Gear Advice
How to Train for Your First Triathlon
Competing in a triathlon requires a lot of mental preparation and willpower. If you're challenging yourself with one of these events, congratulations! If this is your first time, we've got plenty of tips for you to help prepare for the big day.
There are multiple types of triathlons, with some being more challenging than others. Experts recommend beginners first compete in a sprint triathlon, which consists of one half-mile swim, biking for 12.4 miles, and finishing with a 3.2-mile run.
If you decide to continue competing, there are plenty of opportunities for self-growth. Start small, and you can work your way up to Ironman triathlons. Regardless of which race you participate in, take the time to recognize that you're pushing yourself and creating healthy and fulfilling challenges.
What Gear You'll Need
The three events you'll see in a triathlon are swim, bike, and run, typically in that order. Each leg will require different equipment to ensure your success.
Swimming Gear
You'll need a triathlon suit or kit that you can wear during every event to avoid needing to change during the race. A triathlon suit is a one-piece, and a kit is a top and bottom combo. This apparel is fast drying, reducing chafing and allowing for a more comfortable bike ride following the swim. You won't take these clothes off at all during the event.
However, you could decide to wear a wetsuit as a top layer for enhanced speed in the water and take it off before hopping on your bike. You may also want a pair of shorts to put on over your triathlon suit or kit for a more comfortable cycle.
For the rest of your swim gear, you'll need goggles, and you may decide on a swim cap or ear or nose plugs. Your goggles will enable you to keep your eyes open underwater and can help protect against harsh sun rays and increase your peripheral vision. You could buy your swim cap to ensure it's comfortable and get experience training with it, but most races will provide these for you. Ear or nose plugs will keep water out and make for a more enjoyable experience.
Biking Equipment
For success in the cycle event, you'll need a durable bike. This will be the most expensive item you need to prepare, but how much you should spend will depend on how often you intend to compete. If you want to participate every summer, finding a triathlon bike would probably be best.
However, if competing is a goal you only feel the desire to complete once, you could choose to purchase a road bike which will save you some expenses. You can also rent a bike for training and race day if you don't plan to use it outside of competing.
You should always wear a helmet when cycling, especially in events where you're pushing yourself. To ensure a clean, safe line of vision, find a good pair of sunglasses that will help reduce eye strain and keep bugs or debris from entering your eyes.
If you're looking for other minor upgrades, you could invest in a saddle, which will make your bike seat more comfortable, or cycling shoes with pedals, which will further connect you to the bike and make upward pedaling much easier.
Running Materials
To prepare for the run in the triathlon, you'll need to invest in a quality pair of running shoes. Although you can purchase shoes online, you should look for a pair in stores. Before purchasing, it's best to walk around to ensure you get a good, comfortable fit.
You may also want to consider your socks. Most returning triathletes don't wear socks because when socks get wet, they can cause blisters. However, most beginner triathletes do wear socks. If you plan to compete sock-less, you should spend some time training sock-less. You want to avoid trying a new strategy on the day of the event to decrease the likelihood of injury. If you opt for socks, you might want to consider finding a pair of running socks.
Triathlon Training Plan
To create a successful beginner triathlon training plan, you'll need to determine how well you already perform in the three categories. Usually, training for 12 weeks before the event is sufficient, but if you're starting from scratch, you may want to begin training about 16 weeks before the race.
If you don't know how to swim, you'll want to find instruction through your gym, community pool, or another recreation center. Training for the biking or running legs doesn't require intense sprints. A 45-minute bike ride will get you comfortable with the mechanics and get your body used to the seat and handlebars. When training for running, you could walk, jog, sprint, or combine these. You just want to get in the habit of getting that movement.
You don't need to hire a coach for a sprint triathlon. However, if you want someone to keep you accountable or offer tips for competing, there's plenty of help available through friends, family, or triathlon coaches.
When creating a training plan, you want to incorporate two days a week for each event and one day where you go for a long bike ride and immediately perform a short run. You should switch up your intensities and always be sure to give yourself a rest every once in a while.
For example, here's a one-week sample training program:
- Monday: Swim for 30 minutes
- Tuesday: Bike for 40 minutes
- Wednesday: Run for 30 minutes
- Thursday: Rest
- Friday: Swim for an hour
- Saturday: Bike for 45 minutes, then run for 15 minutes
- Sunday: Pilates
The Top Triathlon Training Tips
Whether you're great at one leg or just starting for all three, it's essential to train for every portion. You will want to focus more on legs that you are unfamiliar with, but performing an activity that you enjoy will give you something to look forward to and help you stick to your training schedule.
Here are our top triathlon training tips:
- Cycle or run with someone else to evaluate your pace. If you can't hold a conversation, you need to slow down.
- Swim in open water if that's where the event will take place.
- Practice biking at high intensity and low intensity. Determine which is best for you to maintain a constant speed throughout the event.
- Train on a stationary bike if you're not comfortable training on the open road.
- Wear your triathlon running shoes during training to break them in.
- To build stamina, run for a minute and then walk for a minute. Increase these intervals by one minute once you feel you're ready.
- Practice on the course if the race is in a nearby area.
Preparing for Race Day
To prepare for race day, you should attend the course talk. This talk covers any rules or course changes and lets you know how long you have to prepare your equipment. You'll also be able to address any questions with the race director at this time. Here, you'll receive a race packet that includes all the information you need to know about the event, including rules, parking, start time, and more.
Get ready for race day by having all your clothes and equipment prepared the night before. Make sure your morning alarms allow time for a healthy breakfast and account for travel time.
The most important thing to remember on race day is to have fun. This is something you've been training for, and the experience will be incredible. Focus on one leg at a time. Once you finish, focus on the next. Of course, make sure you congratulate yourself for all of the hard work you've put in and spend time reflecting on your accomplishment.
Get Your Swimming Gear From Kiefer
Kiefer Aquatics has been operating for over 70 years, giving us in-depth knowledge about the industry that you can't find anywhere else. Founded by an Olympian swimmer, we're proud to continue offering high-quality swimwear, gear, and equipment. We strive to satisfy our customers every time, and we're proud of our team and commitment.
