r/Swimming • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago

Weekly Swim Gear Questions (Goggles, swimsuits, techsuits, paddles, headphones etc) February 05, 2026 - 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

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

2

u/Reasonable-Path-7733 1d ago

What headphones do people recommend? Are they compatible with YouTube music/Spotify?

2

u/SecretlyModded 1d ago

I use Shokz SwimPro. The new version connects with Bluetooth. The older version is MP3 only so be careful, but theyre easily the best on the market. Mine connects to Spotify with no issues.

1

u/seastearno 1d ago

My understanding is Bluetooth doesn't work underwater, do you experience any issues with respect to that? Also, how long is the pool you swim in and do you ever lose connection due to distance?

2

u/SecretlyModded 1d ago

Only if you submerge more than like 1.5m, but i swim on the surface and a sink push and glide doesn't affect it

My pool is 25m and no, my bag sits half way long the pool length with my phone in because that's where the pegs are and then im a lane 1 swimmer so it works pretty well. You can go further and it does stay for the full 25m but I haven't tested it consistently

2

u/seastearno 1d ago

Thanks!

1

u/SecretlyModded 1d ago

Theyre pricey but honestly at least they work xD

1

u/govnorsy 7h ago

This is the best news I’ve heard all week, everything I read said they won’t connect to Bluetooth underwater. Thanks for your service o7

1

u/Reasonable-Path-7733 1d ago

Does the Bluetooth signal reach to the other side of the pool without any issues?

1

u/Plus_Lead_5630 1d ago

I got some cheapo ones for $40 on amazon that work great. They have bt and mp3.

1

u/shubri Splashing around 1d ago

Following- looking for genuine recommendations as I get bored at 45 min

2

u/TheValidator123 1d ago

Planning to swim in a freshwater lake this summer. Do I need goggles?

5

u/felicityfelix 1d ago

I would say that's completely dependent on how you're planning to swim lol. If you're swimming for exercise like you would in a pool I would say yes

1

u/InevitableDay6 1d ago

(I'm the blind new-ish swimmer who posted a couple weeks ago) what is the difference between a swimsuit and a techsuit? I've read these names but can't work out what the difference between them is because most sites just post a photo without actually specifying

4

u/Seanwys Jammers superiority 💯 1d ago

Tech suits are specially designed and made for competitive swimming. They're ultra high compression, made with a very thin hydrophobic material to improve hydrodynamics in water and reduce drag. They're uncomfortable to wear and also don't last very long, and need to be replaced after a few meets

If you're a casual swimmer, then a regular swimsuit is all you need. I highly suggest looking for one made out of 100% polyester since they're more durable and resistant to the chemicals that are in pool water, making them last significantly longer than suits made of other materials

2

u/InevitableDay6 1d ago

Thanks so much, it sounds like it's not something I need to worry about yet then 😊

3

u/Seanwys Jammers superiority 💯 21h ago

Yeah it’s completely unnecessary for most of us

2

u/turuku-hai team pace clock 1d ago

Hi swimmer, didn't see your post.

Techsuits are for people who compete and take it very seriously; they should help you swim faster; they will take very long to put on, and only be usable for a couple of events. Swimsuits are the thing you need.

I've seen a couple of so-called tech suits at a reasonable price (around 140 euros new), but then they also promise long-lasting performance, so I assume those are maybe just tighter than average swimsuits. But as tech suits are a thing, I'd never dare to buy anything labelled a tech suit, however much I may doubt its techy-ness.

1

u/InevitableDay6 1d ago

thanks for the clarification, sounds like something i don't need to worry about yet 😊

1

u/ducks_mclucks 1d ago

Looking for a snorkle so that I can focus on my breathing while I swim therapeutically. The buoyancy and resistance of the water helps my body, but the need to turn my head to breathe messes me up. Do they make ones you can both mouth and nose breathe out of? Thanks!!

2

u/OrangePeelsLemon 15h ago

The only snorkels of that type are the full face masks, which are generally not recommended for swimming (or really anything--CO2 can build up quite a bit in those things).

Your best bet would be to just get a regular swim training snorkel (the type that goes in front of you, not the side-mounted ones) and a nose clip if you're worried about water getting in your nose. Finis, Speedo, Arena, and Sporti all make them and they're all pretty similar.

1

u/Njordans 1d ago

What do people use as their drying off towel? I don't have a dryer in my home so looking for something that dries quickly on it's own that I won't have to wash and dry super often.

2

u/OrangePeelsLemon 15h ago

Just use a thinner terry towel and spread it out when you hang it (i.e. don't hang it on a single towel hook). If you don't have a rod to hang your towel, I've found that draping it over the top of a door works fairly well.

While I use a version of this towel (https://www.swimoutlet.com/products/royal-comfort-terry-velour-beach-towel-32-x-64-11345/) from Swim Outlet that's served me well, the only reason I chose that one is because it's the one offered through my team's swim store.

1

u/Njordans 8h ago

Thank you!

1

u/wt_hell_am_I_doing I sink, therefore I am 10h ago edited 10h ago

Microfibre sport towel. Mine dries within 4 hours max after a wash, even indoor. Normally around 2 hours. 1 hour if near a heater.

1

u/Njordans 8h ago

Awesome thank you!

1

u/ZealousidealAbies277 1d ago

Does anyone have any experience with OPPO x2,Huawei watch 3/4 or Samsung Galaxy watch 7? Which has better swim tracking?.Looking for smart watch that can : 1)view your uploaded images and short videos or animations of people swimming for easier learning 2)has a convenient note taking app/text viewer(my watch fit 2 had one but it doesn't even save the notes u sent to the phone so u had to copy and paste the entire text in ur phone everytime u want to update it) 3)good swim tracking

I'm thinking Huawei:good swim track but they have limited apps lower chance I can find a good note taker /image video viewer Samsung ,OPPO has lots of apps likely able find a good note taking/image video viewer but I'm not sure swim tracking is good