I have some extra questions Can I wear contacts under my goggles or is it safer to leave them out Would it be strange for me to wear running shorts for now since I don’t have a speedo or anything yet
For gym etiquette should I wear my swimsuit to the shower and take it off there or take it off at my locker then towel off and walk to the shower
I’d appreciate any recommendations and advice
You can get prescription goggles They’re usually inexpensive and kind of DIY
Running shorts aren’t a good idea because they’ll create too much drag for a new swimmer Just get some cheap jammers or trunks
I’m not sure about guys but the women at my gym put on their suits shower then put on caps and goggles swim shower take off their suits and wrap a towel around themselves
Don’t worry about buying extra equipment until you see what your gym has
@Hunter
You can get prescription goggles They’re usually inexpensive and kind of DIY
Does it take a lot of time to get them Can I just swim without them for now and grab some regular ones Is it common to have prescription goggles
By swim trunks do you mean the ones we wear to the beach Those should be okay
So for shower etiquette are you saying you shower in your swimsuit and then take it off in the shower Sorry for all the questions I’m just learning
About equipment do you mean caps or goggles
@Neve
I wear contacts with normal goggles I was on the swim team for 5 years
@Neve
Whether you need prescription goggles depends on how bad your vision is without correction I have slightly bad vision but I can see the pace clock and read workout instructions so I don’t wear them Others do because they can’t see those things
Jammers vs speedos is mainly whether you want fabric on your legs for modesty It’s less flexible
Equipment at the gym includes kickboards pull buoys fins and those are often available on deck You should bring your own cap and goggles as those aren’t typically provided
@Neve
For goggles it depends on how bad your eyesight is If you can see without them then just buy regular goggles My local sports store sells each lens with different prescriptions and you grab one for each eye tie them together and you’re set It only takes a few minutes to put together
Jammers are best but you can wear normal beach trunks though they may chafe on longer swims
I rinse my suit in the shower to remove chlorine then take it off for a full shower I also wet it in the shower before swimming to reduce chlorine damage and remind myself to shower first
@Neve
Prescription goggles don’t require an official prescription Speedo Vanquisher has prescription versions you can find on Amazon I wear a pair that’s slightly weaker than my prescription
I wear contacts with goggles and never have issues
For shower etiquette where are you located In the US you wear your swimsuit into the shower after swimming take it off in the shower rinse wrap in a towel and maybe use the spin dryer In France you keep your suit on after showering and walk to your changing cubicle dripping all the way I don’t know about other countries
Running shorts might not be the most comfortable or easy to swim in so I’d recommend getting a bathing suit
When I say equipment I mean kickboards pull buoys etc Don’t purchase those your gym probably has them You really just need your suit a cap and goggles Try the goggles on in the store to ensure they fit and won’t fall off If you get water in your ears consider earplugs for swimming
@Camden
In Finland you either walk between lockers and showers without clothes or just in a towel and shower naked In the shower and sauna you’re expected to be naked Showering in a bathing suit is seen as unhygienic since it’s hard to clean the suit properly You can take it on and off in the shower though Not wearing a suit in the sauna is frowned upon but if you have to it’s okay to use a towel not a suit since it’s also seen as unhygienic due to chlorine and bacteria trapped in the fabric The cultural differences around locker room and sauna etiquette can be significant
As for contacts you can definitely wear them with goggles Just take an extra set or your glasses in case of leaks that may irritate your eyes
Contacts are fine with trusted goggles Running shorts are acceptable the first month but check out Funkytrunks.com
Get the old school trunks and go a size smaller than you think
Whitney said:
Contacts are fine with trusted goggles Running shorts are acceptable the first month but check out Funkytrunks.com
Get the old school trunks and go a size smaller than you think
Wearing contacts with goggles works especially well with daily lenses since you won’t have to worry about them lasting long after the swim Wasteful maybe but easy
I wear contacts under goggles almost all the time without problems
Avoid the running shorts Even normal swim trunks for the beach are better
For changing etiquette: Change, shower, swim, then shower again is probably best If you go to your locker before showering it tends to drip water all over the locker area making it soggy
I get undressed in the changing room bring my towel swimming shorts and goggles to the shower room and put them on after I showered Other options just seem odd to me
Aza said:
I get undressed in the changing room bring my towel swimming shorts and goggles to the shower room and put them on after I showered Other options just seem odd to me
Isn’t it harder to put on a suit when both you and it are wet instead of dry Do men not have this problem I could never shower before putting mine on
@Del
Hehe didn’t think of that With shorts it’s not an issue but with a suite it makes sense
Aza said:
I get undressed in the changing room bring my towel swimming shorts and goggles to the shower room and put them on after I showered Other options just seem odd to me
I’m relieved some people do this it’s really gross that many don’t shower properly before getting in the pool
@Camden
Absolutely It bothers me that adults rush and don’t wash themselves before entering the pool There should be shower police to enforce it
At my local pool I’ve seen some older women who smell like they’ve used too much perfume before swimming Clearly they haven’t properly showered
@Aza
Countries like Iceland Germany and Scandinavia seem much more civilised where everyone showers properly before swimming It’s seen as rude not to where I live in the UK public pools actually don’t allow showers naked both before or after swimming and everyone showers in swimsuits It’s better not to think about what might be in the water
I need to stream music while swimming Goggles and a snorkel work well and I got the Zygo headphones that can play music underwater
I use TheMagic5 goggles They scan your face with an app and are 3D printed to fit you perfectly I swear by them now and wouldn’t go back to others I wear glasses normally and they don’t do prescriptions yet but I’m okay with not seeing clearly in the pool My priority is keeping water out of my eyes
I bring my own kickboard pull buoy and regularly use the Finis agility fins I also keep my old goggles as a backup
Honestly I have Aftershokz swimming headphones (I think they’re now called Shokz) and they make a huge difference for me Just loading it with music while I swim makes me look forward to my morning swims
I track my workouts with a Garmin Swim 2 watch I hate wearing watches but it’s useful for checking heart rate and tracking my workout duration and strokes underwater It’s more of a nice to have than a must but I like that it tracks without needing other accessories
I’m thinking about trying a parachute and some different fins but haven’t committed yet
For a suit I just wear basic jammers from Amazon I’ve lost weight since I started swimming so I haven’t invested in an expensive suit yet but it’s better than the trunks I started with
I usually take my suit off in the locker room towel dry get dressed then shower at home as I don’t trust public showers due to athlete’s foot