With customizable options, you can be sure that you compete in your triathlon in style and comfort. You can count on us whether you need a quality cap, anti-fog goggles, or swimming workouts to prepare for your triathlon. Shop Kiefer Aquatics swim gear for everything you need to swim.
Learn More About Competitive Swimming:
- Training for A Triathlon? Here’s the Gear and A Workout Plan to Help You Prepare!
- Why Every Swimmer Needs A Finis Tempo Trainer
- My First Triathlon
- What To Pack In Your Swim Meet Bag
- 5 Ways Swimmers Self-Sabotage
- Summer Swim Training: 5 Tips To Keep It Fresh!
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Swimmers
- Raising a Swimmer – Part II: 11-12 Years
How To Choose A Technical Swimsuit
What is a Technical Suit?
Technical suits are currently categorized primarily by the type of seam they are constructed with. The removal of traditional seams makes these suits more like a second skin, less likely to have bumps and threads that would create resistance in the water. Bonded seams are fused by heat and pressure; they are lighter weight and provide a smoother surface.
Fabric type also influences tiers of tech suits, affecting primarily price. Knit fabrics have tiny loops like a braid and have superior stretch than woven fabrics because they are made from one continuous thread. Woven fabrics are made up of microscopic criss crosses that you could see with a magnifying glass. Woven fabrics will also stretch but only in one direction.
Another identifying mark of a technical suit is the Fina stamp, generally a white sticker fused on the outside of the suit. This identifier validates the suit is Fina approved and that it has successfully gone through and paid for the testing process.
Learn More About The Different Brands of Tech Suits:
History of Technical Swimsuits
Technical suits more or less made their debut around the year 2000. Swimmers preparing for the 2000 Olympic Trials in the US were grappling to get their hands on the latest and greatest that was sure to make them go faster and feel better in the water. I remember, because I was there.
It was a giant question mark at the time; would the suits even be legal? Would they be accessible to all swimmers? Could the manufacturers deliver in time? My coach picked up my Speedo Fastskin at the meet in Indianapolis, on the pool deck, just like hundreds of my competitors.
This was only the beginning. After Speedo, other industry staples followed suit and then the startup companies followed.
But by 2009 it was clear there was a problem. Swimmers were dropping ridiculous amounts of time at elite levels. World records were falling, one after another after another. There were too few regulations for manufacturers and the suits were becoming much more than just suits.
World Championships in Rome opened the swimming world’s eyes. By this time I was retired, but managed to get my hands on one of these super suits. Primarily a butterflier, I went to the pool early one morning to test out this magical suit I’d heard so much about. On two days a week training, a 200 warm up at the local YMCA, AND a push start I drop pushed a 50 yard butterfly and went around a 25 low. Pretty spectacular.
Fina eventually stepped in and made major regulations, resulting in the current process and their sticker stamp of approval.
What is available now?
Familiar names still blanket the industry. Speedo, TYR, and Arena are the most common. Each offers various tiers of technical suit. Some more budget friendly that may not have all the bells and whistles and others that are definitely budget busters.
Speedo Tech Suits
The original! They have expanded their line since the introduction of ‘sharkskin’ technology from 2000. Today Speedo offers the Fastskin LZR line.
For both genders the LZR Racer X is their top suit. It can be purchased with an open or closed back for women and in either a brief or jammer for men in a variety of colors and even a print. The cut and materials allow for a better range of motion and offers compression to aid in recovery as well as that second skin feeling. The seams are bonded and and follow the musculature of the human body.
Picking a cut depends on what you as the swimmer prefer. Some like the freedom of the open back, some prefer the compression of the closed back. Likewise some men prefer jammer’s because of their compressive nature.
Speedo’s second tier is the LZR Elite 2. Women can purchase this suit with an open or closed back, there is also an option to have traditional straps or stretchier ‘comfort’ straps. Men can pick from a jammer or brief. This suit is engineered from a different material than the Racer, it's named LZR Pulse and it claims to be an excellent water repellent, chlorine resistant, fast drying and highly compressive fabric. So compressive in fact Speedo says it aids in the reduction of muscle oscillation and skin vibration essentially cutting down on drag.
The LZR Pro would still be in line with tier two for Speedo as it is essentially the same composition as the LZR Elite minus the legs. The LZR Pro for women is only offered in the open back, recordbreaker style, but can be purchased with traditional or comfort straps. Men still have the option of a jammer or brief.
Older technology, like the Aquablade line, is still available in women’s recordbreaker open back suits as well as men’s briefs and jammers. They don’t have bonded seams, they don’t have fancy compression or panels but they are an excellent starter suit and still a viable option. The fabric does wick away water to aid with drag reduction and the fabric is chlorine resistant and durable.
TYR Tech Suits
As much as the public loves an original like Speedo, TYR has some excellent variety to offer in the tech suit department.
TYR’s top tier technical suit is the Avictor. Available to both men and women in a variety of cuts, colors, and patterns you will seen this suit worn by some of the top competitive names in the world. The women’s style is available in an open and closed back, again preference dictates what is best or each individual athlete. Men are given only the jammer option. This suit boasts Super Flex bonding, fully optimizing range of motion to 360 degrees, they are ultra compressive and designed with Hydrosphere Technology. What does this mean!? It means this fabric claims to maximize body position, reduce drag and boost speed and efficiency with its visible hydrospheric effect aka compression.
BUT! They have just recently released and promoted the TYR Venzo. Designed with Frictionless Fiber Construction and Surface Lift Technology this suit is said to analyze drag on the microscopic level. The Venzo is also built with special tape called an Endo Compression Cage and also a Seamless Exo Shell. This suit will be available for pre-order around November.
Scaled back the next best thing TYR has to offer is the AP12 Credere. This suit is built to maximize compression via specialized Turbo Compression fabric. This suit still has bonded seams but also special paneling to aid in advanced compression to increase muscle firing and reduce drag. The ROM (range of motion) straps on the female variation are supposed to help maintain distance per cycle. The women’s version can be bought in either an open or closed back, which is pretty standard at this point. Men have the jammer only option.
