Swim Bag Essentials: Open Water Edition!
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Over the past several years we have worked with triathletes and open water swimmers. We recently posted an article explaining all the equipment you will need to get started in the pool. As the weather gets nicer and you begin to transition from the pool to open water swimming, there is even more equipment that you will want to consider adding to your swim bag. You don’t need every piece of equipment on this list but they will go a long way to making your open water swimming and triathlon experience safer and more fun. If you are new to swimming or triathlon, then I hope this quick open water equipment guide will get you going. If you have questions about other gear not listed or think I have missed an essential piece of open water swimming equipment, then please let me know in the comments!
Goggles
If you are planning on doing open water swimming then you know what goggles are for! For open water swimming, there are a few more considerations to think about when purchasing a pair. It is good to have 2 pairs to prepare for different situations. You will want to get a pair with clear lenses for those cloudy and overcast days and for sunny or partly sunny days you will want smoke or mirrored lenses. Additionally, you should consider ones that have softer padding around the eye socket. This will reduce the amount of pain and chance of injury if you get hit in the face while swimming with lots of people around. I recommend TYR Nest Pro for the open water environment.
Swim Cap
A swim cap is a really important piece of safety equipment for open water swimming. When you swim in the open water, it is easy for you to blend in with the water and background. Having a very brightly colored swim cap will make you more visible to boaters, other water crafts, your spotter on land and lifeguards. If you get into trouble, a brightly colored swim cap could save your life and it will help keep boats and water craft away from you so they do not run you over. You need to get a brightly colored cap!
Wetsuit
A wetsuit is a neoprene body suit that is between 1mm-5mm thick is designed to provide you with buoyancy, flexibility, hydrodynamics and warmth. A wetsuit should be snug but should not restrict your breathing or your range of motion. There are a few different styles but the two most popular are sleeveless and full sleeve. Which one you decide to purchase is personal preference based on what you want from your wetsuit. There are a lot of different Wetsuits and they all fit differently, so make sure you try them on and love it before purchasing!
Open Water Swim Buoy
There several differences between the pool and open water but two of the biggest are that there are boats and other watercraft and you can’t see nor stand up depending on how far out you are swimming. An open water swim buoy is a huge help to both. A swim cap is great to make yourself more visible but an open water buoy is even better. An open water buoy sits above the water line making it easier for boats, lifeguards and spotters to see you. A buoy has the additional benefit of allowing you to hold on briefly if you need a quick break or you panic a little bit. Although this is not their intended use and they are not designed as a flotation aid, they can help in an emergency situation. Additionally, these open water swim buoys act as a semi-dry back in which you can store your valuables and nutrition while out for a long swim. We recommend the open water swim buoys made by New Wave Swim Buoy.
Anti-Chaffing Product
When you begin swimming in the open water, especially in a wetsuit you will learn all about chaffing. When you wear a wetsuit, it is common to experience some pretty severe chaffing around the neck area. This can be extremely painful and may even turn you off from open water swimming. Even if you swim without a wetsuit, you can experience chaffing if you swim in the ocean. It is for this reason that you need an anti-chaffing product to put on your neck and under your armpits. We highly recommend using Body Glide because it never gets on your hands and washes off pretty easily with warm water and soap. If you put it on your forearms and shins, it will also help you slide your wetsuit off really fast in the transition area!
Cold Water Gear: Neoprene Cap, Gloves and Boots
The open water environment is not as controlled as a pool. The water temperature can be cold at the beginning of the season and if you decide to swim in the water it can be wicked cold! If you want to swim open water year round, then you may need some additional neoprene to keep you warm an insulated. Not only will the wetsuit keep you warm, but you can also add in a neoprene cap, gloves and booties to make sure only your face is cold. If you are very sensitive to colder water, then you will want to consider at least wearing a neoprene cap. These are all fairly inexpensive pieces of equipment and they are all very similar from brand to brand. Do some research and pick the ones you like best. These Neoprene Cap, Gloves and Booties are great for any conditions.
GPS Watch
The open water is very different from the pool for so many reasons. Another major difference is that you can’t track your distance or pace very effectively. In a pool, it is easy to just count laps but in the ocean, it is not so easy. If you are going to be doing triathlons or marathon swimming, having a dependable watch that can track your distance swam and pace will be largely beneficial. If you are a triathlete, you should find a watch that can track all of your athletic endeavors including swimming, biking and running. We are big fans of the Garmin watches and have had good luck with accurate trying and they are fairly durable. If you have an issue, Garmin’s customer service is pretty good as well. We have gone through our fair share of watches and the Garmin watches satisfied our requirements more than others.