Browse through any online retail store collection and you will find a wide range of swim accessories to choose from. If you want to be practical and not overspend on swim accessories, though, keep in mind that you really need only three essentials if you want to stay safe in the water during training or while having fun with everyone else. These essentials include your swimsuit, swimming cap, and swimming goggles. Here are some tips on choosing the best swim accessories:
- Swimsuit – For men, swim briefs or trunks are the best choices for training, especially when you want to achieve fast lap times. Board shorts, while less revealing and more fashionable isn’t as good for swimming as swim trunks as they create too much drag. For women, on the other hand, a one-piece suit is best as they bring more comfort and allow better body coverage.
- Swimming cap – There are many different types of swimming cap available in the market. You can choose from latex and rubber swim caps that offer tight fit around the head. Silicone swim caps, on the other hand, are a more popular choice for people allergic to latex. While a bit more expensive than latex, silicone protects the hair very well against the water, although it is more prone to slipping than latex caps. Lycra is also an alternative and is ideal for when you want a more uniform look. Lycra caps are made out of the same material as most swimsuits, but they are not as waterproof as their silicone and latex counterparts and they tend to slip a lot
- Swimming goggles –There are four things that you should look for when buying goggles—comfortable lenses, adjustable straps, waterproof sockets, and 100% UVA/UVB protection. There are all kinds of tints available, from dark to light. Remember that dark lenses are only advisable for use in bright environments.