Take a step back and you find yourself at TYR’s Tracer Light, a favorite of mine. You lose a few bells and whistles here, the seams aren’t bonded but are pretty much the next best thing. The fabric is compressive, and the paneling and general construction of the suit is built around the musculature of the body. For women there is only the open back option on this style. Men are offered a jammer.
Going back to old school the Fusion from TYR is comparable to the Aquablade from Speedo. Think pre 2000 technology. Still a great starter suit, still a great racing suit. No bonded seams here but classic and functional flatlock stitching. This suit is far more durable than its newer counterparts. Like the Aquablades ‘stripes’ that repel water the Fusion has ‘channels.’ It is mildly compressive and water/chlorine resistant as well. Men have the option of a brief or jammer, while women have both a leg and classic cut suit available to them.
Arena Tech Suits
With a history of supplying team USA with their technical suits in the past, much like Speedo, Arena has an arsenal of technical suits to choose from.
Their high end suit is the Carbon Ultra. Its claim to fame lies within its structure, nothing went without thought and added technology. Their seams are referred to as Infinity Loops with X-Pivot Point, this duo claims to maximize stroke efficiency, body position and rotation. Selling point number two is Ultra Compression Panels, like all the other vendors this is a selling point for multiple reasons. The added compression is not only supportive but can help aid recovery. And finally the Carbon Ultra Cage, this means their material has more carbon fibers than any other of their lines. When suits say more carbon it wants you to know this will be their best suit. It has an inner and outer shell to add to this claim.
The Carbon Ultra is available to men in a jammer. Females have the option for an open or closed back leg suit.
The Carbon Flex is a teeny step down the scale. It’s compression rating within the Arena company is a five out of five and boasts Arena’s V-Flex Construction. In normal person terms this suit has seams designed to give you freedom of motion. Power Return Construction is another term they use, which is a fancy way of saying the compression will make you feel good.
The Flex is available to men in a jammer and women in an open and closed back.
Next up we have the Carbon Air, this suit material is more lightweight than the two previous and most comparable to paper suits of old. Not too many technical terms here as this is an older model but it has the standard bonded seams and compression.
This style is available to men in a jammer and women in an open or closed back.
Take another step down the ladder and you find the Carbon Pro. This suit is seemingly being phased out and is on sale most places I am seeing it online. It has a minimal blurb about it on the Arena site stating it has excellent fit and intelligent muscle compression. This means it is a good racing suit and more than fine for just about any swimmer out there.
The Pro is available in a jammer for men and an open back for women.
And at the final rung you will find the Arena Powerskin ST line. Constructed from X-Raptor fabric this suit will fit like a second skin and dry quickly. This suit will have less compression than those higher on the ladder but this is still a great suit. Don’t let the lack of fancy terms, minus X-Raptor of course, fool you.
This suit is available for men in a brief and jammer. Women can choose from an open back short john (leg suit) or a classic swimsuit with no legs.
Bottom Line:
These vendors are trying to convince you their suit is the best suit. It will make you or your swimmer faster than the other options. Honestly after reading all the descriptions myself it is overwhelming. The volume of fancy names and terms made to lure you bothers me.
These suits make more of a difference in the feel and confidence departments located inside the swimmer’s head. Much like the days of not shaving your legs, then shaving you whole body and jumping in the water, you FEEL different. It’s a signal to your brain. Your body knows that feeling means go time. Putting on a tech suit does that.
Step One:
Before you begin prepare yourself mentally for sticker shock. Tech suits are a temporary investment with a limited life. Choosing the suit that is right for you or your swimmer starts here, decide on your budget but understand most tech suits start at $100 and move up swiftly. Take a deep breath, you are paying for the research that went into the individual suit more than the materials and manufacturing.
Step Two:
Try them on or get fitted. Some retailers will have a selection of suits specifically for fitting and if they don’t they should have someone available to measure and help fit you. This isn’t your only option of course. Talk to friends, other parents, older swimmers on your kid’s team and see if they have one that they have you could potentially borrow to try on. Never buy blind.
Step Three:
Research. Talk to other swimmers about what they like and why. Read online reviews. The more information you gather the less likely you will be disappointed in your purchase. This includes visiting each manufacturer’s website or catalog to read about suit specifics. Some tech suits are built specifically for added compression and some for water wicking. Even events matter. Narrow down what qualities are most important to you.
Women, you have a harder task, there are multiple back, neck, and leg styles to choose from. Most of the choices boil down to personal preference, but some may be event or stroke related. Men have it a bit easier with only having to contend with leg styles.
Make sure your suit is FINA approved, if it isn’t you risk disqualification. FINA approved suits are all marked with a white sticker that looks like a QR code.
Step Four:
Test it out pre-event. Wearing your suit once before your big meet will not ruin it, but it will give you the opportunity to get comfortable with the way it feels in the water. Go through all your strokes, turns, and dives so there are no surprises.
Step Five:
If all else fails start with a lower end suit and work your way up. The information out there can be overwhelming but you can always upgrade as you determine your needs. There are some outstanding basic/beginner tech suits available and they are considerably more budget friendly.
Learn More About Swimwear:
- Choosing Swimsuit Fabric: An Ultimate Guide to Swimsuit Material
- Swim Shorts vs. Speedos
- The Different Types of Fabric Used in Swimsuits
- What To Look For When Choosing A One-Piece Swimsuit
- Competitive Swimwear Sizing Guide
- How To Choose A Technical Swimsuit
- Understanding the 12 & Under Technical Suit Ban
- Training Suits Explored and Explained Brand Edition: TYR
How to Choose the Right Swim Goggles
The selection of swim goggles offered by retailers can be just as overwhelming as picking a swim suit. Rather than assaulting you with all the different brands and types of goggles, perhaps looking at your water activity as a starting point will be better suited in this shopping endeavor.
