Swim no fins

[susandennis]

spiritgirl I asked me about my swim equipment and I promised I'd 'splain. I'm kind of middle of the road on equipment. Some people come to the pool with a mesh bag full of swim toys, water bottles, aids (ear plugs, etc). Some people come to the pool with nothing (most have, at least, goggles but once in a while there's someone goggle free). I'm in the middle.

I use goggles. I like mine dark and comfortable and leak proof and fogless. My current pair fogs pretty quickly and severely but meets the rest of the requirements. About 2 or 3 times in an hour, I'll stop and lick the inside of my goggles and that keeps the fog at bay.

I clip my mp3 player on the back of my googles. I cannot imagine swimming without music or a book. It's not easy. There more players than waterproofed iPod Shuffles. I think I've tried most if not all. They all suck. The iPod Shuffles suck less than most. Even as much as I hate iTunes.

And, finally, I use webbed neoprene gloves. I use them for two reasons. 1. they protect my hands from bruising. When I share a lane, invariably, my hand slaps the hard plastic of the lane lines and my hands get all bruised. 2. I think the web part maybe gives me more traction through the water and so makes my muscles work harder. It for sure helps with the bruising so the rest is gravy.

There is more I could use - flippers, paddle board, water shoes, crotch float, snorkle, weights(ankle/wrist) - but I don't.

When I took aqua fit classes, they had water barbells and flotation belts that were very helpful but I've never seen a class that didn't provide those things so you don't need to have your own.

As always... questions welcome, of course!

Watching baseball and sewing dolls. Even sleeping half the day didn't kill it.

Comments

[siglinde99.livejournal.com]

Wonder Woman is adorable!

I have my own pool buoy. It sounds a little classier than crotch float unless you pronounce it wrong :). We often use buoys and flutterboards at practice. I own a flutter board but have never bothered bringing it because there are plenty at the pool. Some day I might invest in flippers, but we don't use them too often so it's not a high priority.

[lifeinroseland.livejournal.com]

I still can't get over the iPod underwater. It's too cool.

[shutterbug.livejournal.com]

Wonder Woman totally rocks.

[maju01.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of swim gloves before. When I swim laps (only in summer in our local outdoor pool) I see people with goggles, swim caps, and flippers, but I don't think I've ever seen anybody with gloves. I don't use any equipment, not even goggles, but I really like the idea of a waterproof music player because it gets boring going up and down the pool for an hour or so.

[susandennis]

The gloves are mainly used in aqua fit classes. They are very rare for lap swimming here, too. I'm often asked about them.

[badrobot68.livejournal.com]

Wonder Woman!! :)

[spiritgirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you thank you!   Helpful to know.   I've been freestyling a few times and seen quite a few gadgets.   One guy doing laps had  a breathing tube thing so he could keep his head underwater.  

[susandennis]

That's a snorkle. I tried it one time and it's the closest I ever came to drowning! But, there are more than a few guys at my pool who use them - some with just goggles and some with a full face mask. I kind of envy their not having to move their heads to get a breath!

[susandennis]

hahahahaha I just remembered I snapped a picture of mine before I nearly drowned and sent it back to Amazon. This cracks me up.