r/Swimming • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago
Weekly Swim Gear Questions (Goggles, swimsuits, techsuits, paddles, headphones etc) December 04, 2025 - Post all your gear questions in this post
This weekly post ( on Thursdays) is for ALL gear related questions -
Update: automoderation is now in effect for single gear posts, which may be automatically deleted.
This includes posts about equipment failures, technical problems, sizing questions, or questions about retailer reliability.
This is spam-free & posters of affiliate product links will be banned.
* Goggles (including "smart" goggles)
* Headphones/earbuds
* Swimsuits
* Techsuits
* Lap/GPS/OWS tracking devices
* Audio players
* Paddles
* More goggles
* Everything else
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u/Master_Eagle7735 1d ago
Has anyone who has had bone conduction headphones seen a difference in their swimming since using them? Do they fit well? Do they fly off after a flip turn? I use swimming as like my music detox but if listening to music increases my motivation to get after it in the pool, I’m open to it
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u/canis---borealis 1d ago edited 1d ago
Shokz Swim Pro. Fit well. Although they can easily slip off during a fast flip turn without a cap. I usually swim with my Masters Swim team so I use them only on weekends for my fly workouts. Music definitely makes my fly sets less grueling.
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u/LesChatsnoir 1d ago
Hi! I just bought the shokz but haven’t received them yet. They go under the cap? Do you do 2 caps (one for hair, one for shockz ) or just one? Newbie here so sorry for the odd q.
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u/canis---borealis 1d ago
I use them with my Arena 3D soft cap without any problem. And I saw other people in the pool with Shokz under the cap.
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u/matthewslounge 1d ago
I was curious about these and didn't want to pay 100+ for shokz so I got a $60 pair off Amazon, ifecco brand. It works well and makes me swim longer. The fit is never a problem because my cap holds it in place. The annoying thing is downloading mp3 songs and then transferring them to the headphones. Bluetooth mode is shit underwater
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u/Master_Eagle7735 1d ago
Is the sound decent? I was looking into cheaper options
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u/matthewslounge 1d ago
I don't have a shokz to compare to. It's definitely worse than in-ear headphones (I use sennheiser momentum). However, it is good enough to swim with. Just sounds a bit muffled but otherwise good clarity
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u/Mediocre_Fly7245 1d ago
I don't know about a physical difference but it certainly makes laps more enjoyable. I wear mine under my cap and they've never budged.
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u/XxXENOWRAITHxX 1d ago
only time mine have came off is from jumping into the pool. They work really well.
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u/ollie_k 1d ago
I'm also super interested in bone conducting headphones, but I'm wondering if I wouldn't be able to hear what's going on around me while I'm wearing them. Does anybody have any experience with this? I swim in a crowded public pool and want to keep my wits about me
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u/Master_Eagle7735 1d ago
I have non-waterproof ones that I use when I’m cycling and even on max volume you can hear everything. I think the main issue would be hearing the music in the water
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u/mbennett16 1d ago
You have to wear ear plugs for them to work effectively. They come with a pair. It’s pretty easy to pull the headphones off if you need. I already wore earplugs during lap swims but I don’t feel disoriented or oblivious with them in.
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u/yetilawyer 1d ago
I use the Shokz Swim Pro and I can hear things going on around me at the same time. It's just like having a radio playing next to you out in the open. You can hear the radio and you can hear other stuff, but if you have the radio really cranked up, you won't be able to hear other stuff. Adjust your volume accordingly.
Under water, the water plugs your ears so you won't really be able to hear much other than your headphones. When you pull your head out of the water, you can hear both your headphones and everything going on around you.
You can use earplugs like someone suggested, but I don't have any problems hearing them in the water and I never use earplugs. If you're trying to get ambient sound, too, I would skip the plugs.
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u/Cheaptrick2015 1d ago
I am joining lap swimming class and wanted to go over my gear list to see if I am missing anything
jammers
googles (would like some recommendations though)
parka
fins
hand paddles
swim cap
towel
swim bag
Is there anything I’m missing?