Goggle Guide By Activity
Jump to section:
You want something comfortable, reliable, and basic. Not many moving parts, a simple goggle you can depend on and get a long life out of. Avoid ‘buttons’ that make straps adjustable. Look for straps that are made of silicone or bungee cord to get the most longevity.
Maximum Comfort: Kiefer Softseal Swim Goggle and Kiefer Raptor Swim Goggle. These goggles have the softest gaskets to form a good fit over your eyes. The Softseal is made of foam while the Raptor is silicone. Most mainstream swim companies will offer equivalents to these designs. If your primary concern is comfort, looking into similar options might be the best route for you.
Best Fit: Kiefer Express Swim Goggle and Kiefer Vivid Bungee Swim Goggle. These goggles have the soft seal gaskets made of silicone, so they are high on the comfort scale and durability scale with silicone straps as well. The straps are fully adjustable and the nosepieces are interchangeable to make a pair of goggles customized to fit your face. Compare these to Speedo’s Vanquisher.
Bare Bones: Kiefer Swedish Racer Swim Goggles. Don’t let the name fool you, they aren’t just for racing. These are sockets only, no padding, no gaskets. These are ‘I came to swim’ goggles and nothing more. They do not come with silicone/bungee straps, but those can be subbed in easily to make these the never break pair of goggles. You can customize the nose fit with a bit string and a tube that is included. I’ve worn these for years.
You still want something reliable and comfortable, but durable runs to the forefront. If you or your swimmers are in the water once or twice a day selecting a goggle that will put up with the rigors of the swim lifestyle is your number one goal. Look for goggles that have bungee cord straps or silicone as a backup. If they have a favorite already, you can purchase a bungee strap to substitute in. I highly recommend it.
All Around Best Bet: Kiefer Express Mirror Swim Goggle and Kiefer Vivid Bungee Swim Goggle. These goggles can be used for training AND racing. Their simple design and silicone gaskets make this a comfortable, efficient, and attractive goggle. Kiefer offers a mirrored variety to block the sun for outdoor training or competition to boot. They come with a silicone strap and nosepieces to create a custom fit for the wearer. Compare to Speedo’s Vanquisher.
Best Bargain: Kiefer Swedish Racer Swim Goggles. If you or your swimmer has a habit of leaving goggles behind the Swedish Racers are the best value for product out there. These are classic and have been around for years. They are low profile and durable. Perfect for training or racing. You can use bungee cording straps to improve their longevity as well. You can also find them mirrored to protect your eyes.
Fit should be the highest on your priority list. Good suction and reliable. Keep your racing goggles separate from your training gear. Leave them in your meet bag and take care of them. Personally, I recommend getting a bungee strap for your meet goggles. They won’t snap behind the blocks during last minute adjustments. Simple is still best. Extra moving parts like strap adjusters are destined to break at inopportune moments.
Best Value/All Around:
- Kiefer Vivid Bungee Swim Goggle
- Kiefer Elite Swim Goggle | Kiefer Elite Junior Swim Goggle
- Kiefer Express Swim Goggle | Kiefer Junior Express Swim Goggle
These goggles have a consistent fit, silicone gaskets, and low profile lenses. They aren’t exclusives or pro-athlete branded but they are quality and perform well.
If you are looking for something more like a mask and less like a goggle I have a few suggestions for you. If you still prefer goggles that have two separate sockets, go back up to Team Training or Racing.
Best of Both Worlds: AquaSphere Kaiman Swim Goggle might be best for you, or the Speedo MDR 2.4 Swim Goggle. These are as close to a mask as you can get without actually being one. With excellent fit, low profile, superb visibility and an anti-slip buckle make these a winner for sure.
Fancy isn’t in your vocabulary yet, and racing specs don’t matter to you. However you want to keep water out of your eyes and be comfortable. There is something out there for you too! If you swim outside at the ocean or in a lake these are a few good pairs to try.
All Around: Speedo Bullet Goggle is a new to the fitness line Speedo is pushing. These goggles rest comfortably within the eye orbital for less pressure. They have excellent suction and leaking shouldn’t be an issue.
Fails Safe: Kiefer Ultimate Swim Goggle, Kiefer Junior Ultimate Swim Goggle, Kiefer Raptor Swim Goggle. To me these epitomize comfort; function and value bundled up nicely with pretty colors.
As a parent, my first concerns are value and quality. I want goggles that can easily and affordably be replaced because kids lose goggles. I want them to be quality, kids are rough on their things and are generally pretty vocal if something is uncomfortable or dysfunctional (mom they are leaking!). These are goggles that are good for the splash park, beach, lake or swim lessons/team.
Safest Bets: Kiefer Raptor Junior Swim Goggles and Speedo Hydrospex Junior Swim Goggles. There is a large price discrepancy between the two, but they are both sturdy and quality. I buy and use Raptors for my learn to swim classes. They fit all kinds of faces and are soft. The silicone construction and bright colors make them a friendly choice for those new to wearing goggles. Best starter pair out there. Hydrospex’s are the next step up, the stage where your kids wear goggles without a fuss. They are similarly constructed with soft silicone and vibrant color options. My six-year-old prefers these for swim team.
All For Fun: TYR Character Goggles. They come in shark, fish, and happy whale. These are classic styles with added flair. They are cute and functional with silicone gaskets and an adjustable nosepiece. These are step two goggles, for those who have worn them successfully before. I recommend Raptor’s as your kids first pair of goggles.
Understanding the Components
of Your Swim Goggles
Jump to Section:
Frames
Single Piece:
These frames are similar to masks for snorkeling or scuba diving, just much more compact. Single piece frames are easy to use, there is no adjustment for the nose and are built to fit most faces comfortably. Generally, they are made with a hard plastic outer shell to hold the lenses in place and fit to your face with silicone for comfort.
Single piece frames are ideal for most moderate pool activities and are more commonly found in open water swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
The benefit of goggles with a single piece frame is ease of use and longevity. Fewer pieces generally mean longer lasting. A consumer would want this type of goggle if they don’t want to mess with all the bells and whistles.
