become injured and can finish the race or make a turn if necessary. The flags must be suspended from the ceiling across the end of the pool at a regulation five meters from the end of the pool. All swimmers will know that they will need to prepare for the wall when they see these flags over their heads as they swim along on their backs. This provides a visual clue so swimmers can focus on technique, rather than a fear of the end of the pool.

Buying swimming pool backstroke flags that match your swim team or the colors of the event you are hosting is important any time you will hold a backstroke race. Using these flags during practices will also help you swimmers learn what to look for. As long as you place these flags at the regulation length from the edge of the pool — five meters — your swimmers will know just what to do when they see these flags above, no matter where they are. Whether you purchase a premade string or create your own, these flags are a great addition to your pool.