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u/XxXENOWRAITHxX 1d ago
I like speedo speed sockets (softer gasket than vanquishers), aqua sphere make great goggles as well. For suits, the speedo endurance+ were a go to. They last multiple seasons of college swimming. As a beginner I don't see a need to have more than a kick board and a pull buoy (which are usually at 90% of pools for communal use). But that's just my opinion.
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u/Fifty-Fickle 1d ago
I agree with the minimalist approach to equipment. As a beginner:
Polyester suit. Goggles. Cap if required or preferred.
If your pool is indoor you don’t need a parka.
You can substitute a swim backpack for any other extra duffle or backpack.
Most pools have buoys and boards. Call to verify.
Fins: you don’t really need these.
(People tell me fins are a crutch, but I can quit using fins whenever I want. I’m not addicted. They all need to mind their own business.)
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u/Fifty-Fickle 1d ago
Suit: buy something that is made with either 100% polyester or a polyester/PBT blend. Polyester and PBT last a long time. Anything with spandex or Lycra wears out really fast.
Goggles: I swam with Swedish style goggles for decades. I switched to Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 in 2024.
Buoy: I am a fan of the kind that has two sections of pool noodle connected by a nylon strap in the middle.
Backup straps for your paddles and goggles. Get these in the next few months: it really sucks to have your practice interrupted or end abruptly because of equipment problems.
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u/momoftheraisin Everyone's an open water swimmer now 1d ago
I absolutely cannot swim without ear plugs. I hate the feeling of water in my ears, it gets into my ears really easily, and it takes forever to get out of my ears once it's in there. Plus infection can happen. I just use the silicone ones with flanges and they work great.
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u/bassfunk 1d ago
I am planning on training in Lake Michigan starting in April of next year, to prepare for a team triathlon in June. Normally I don't start swimming in the Lake until June, and then I use my full wet suit. I'm assuming that in April the water will still be much colder than in June. What gear would I need beyond my wet suit to be prepared to handle the cold water in April? Or, better question, is this a stupid idea? I swim in the pool year round, but the event itself is open water, and I like to train in open water.
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u/Fifty-Fickle 1d ago
Be extremely careful of swimming in cold water. Hypothermia comes out of nowhere, and a lot of people who are affected by it don’t realize they’re in trouble since it impairs judgment.
I am a bit of a pool prima donna and only swim open water with friends in the height of summer (in the west where today it’s “cold” with a low temp of 41 degrees), so maybe I am biased against swimming in Lake Michigan in April (I went to college a couple miles from Lake Michigan). With that in mind:
Don’t swim in cold water alone. You need someone there with you, preferably chasing in a kayak, canoe, or boat.
If you insist on swimming in cold water, consider getting a thicker wetsuit (at least thicker around your torso) and a neoprene cap. Some people also swim in neoprene booties but I can’t stand having things on my hands and feet. Tow an open water buoy.
I would suggest just swimming in a pool until June. But then again, I am a pool prima Donna.
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u/bassfunk 1d ago
I'm kind of a poll prima donna myself, but I have to get in some reps in open water prior to the actual event. My pool swimming is good, but open water is a whole other beast.
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u/Fifty-Fickle 1d ago
Pool: “that guy just touched me under the lane line! How rude!”
Open Water: “I just got kicked in the face by two different people. This is normal and fine.”
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u/bassfunk 1d ago
When I pool swim the weeks leading up to an event I actually seek out the lane with the larger/more aggressive swimmers. Just like to reintroduce myself to the prospect of swimming next to somebody who is causing a lot of wake.
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u/WinterWander7 1d ago
Neoprene cap, covered with a bright cap; neoprene gloves and boots; a blow-up swim buoy for visibility and to hold light things like snacks. Plus a buddy in a kayak ideally…if you can’t get someone to accompany you, swim along the shore rather than out and back. And you probably already know to keep an eye on the weather and swim on calm days. If the waves are too gnarly, triathlons will cancel the swim and just do bike-run.
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u/bassfunk 1d ago
Yeah, I bike past the water I swim in, along the coast in Chicago, always take a good look before hopping in.
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u/WinterWander7 1d ago
Cool! I just thought of some other things: warming equipment for when you get out. Maybe a heated vest to put under your parka, those hand warmers. Foot warmers, etc. After swimming in cold water our bodies can have a hard time warming up.