Two Piece:
This type of frame is going to get you the most variety in colors, shapes, customizable fit, and more. Two piece frames are going to have some kind of connection over your nose; this will make it easier to get a custom fit.
Two-piece frames are suitable for all types of pool activity. From casual lap swimming to competitive racing, they are the most commonly found type of goggle found in water.
The benefit of two piece goggles is making a pair that really fits your face just right. You won’t have to deal with your nose being pinched and those red indentations that seem to linger for hours after you swim. These are the most widely sold and purchased type of goggle in the industry. Consumers would lean towards this type of frame if they are invested in their water time; prefer comfort over simplicity, and like options.
Sockets/Gaskets
Foam
Foam sockets are the classics. Before we had things like injection molding foam padding was glued to the plastic rim of goggles to keep them from gouging out your eyes.
Foam sockets are useable in all types of water activity from pools, to lakes, to oceans. They are soft and comfortable.
The benefit to foam sockets is soft pressure around your eye socket, they don’t have a hard suction that pops when you pull them off your face. They are more gentle and great for those with sensitive skin. Consumers will appreciate their lower cost.
Silicone
Injection molded and flexible to the touch silicone is soft, comfortable and provides a superb amount of suction.
There isn’t a water activity that isn’t appropriate for this type of gasket. They last; they fit to faces well, and are made in a variety of styles to meet individual needs.
The benefits of silicone are a longer life than foam counterparts, a virtually leak proof fit from excellent suction, and a wide variety of colors and styles. They really are ideal for consumers because they offer the most value from their long life, high quality, and endless variety.
None
Swedish goggles offer no padding in any form. They are bare bones and often used by the most hard core of swimmers. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t for you.
Their no frills approach is minimalist to be sure. They come unassembled and the consumer builds them. Each packet includes two hard plastic sockets, a rubber strap, a bit of string, and a tiny piece of plastic tubing. Consumers string them. These goggles are not as intimidating or uncomfortable as they sound. The sockets are smaller than normal goggles and don’t sit on the bone surrounding your eyes. They sit on the soft fleshy part and while they do take some getting used to they are virtually unbreakable.
Benefits of Swedish style goggles are primarily cost effectiveness. You buy one pair and unless you lose them, they will last a lifetime. I recommend investing in a bungee strap because the rubber one will not last that long.
Lenses
Clear
Clear lenses are comparable to wearing glasses because you like the way you look, they won’t affect your vision. You can find optical ones that are not dissimilar to reading glasses with diopters.
Clear lenses are best suited for indoor water activities because they offer no protection from the sun.
The benefit of clear lenses is unobstructed vision. They will give users the clearest view of their surroundings potentially making things like judging walls for turns easier.
Colored
Lenses come in just about every color of the rainbow and then some. They are mostly for fashion or personal taste.
These goggles are primarily for indoor use, but some darker shades like blue, grey or black certainly help cut down on the sun’s glare. These can be fun for kids as they can pick their favorite color.
The benefit of these goggles is similar to the clear variety. Colored tints don’t interrupt vision, so colored lenses will still give you optimal viewing of your surroundings.
Mirrored/Polarized
These lenses have a reflective metallic coating to protect your eyes from the sun. You can find them in silver, multi colored, and gold.
Mirrored and polarized lenses are used primarily outdoors and generally by avid swimmers. That doesn’t mean they aren’t great for a day at the beach though. These lenses can be found on Swedish style goggles as well as those with silicone gaskets.
Benefits are being able to wear a pair of sunglasses in the water without the fear of losing them and being able to see underwater too. If you are an outside water enthusiast you know it’s worth protecting your eyes.
Straps
Silicone
Silicone straps are more or less the industry norm these days. They are stretchy, colorful and last much longer than rubber.
You can use silicone straps on nearly all goggle types so they are really perfect for all water activities.
Primary benefits are longevity and color choices. You can find something to fit just about any pair to make them your go to goggles.
Bungee Cord
Bungee cord straps aren’t really a new thing, most often you would buy them separately and switch them with whatever your goggles came with. Now you can find goggles that come with bungee cord straps. They are stretchy, colorful, and adjust with a plastic toggle spring.
Seeing as their original purpose was to be substituted in for existing straps it would be fair to say bungee cords would be applicable to all water activities. The only exception being if you swim without a cap and have long hair, they aren’t as friendly as silicone straps.
These are your best bet for goggles. The benefit to buying bungee cords is that you will not likely need to buy another one unless you lose it.
Rubber
Rubber goggle straps might be in the past, but you can still find them on starter goggles from brick and mortar stores. Most large aquatic companies don’t have many styles left that sport these relics but they are still around.
In the past this was the only choice for goggles, that being said they will work in any situation. You can use them for lap swimming, racing, open water, play, aerobics, anything!
Kiefer doesn’t carry much these days in the form of rubber straps and there is a reason for it. They just can’t compare or compete with silicone. If you are in a pinch and you grab a pair from a local drugstore they will fill your needs just fine for the time being. Once that strap snaps you can always replace it with a bungee cord or silicone.
Nose Pieces
Bridges
Bridges are small pieces of plastic that come in varying lengths; they have notched grooves that snap into the goggle main body.
These nose pieces are found on the majority of swim training and/or racing goggles. They generally come in three sizes to fit the widest range of consumers.
The primary benefit of investing in goggles with nose bridges is the custom fit you can get.
String/Rubber/Silicone
These are small bits of material that can be pulled through a hole on the goggle much like threading a needle.
Most goggles will adapt to something like this, so they can be used in any aquatic situation. For instance say you lost your plastic nose bridge, snip off a piece of silicone excess from your strap and thread it through the holes.
The best part about goggles like this, is that with just a small stretchy part of material you can get the best fit over your nose for you. There are no standard sizes to mess with; you can make that bridge as short or as long as you need it.
Notched
These are plastic bridges with grooves on each side, you pull them through and they lock into place creating a fairly customizable fit.
You can’t retro-fit these bridges, so whichever pair of goggle they come with is what they stay with. These are generally found on children’s goggles and are excellent for playtime, learn to swim, or pre-competitive scenarios.
