Goggles
• Zoggs, from £4.99
“Swimming goggles are essential,” says Karen Pickering. “I liken not wearing them to going for a run with your eyes shut. You shouldn’t do it.” It is easier to breathe with goggles on, she says, because they make each transition and turn smoother. Always try before you buy; if goggles leak, it’s probably due to a badly fitting nose piece.
Swimming costume
• Speedo Ninja Leaderback, £30
Your costume should be tight, but comfortable. Don’t buy the cheapest suit available as mid-range versions have better fabrics that withstand pool chemicals. Rinse them in cold water when you finish, but don’t use the swimsuit driers now in many changing rooms – they weaken the fabric, advises Karen. For men, the aqua-short (try Speedo’s Refined Aquashort, £30), provides the aerodynamics without revealing as much as the teeny briefs favoured by some athletes.
Go-faster suits
For the seriously competitive among you, Speedo’s LZR Racer Suit (£320) is billed as the fastest swimsuit ever developed. Using Nasa technology, it’s been worn in numerous record-breaking swims. The fabric is ultra-lightweight and “welded” for a seam-free surface. A “hydro form compression system” acts like a corset to hold the body in an aerodynamic shape.
Swimming hat
• Zoggs from £5
“You can tie your hair back if it’s long, but wearing a swimming hat really makes a difference to aerodynamics and the efficiency of your style,” Karen says.
Pull-buoys
• Zoggs easy-grip pull-buoy, £7.99; swim4fitness.com
This float fits between your thighs and gives your lower limbs a rest, enabling you to work on increasing upper body strength during front-crawl training.
Kickboards
Zoggs streamlined kickboard, £5.99; swim4fitness.com
Kickboards give the upper body a rest and are great for leg acceleration or to improve kicking technique.
Speedo Aquabeat
• £80; speedo.com
Listening to music has been shown to boost performance in sport – and now you can do it in the water. This underwater MP3 player straps to the back of your goggles. It has a built-in 1GB memory storing up to 500 of your favourite aquatic anthems.
Finis Tempo Trainer
• £19.15; mailsports.co.uk
This small electronic device is worn underneath your swimming cap or goggle strap. It produces a small beep, which helps to keep your stroke pace consistent and will even alert you when you start to slow down or lose rhythm.
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