Swimming gear

RE: Swimming gear

Former Member — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 15:26:16 GMT

Hey Iroger. I'm not training for anything besides just getting exercise and having fun. I constantly use flippers, gloves, etc. in the pool but I do focus on making sure I keep proper form too. I've been to lap pools I swear are quite colder than they should be so I just use a shorty (short arms/legs) wetsuit. Your water sounds colder or at the limit of what a short wetsuit (they're usually about 2-2.5mm thick) can work well in. My best guess is you either will want a shorty (if you are typically hotter and don't want to feel restricted a bit) or you will want a full suit that's 3mm/2mm (3mm in the body and 2mm at the arms / legs). Just make sure you rinse your suit out in fresh water afterward and lay it flat to dry and it should last. A shorty you can get for about US$60-80 and a full suit is about $100-120. I would not bother with really expensive suits, you just want something made right + fits you. If you have a local dive shop it might help to ask them, but a little shopping and reading some reviews should help. My own personal opinion, I would get something that seems durable/stitched well and isn't expensive so when it breaks in a few years you can just get a new one or repair it with wetsuit glue. I know Cressi has some good suits that people use in the pool constantly for dive classes so those will hold up--they really all should. The only problem the chlorine should cause in addition to the kind of use you'd see in scuba diving is fading of the lycra. I think you'll at least get your money's worth out of it.

RE: Swimming gear

Former Member — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:54:13 GMT

HI I recently moved to Brazil and I am training exclusively in an outdoor non heated swimming pool. Summers are great but fall and winter get rather cold. I am rather skinny and intolerant of cold water. It makes the training miserable (everyday at 6 AM) and I can't wait to get out of the pool after 45 minutes swim. I also do open ocean swim but do not go out often and only do so when the water is warmer. I finally decided to buy a wetsuit for training in the swim pool but feel unsure of what to buy. I own a wetsuit for surfing and it is great for warmth but unpracticle for swimming (too stiff and too warm for training) . I would like to spend max 200 US$ for the wetsuit or swim skin. Water temperature must be around 18-20 Celsius (which is daily temperature at this time of year) but haven't measured specifically. Help anyone ? Would a vest do the job, should I buy a fulllenght wetsuit? will it last in the swim pool ? Thanks Isabelle

RE: Swimming gear

aquageek — Wed, 23 May 2012 08:28:05 GMT

The basic problem with toys is that they aren't used correctly. Too often people slap on the buoy/paddles/fins when they get tired.

RE: Swimming gear

Allen Stark — Tue, 22 May 2012 12:09:48 GMT

I don't use paddles or a kickboard because of "twitchy"shoulders.I use fins a lot to work my legs harder,take the strain off my shoulders and for BR pull dolphin kick drills.I use a Finis snorkel a lot to work on body position,for kicking and for when my neck hurts:cane:.

RE: Swimming gear

mlabresh — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:19:01 GMT

I have all the toys too. I use them quite a bit - I use the kick board in every work out, the pull buoy in probably 90% of them, paddles or gloves in most work outs, and fins in maybe half of them. I only use my fins if I have a really long kick set or if the workout issued call for them (our coach provides work outs at practice). I use the kick board and pull buoy/paddles in warm ups but only in main sets if listed.

RE: Swimming gear

smontanaro — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:35:18 GMT

I used to use paddles. Then I lost them and never replaced them. A couple years ago I began to have shoulder issues. I see no reason in my current state to use paddles again. I have zoomers but don't use them all that much (more if my shoulders are sore). Board on occasion. Pull buoy, yes, but still less than I used to before shoulder issues. (I used to love my pull buoy.)

RE: Swimming gear

Allen Stark — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:48:14 GMT

What fins do you use? I have these short Zoomer type fins from Speedo which I rarely use. I used to swim at a pool where National swimmers trained and they had these larger type fins www.swimoutlet.com/.../23058.htm. I hardly use paddles, occasionally a pull buoy or just hold my feet still but I more or less use my kick board each time. I found the Sporti fins to be too soft.I use www.swimoutlet.com/.../3825.htm .I like longer fins because they help me keep better timing for BR pull/dolphin kick.

RE: Swimming gear

Former Member — Tue, 22 May 2012 08:40:28 GMT

I use fins a lot to work my legs harder, What fins do you use? I have these short Zoomer type fins from Speedo which I rarely use. I used to swim at a pool where National swimmers trained and they had these larger type fins www.swimoutlet.com/.../23058.htm. I hardly use paddles, occasionally a pull buoy or just hold my feet still but I more or less use my kick board each time.

RE: Swimming gear

orca1946 — Tue, 22 May 2012 06:17:36 GMT

I switch from med. to small paddles depending how my shoulders feel.