The benefit of notched nose pieces is once again the ability to fit them in a more custom manner than a single piece goggle body with no adjustable nose piece.
Adjusters
Buttons
Buttons are push releases that will loosen the grip the adjuster has on the goggle strap. They are more commonly found on single frame goggles.
The benefits of button adjusters are ease of use. Push the button, adjust, push button to lock. You don’t have to worry about threading the goggle straps through slots each time you need to tighten or loosen your straps.
Sliders
These are the most common type of goggle adjusters. They are slotted pieces of plastic that hold tight to your straps.
To tighten you will need to pull out the straps and re-thread them through the slots once you reach your desired fit. They are a little more time consuming but the good news is they don’t break. Less moving parts make for a longer lasting product.
Toggle
Toggle adjusters are spring loaded clamps with a button to release. You will find these on bungee straps.
These are by far the easiest type of adjuster. The plastic is sturdy and lasts, and the spring is enclosed within it. Ease of use coupled with durability makes the benefits of this adjust quite clear.
Side vs Back
Adjusters can sometimes be found on the sides of goggles attached to the main frame, buttons generally fall into this category and occasionally sliders.
Back adjusters are typically attached to one of the two straps tail ends. This is where you will pull and thread silicone straps into a slider or pull bungee cords through a toggle.
Learn More About Choosing Swim Gear:
How To Choose A Technical Swimsuit: A Step-By-Step Guide
Step One:
Before you begin, prepare yourself mentally for sticker shock. Tech suits are a temporary investment with a limited life. Choosing the suit that is right for you or your swimmer starts here: decide on your budget but understand most tech suits start at $100 and move up swiftly. Take a deep breath, you are paying for the research that went into the individual suit more than the materials and manufacturing.
Step Two:
Try them on or get fitted. Some retailers will have a selection of suits specifically for fitting, and if they don’t, they should have someone available to measure and help fit you. In addition to this, you can talk to friends, other parents, and older swimmers on your kid’s team, to see if they have one that you could potentially borrow to try on. Remember, never buy blind.
Step Three:
Research. Talk to other swimmers about what they like and why. Read online reviews. The more information you gather the less likely you will be disappointed in your purchase. This includes visiting each manufacturer’s website or catalog to read about suit specifics. Narrow down what qualities are most important to you.
Women, you have a harder task, since there are multiple back, neck, and leg styles to choose from. Most of the choices boil down to personal preference, but some may be event or stroke related. Men have it a bit easier with only having to contend with different tech suit leg styles.
Make sure your suit is FINA approved - if it isn’t, you risk disqualification. FINA approved suits are all marked with a white emblem resembling a scan square.
Step Four:
Test it out pre-event. Wearing your suit once before your big meet will not ruin it, but it will give you the opportunity to get comfortable with the way it feels in the water. Go through all your strokes, turns, and dives so there are no surprises.
Step Five:
If all else fails start with a lower end suit and work your way up. The information out there can be overwhelming, but you can always upgrade as you determine your needs. There are some outstanding basic/beginner tech suits available, and they are considerably more budget friendly.
Learn More About Swimwear:
- Choosing Swimsuit Fabric: An Ultimate Guide to Swimsuit Material
- Swim Shorts vs. Speedos
- The Different Types of Fabric Used in Swimsuits
- What To Look For When Choosing A One-Piece Swimsuit
- Competitive Swimwear Sizing Guide
- Understanding the 12 & Under Technical Suit Ban
- Training Suits Explored and Explained Brand Edition: TYR
Training Suits Explored and Explained Brand Edition: TYR
In the past, we have published articles breaking down swim suit materials. Their benefits, life expectancies, and special features are covered here. This time we are going to take a slightly different route, and help shed some light on the different suit cuts made by each brand.
To begin, I will help you take a closer look at TYR swimsuits and what they have to offer consumers.
Women’s training suits currently come in five different styles. First the thin strap varieties Crosscutfit, Diamondfit, and Thin X-Back. Then a thicker strap variety the Maxfit or sometimes called Maxback.
TYR Swimsuits Explored and Explained
TYR’s Crosscutfit swimsuit is a minimalist suit. The thin straps cross like an ‘X’ between the shoulder blades and allow for maximum mobility boasting 360 degrees of motion. The Diamondfit is TYR’s industry standard thin strap suit. There is more support on the back because the thin straps are anchored to the main body of the suit and do not move about independently. The Thin X back is the middle ground between the previous pair. The straps are thin, but are anchored to a horizontal strap keeping them fixed in place.
TYR’s Maxfit swimsuit offers more support and coverage via thicker straps and back. Everything is connected to the main body of the suit, the straps do not move independently as the Crosscutfit straps do. You will see these being frequently used by teams as they are most sold in team splice packages and generally tend to be a favorite of younger swimmers. It features a moderate neckline and leg cut as well as a keyhole back.
Men’s suits are available in two generic varieties, and preferences usually determine what works best for each individual swimmer.
- Briefs are the swimmer’s basic staple. They offer the least amount of drag and the largest range of motion. They lack coverage which is where personal preference comes into play.
- Jammers are similar to running or biking shorts. They fall to just above the knee and fit tightly to reduce drag.
- A TYR square leg suit, while not as common, is a nice in-between to fall back on if the previous two don’t suit your fancy!
- TYR also offers drag suits. Drag suits are exactly as they sound. Made of a polyester mesh they create drag and thus a harder workout. They can be worn over existing suits.
Material lingo changes from company to company. TYR’s longest lasting suit material is coined Durafast, and I can personally attest to its longevity. If you spend as much time in the pool as I do, you want a suit that will keep up with the harsh chemicals.
TYR offers both Lycra suits and the stronger variety called Xtra Life Lycra; both are fairly consistent and very common across all suit manufacturers. Finally TYR does offer Nylon, no fancy name, just an old comfortable favorite. These three types of suits do not have the same durability Polyester blends offer, but Xtra Life Lycra will outlive both Lycra and Nylon suits.
Click here to shop the above TYR swimsuits and their different styles. You can filter the TYR swimsuits by fabric material on the lefthand side.