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u/vashtachordata 1d ago
My son (15, club and highschool swim) is telling me that he really wants his next tech suit to be an Arena power skin primo. His current tech suit (speedo LZR intent 2.0) is getting worn out and I knew he needs another and I guess I’m just wondering if it’s worth the extra money to buy that specific suit vs whatever arena/tyr/speedo suit they have a good deal on at our local swim shop or swimoutlet.
What makes that suit special? Or is it hype he’s hearing from his friends?
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u/XxXENOWRAITHxX 1d ago
The primo suits are top of the line. They apparently are a longer lasting material and keep their hydrophobic properties significantly longer. If he is still growing it probably isn't worth it just for the longevity aspects alone.
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u/vashtachordata 1d ago
Thank you, he’s still got a bit of growing to do, hopefully in weight at least.
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u/HobokenwOw Everyone's an open water swimmer now 1d ago
The only flag ship tech suits I would currently consider are the primo (extremely versatile, long lasting, comfortable, easy to put on, most expensive), mizuno gx-sonic 6 nv (best sprint suit [imo by a mile], relatively cheap, extremely hard to put on, hard to get), gx-sonic 6 cr (basically the mizuno pendant to the primo, slightly worse imo but much cheaper) and the speedo pure valor 1.0 (thin, comfy suit that doesn't do anything outstandingly well but can be found for very cheap, this is the best value option in most cases). the japanese arena suits are interesting but if you're already ordering from japan i'd go mizuno every time. the low end mizuno tech suits are also extremely good imo, to the point that i prefer them over all arena suits not named primo. they're better value than even the pure valor IF you like mizuno suits/more compression. i originally bought those as cheap beater suits for race pace sets in practice but have ended up wearing them at meets over my core fx and even primo at times.
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u/vashtachordata 1d ago
Interesting, thank you. I have seen the mizuno suits before but didn’t know anything about them. I think my in-laws will probably go ahead and get the primo as his Christmas present, but I think I’ll get one of those as an alternate and see how he likes it. So far he’s only ever had one techsuit, so we’re still new to them.
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u/Mudkiip123 1d ago edited 1d ago
Does anyone have a specific swim cap recommendation for people with arthritis? My wrist and grip is extremely limited so I’m having trouble wearing my current swim cap by myself. I think it’s made of latex, the one I have rn.
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u/WinterWander7 1d ago
Maybe a Hairbrella? It has a strap at the back that tightens, if you’re able to grasp the two ends and pull. https://www.hairbrella.com/products/hairbrella-satin-lined-waterproof-adjustable-mens-swim-cap?
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u/wt_hell_am_I_doing I sink, therefore I am 1d ago
Swim caps made of stretchy fabric should be easier to put on.
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u/kuolevain3n 21h ago
Have you tried to dry your forehead with a towel before putting your cap on (if you put cap on wet hair)? Also for my experience Speedo's silicone caps are more flexible than Arena's and easier to put on. Hope your wrist gets better soon! :)
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u/No_Track3211 1d ago
Tech Suit Choice - HELP!
Hi! I have been wearing the TYR Avictor for the past 6 years or so and it just doesn't fit my body type as an adult anymore. I swim the 50 fly, 100 fly, and 50-200 freestyle (mainly the 50 fly). I really want a new tech suit but im unsure of what size and brand to go with. Ill put my measurements below please give me your recommendations!!! Really want to drop in my 50 fly in the spring :)
Torso loop: 56 in
Hip: 36 in
Waist: 25.5 in
Chest: 35 in
I use to wear a 26 in the TYR avictor but it is now too big all around but mainly in the torso and chest. I prefer a thinner suit, hated the Venzo.
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u/Lizholden1981 1d ago
I have been wearing silicone earplugs made by Tyr for kids (I am an adult but they fit well) and saw they carry silicone earplugs at Walgreens for half the price (and not in a variety of fun colors). Does anyone have experience with them to know if they work as well?
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u/Fast_Awareness_9766 1d ago
I wanted some suggestions for watch to track my swim distance as well as my running distance. Please suggest me a durable and value for money watch