Gear that keepsyou in the waterlonger.
Buying guides for goggles, swimwear, caps, training tools, open-water kit and swim tech, for lap swimmers, competitive swimmers, triathletes and families learning to swim.
Find gear by how you swim
Lap lanes, race day, open water or first lessons. Each section starts with the swimmer, then the gear.
Goggles & caps
Training, racing, prescription and caps
Swimwear
Training suits, jammers and tech suits
Training gear
Fins, paddles, kickboards and snorkels
Open water & triathlon
Wetsuits, tow floats and swimskins
Swim tech
Watches, headphones and pool clocks
Learn to swim & family
Kids, beginners and water safety
Deck & care
Bags, parkas, towels and chlorine care
Snorkel, polo & more
Snorkeling, freediving, water polo and aqua fitness
Know your kit
Why polyester training suits outlast nylon-spandex in chlorinated pools, how to read fabric labels, and how to care for a swimsuit so it lasts longer.
- 02
How to Choose Swim Goggles: Fit, Gaskets and Lens Tints
Goggles
- 03
Life Jackets vs Swim Aids for Kids: What Keeps Them Safe
Water safety
- 04
Short vs Long Blade Swim Fins: Which to Train With
Swim fins
- 05
Swim Wetsuit Sizing and Triathlon Temperature Rules
Open water
- 06
Tech Suits Explained: Approval Rules, Fit and Who Needs One
Race suits
Swimming Gear questions, answered
What is the most chlorine-resistant swimsuit fabric?
100 percent polyester, including PBT polyester. It has little or no spandex for chlorine to break down.
Read: Chlorine-Resistant Swimsuits →How do I know if swim goggles fit?
Press them gently into your eye sockets without the strap. If they stay on by suction for a second or two, the seal fits your face.
Read: How to Choose Swim Goggles →Are arm floaties safe?
They are swim aids, not lifesaving devices. They can slip off and do not keep a child's face out of the water, so they never replace supervision or a life jacket.
Read: Life Jackets vs Swim Aids for Kids →Are short or long fins better for beginners?
Long fins give more help staying up and moving forward, so many beginners start with them. Short fins are better once you want to build a fast kick.
Read: Short vs Long Blade Swim Fins →Can I use a surf wetsuit for triathlon?
You can, but a surf suit has stiffer shoulders and less buoyancy in the legs, so swimming in it is harder.
Read: Swim Wetsuit Sizing and Triathlon Temperature Rules →Can my 12-year-old wear a tech suit?
Not at most USA Swimming age-group competitions. Swimmers 12 and under are limited to non-tech suits except at certain senior-level meets.
Read: Tech Suits Explained →Fit first, then features
Every guide explains how the gear should fit and how to tell before the return window closes.
Each guide says who the gear suits, who should look elsewhere, and what to check before you buy.
Brands cannot buy a review or a spot on a list. Partner codes save you money; they never decide what we recommend.
Prices are dated, codes are updated across the site at once, and pages are revised when a product, standard or rule changes.
The swimming gear index
- 01Goggles & capsTraining and racing goggles, mirrored and tinted lenses, prescription goggles, masks, silicone and latex caps.1 page
- 02SwimwearTraining suits and jammers, chlorine-resistant fabrics, competition tech suits, and modest and plus-size options.2 pages
- 03Training gearSwim fins, hand paddles, kickboards, pull buoys, center-mount snorkels, parachutes and resistance tools.1 page
- 04Open water & triathlonSwim wetsuits, swimskins, tow floats, open-water goggles, neoprene caps and cold-water gear.1 page
- 05Swim techSwim-tracking watches, bone-conduction and waterproof headphones, lap counters and pace clocks.0 pages
- 06Learn to swim & familyLearn-to-swim aids, kids' goggles and suits, life jackets, swim diapers and adult beginner guides.1 page
- 07Deck & careMesh and backpack bags, deck parkas, microfiber towels, slides, anti-fog, ear care and chlorine-removal products.0 pages
- 08Snorkel, polo & moreSnorkel masks and fins, freediving basics, water polo caps and balls, aqua fitness and synchronized swimming gear.0 pages