Learn More About Swimwear:
- Choosing Swimsuit Fabric: An Ultimate Guide to Swimsuit Material
- Swim Shorts vs. Speedos
- The Different Types of Fabric Used in Swimsuits
- What To Look For When Choosing A One-Piece Swimsuit
- Competitive Swimwear Sizing Guide
- How To Choose A Technical Swimsuit: A Step-By-Step Guide
- How To Choose A Technical Swimsuit
- Understanding the 12 & Under Technical Suit Ban
How to Take Care of Your Swim Gear
You’ve made the investment in swim gear, so how can you protect it? To extend the lifespan of your swim equipment here are a few tips to keep them in tip top shape. Not every piece of your equipment needs pampering, but a little extra care will go a long way.
Suits/Swim Shirts/Etc:
Rinse them with water after each use and dry them thoroughly. Resist the urge to wrap them in your towel, stuff them in your bag, and forget about them. I do this all the time. The consequences are a bad smell, loss of elasticity, and color fade. Some people do a rinse with a vinegar and water solution before swimming in lycra suits. 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water and soak for a few hours is rumored to help color fastness. There are also products such as Suit Solutions that help with expanding the life of fabrics that are exposed to chlorine.
Caps:
Always dry your swim caps to get the most use from them. Dusting them with baby powder in-between uses is also helpful in preventing early tears and helping them slide on your head more easily.
Goggles:
Some people might prefer to keep goggles in a pouch or box to prevent scratching of the lens, but other than a basic pat dry, goggles are pretty low maintenance.
Fins/Boards/Paddles/Buoys/Snorkels:
Whether you have fins, boards, paddles, buoys or snorkels, just toss them in your gear bag and they will be just fine. No babying needed here.
Water weights:
Take care to let your water weights with neoprene casing dry thoroughly. Neoprene is typically pretty hardy, but to avoid mildew and a bad smell let them air out in between uses. Don’t let them sit and stink up your bag.
Water Shoes/Socks:
For goodness sake don’t leave them in your gym bag wet. They will get musty and contaminate the whole thing! Let your water shoes and socks air dry between uses, and rinse them with fresh water after getting out of the pool.
Rinsing and drying is your fail safe. If you are concerned about chlorine damage for any of your gear follow the rinse and dry rule. It is important to get the harsh chemical off your stuff, just more important for some over others. Start with your fabrics and worry less about your hard plastics or foam pieces.
Have fun out there and keep swimming!
Learn More About Swim Gear:
Why Every Swimmer Needs A Finis Tempo Trainer
Music is something that has shaped our world, shaped our cultures, and shaped who we are. As humans, the beat of music runs in our veins. The Finis Tempo Trainer has that beat that can affect athletes in much the same way as music.
The beat can be adjusted anywhere from every ten minutes to 300 times a minute. It's the smallest, and possibly the best, piece of swim equipment I have ever used. With it, I am able to set a beat, put it in my swim cap, and let my body dance to it. Every time I hear a beep, my hand must hit the water for my next stroke. It is loud enough that it almost echoes inside my head, but the case's small and smooth shape is not annoying or uncomfortable at all. It can also be set to beep every two minutes or so to work as a sendoff marker which is great if you can't see the pace clock, or worse, there isn't one.
One of swimmers' worst habits is breathing too slow. Trust me, I've seen professionals do it. The Tempo Trainer also makes my breath-taking faster, because I don't have time to keep my arm in the air for a prolonged breath. It also keeps me from slowing down my stroke when I get tired, and gives me the chance to concentrate on keeping good technique while swimming fast, even when I am in the middle of 20, 100s and I am so tired, I think my arms will fall off.
The Finis Tempo Trainer just might be the best piece of equipment in your bag. Imagine what it could do to your swimming!
***
This is a guest post from Martina K. Martina first became involved in swimming when she was a lifeguard at age sixteen. After moving to Oregon when she was 18, she joined a swim team at a late age. She loves sharing her passion for swimming with the whole world through writing and her drive to achieve her goals. You can connect with her on Twitter.
Learn More About Competitive Swimming:
- Training for A Triathlon? Here’s the Gear and A Workout Plan to Help You Prepare!
- How to Train for Your First Triathlon
- My First Triathlon
- What To Pack In Your Swim Meet Bag
- 5 Ways Swimmers Self-Sabotage
- Summer Swim Training: 5 Tips To Keep It Fresh!
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Swimmers
- Raising a Swimmer – Part II: 11-12 Years
The Hidden Benefits of Swimming With Swim Fins
Gear. The essential additive to all things sport, swimming included of course!
Fins come in all shapes and sizes. There are sport-specific as well as leisure time fins. So, if you are doing laps in a pool the first thing you need to do is avoid scuba fins… that is unless you are training for your scuba certification.
For swim training, you will find short fins, long fins, and monofins useful. Each has a different benefit to their use, but all are excellent training aids to add variety. If you need help finding the right fin, please click on over to my guide here.
What Are Swim Fins?
Swim fins are the equivalent of strapping jetpacks to your feet. Also called flippers, these are swim accessories you wear on your feet to improve your technique and performance. Kids often use fins to zoom through the water, adding jet propulsion to their day of swimming pool fun. When incorporated into your training, fins can be used to develop flexibility, correct body position, and improve your overall technique.
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The Benefits of Swimming With Fins
There are several benefits of swimming with fins:
Improve Your Kick Technique
When swimming, a proper kick technique is both narrow and compact rather than big and powerful. Using flippers to swim laps helps improve the up-kick by adding resistance to this motion. By working out your hamstrings, glutes, and lower back muscles, swim fins provide positive muscle reinforcement, improving your kick technique and making you faster and more efficient.
Learn Proper Body Position
Proper body position looks a little like a speedboat skimming across the surface of the water. Your body should ride higher, but most swimmers find this body line difficult to hold. Swimming with fins adds speed to each stroke and teaches your body how to swim on top of the water.
Improve Ankle Flexibility
A compact yet efficient kick requires great ankle flexibility. Some swimmers are naturally flexible. Others need to work on this skill. Swim fins reinforce proper kick mechanics, allowing you to develop ankle flexibility faster than training without fins.
Increase Strength and Endurance
As you zip through the water, you may not notice the passage of time. Swim fins allow you to swim for longer periods of time, increasing your muscle strength and endurance in the process.
Improve Stroke Technique
By adding stability and propulsion to your swim training sessions, swim fins allow you to focus on specific elements of whichever stroke you may be working on. The added speed also helps you practice more advanced drills, such as backstroke or one arm freestyle.
Reduce Shoulder Stress
While swimming is a relatively low-impact workout, after a while, your shoulders endure quite a bit of stress. The repetitive movements of each stroke can lead to shoulder damage if proper care is not given. Swim fins lessen the impact of your workout on your shoulders.
Types of Swimming Fins
The length and shape of the swim fin's blade has a big impact on how it will affect your workout and training. Each type of swimming fin serves a slightly different purpose. It's important to understand the three most common designs before deciding which one is right for your individual swim needs.
Standard Long Fins
Primary benefits to using the standard long fins are:
- - Increased speed to simulate race pace scenarios
- - Increased work load on your legs
- - Build endurance and strength
- - Added bonus of trying to control your turns, streamlines, and stroke under higher speeds
Short Fins
Short fins (Power Swim Fins) are beneficial for a couple of reasons:
- - Flutter kick training
- - Their shorter stature forces swimmers to use small and quick kicks maximizing all-around efficiency
Monofins
Monofins are used exclusively for dolphin kick training and offer some distinct benefits:
- - Foil movement underwater is optimized greatly by the aid of a monofin
- - Working with a single fin in this manner increases core strength in addition to leg strength
Finding Your Ideal Swim Fin
Whether you're shopping for your swim team or looking for the best swim fins for your individual training sessions, Kiefer Aquatics is here to help. Our customer service team would be happy to help you find the best swimming fins for your needs.
Learn More About Swim Gear:
Safer Swimmer Open Water Swimming Buoy
The Kiefer Safer Swimmer Open Water Swim Buoy is a vital training and safety device for anyone who enjoys swimming in open water or triathlons.
3 Main Benefits Of Swimming With Safer Swimmer
1. Excellent Swimmer Visibility
The Dayglo Orange Safer Swimmer buoy raises your profile to others, making you more visible to boaters, jetskiers, and anyone else who could use a reminder that open water swimmers are in the surrounding waters.
2. Helpful Swimming Flotation
Safer Swimmer provides flotation as needed. This is especially handy for taking a break from a long swim, working through swim cramps, fatigue, dizziness, and any other swimming injury or malady.
Although Safer Swimmer isn't a rescue device, it could be used to offer reassurance, or even to assist the rescue of a distressed or less-confident swimmer.
To serve as a resting aid or makeshift rescue device, the Safer Swimmer is outfitted with a blue handle to provide a secure and confident grip.
3. Dry Storage
Don't worry about leaving your valuables and gear behind on the beach, Safer Swimmer's dry pocket allows you to keep them safely within reach during your swim.
Why Safer Swimmer Is Great For Open Water Swimming
No more hiding your car keys and wallet!
Because Safer Swimmer has a dry pocket, you can safely take your gear with you and avoid having to worry about hiding your wallet and keys on shore while you put in a long swim.
It's perfect for point to point swimming!
Point to point swimming adds a refreshing dimension to longer swims, removing the need for the same old 'out and back' workout. The ability to transport shoes during your distance swimming makes point to point swim training less painful, since you can keep a dry pair of shoes in your Safer Swimmer for a pleasurable return run (or walk) to your starting point. No more barefoot walk of shame!
Packing shoes is particularly handy for me during 70.3 Ironman training, since my neighboring Silver Lake in Wisconsin is almost exactly 1.2 miles across. After my one way swim, I bust out my shoes, deflate and roll up my Safer Swimmer for easy carrying, and run back to my car in comfort and style (running in a jammer isn't so bad).
Safer Swimmer is great for group swims.
Group swimming is a great way to add more fun to open water swim training.
Safer Swimmer allows coaches or swim leaders to pack things that swimmers and triathletes may lose or need during a swim (extra goggles, extra swim cap, Gu or other nutritionals, and hydration).
Because Safer Swimmer is so easy to see, it's a great way to keep visual tabs on swimmers within your group, especially during wavy conditions.
How Does Safer Swimmer Look / Work In The Water?
It looks great and is extremely high- visibility. It's buoyancy and lightweight body make appear to make it float on the surface of the water.
Check out this Safer Swimmer Video I made (please pardon the shaky-cam).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jf_cE7u5NJU
Frequently Asked Questions For Skeptics
I understand skepticism. Why do you want to complicate your life with another worldly device? Trust me, if you're swimming in open water, for any reason, you need Safer Swimmer.
Is Safer Swimmer cumbersome or annoying to use?
No, it isn't. Stacey Kiefer and I have tested Safer Swimmer and continue to use it for open water and triathlon swim training. The Safer Swimmer belt attaches quickly and easily around a swimmer's waist, allowing one to effortlessly tow a lightweight, yet resilient swim buoy behind them during training.
Won't Safer Swimmer interfere with my stroke or kicking?
Absolutely not. The buoy leash length can be tailored to precisely place Safer Swimmer between your butt and your feet, allowing you to kick without contacting the buoy.
I'm a Triathlete; why do I need "open water" swim gear?
Unless you rock indoor triathlons exclusively (hopefully not), training for the swim leg of a triathlon is open water swimming! Also, you can float your precious waterproof Garmin on Safer Swimmer and be far more likely to take accurate GPS readings! Looking for more advice to help your open water swimming and triathlon training?
Check out these articles:
- 10 Quick Tips For Swim Sighting
- Open Water Swim Training Safety
Let me know how your training goes- and about any tips and tricks that work for you.
See you at the pool (and lake, ocean, river, puddle),
-Robin Spencer Kiefer
Learn More About Open Water Swimming:
