My most critical pieces of swim equipment are my goggles, my earplugs, and my watch. Yes, a suit is important for comfort and keeping from being arrested, but I mean beyond the obvious component of swimwear. However, I will address that as well.
I have tried a variety of goggles, but the ones that work best for me are the TYR, Racetech variety. What makes them good is that they fit my face well, they do not leak, they don't fog up, they come in a variety of colors, and they have a very reasonable price point. I've used them ever since I started triathlon 15 years ago. Again, I've tried to branch out and try different styles, just to see what's out there, but these work the best for me. Understand however, that I certainly have not tried all other types of goggles. I used to purchase them from Gazelle Sports near where I live, but I haven't been able to find them on the rack. I have also been known to purchase them from on-line triathlon shops such as Tri-Zone, and the like. The place where I have gone most recently however, for both my goggles and my earplugs is SwimOutlet.com. They retail around $12-$14, but I usually find a deal and spend closer to $8-$10 per pair.
I have used different colors for different situations. Early on I exclusively used black, but that was before I realized there were other options. I do like the black variety for sunny days, but at the pool and for predawn swims at the lake, I like clear, blue, aqua, or amber. I haven't tried the purple or the pink options.
For Ironman Louisville, due to the early morning start and the murky water, I will likely use clear or blue.
The reason I use ear plugs is because I hate having water in my ear. I also later realized that they help me with my equalibrium when shifting from a horizontal position in the water, to a vertical position out of the water. In fact, one time when I forgot my ear plugs at a triathlon, I found myself on my knees momentarily because the world was spinning. So keep in mind, once you go to ear plugs...don't forget them!
I have tried the moldable type, but the ones that work best for me are the Speedo, molded rubber type. They fit me well and do the job. The downside is that they are clear and sometimes can be misplaced as a result. Having said that, it really hasn't been a real issue for me, but I've heard that from others. I replace them once, sometimes twice a season. These retail around $3-$4.
The suit that has been my standby for years is the TYR, Racer. The one that I've really come to enjoy lately is the TYR, Solid Durafast™ Polyester Racer. The difference is the material lasts much longer. Usually I could go through two suits during the fall/winter/spring, pool season because the chlorine would eat up my suits, but this material is amazingly durable. I'm not opposed to a jammer or a square-legged suit, but this has worked will for me, so I go with it. I may change up the style, but I'm sold on the material. My guess is the Speedo Endurance suits are made of something similar, but I haven't tried them. Again, they come in different cuts if you are uncomfortable with the brief style.
When the month of May hits, I try to go to open water swimming, but the weather/water temperature certainly has an impact on this decision. If the water is in the low 60's I'm up for a go at it. This for me, of course means getting out my wetsuit.
I love my wetsuit for a variety of reasons. One is that it keeps me warm in cold-to-cool water, two becuase it keeps me boyant and hides several of my swimming errors, but most importantly, I enjoy the fact that if I am having some kind of issue, I can basically turn over on my back and just float with no effort. So, it is a security blanket of sorts, albeit a wet blanket.
I have used the QR brand, long-john (long legs, no sleeves) since I've started and I'm now on my second one. I thought about the long-sleeved type, but I like the freedom of motion the sleeveless provides, the ease of taking it off, and I'm often in water that is near 78' (the official USAT wetsuit cutoff for wetsuit use) and I believe the sleeveless type keeps me from overheating. I should mention that when I swim 30 minutes or longer, I apply Bodyglide to my neck and areas around my shoulders where there are seams on my suit. This prevents unwanted chaffing. I believe I paid around $150 for my suit.
If you are just getting into the sport, I suggest you go to a shop that carries wetsuits and try them on. Talk to an educated salesperson about how it should fit and feel. After you have an idea for size you can shop around in a variety of places, and for a variety of brands. I think the best deal going right now is probably the XTerra brand. They seem to have great deals going on all the time, and they do make good quality suits.
I should probably mention that whenever I swim in open water, whether it be with or without a wetsuit, I wear a bright colored swim cap. I swim along the shore at our lake where most watercraft would not want to be, but I am sometimes in competition with fisherman for water space. Either way, I want to be as visable as I can be. The good news is that when you do a triathlon, the event gives you a cap, and a lot of the time they are bright, so I don't ever have to buy one.
With the exception of when I'm sleeping, I always have my watch on, so this piece of equipment is for swimming, cycling, running, and being. My watch of choice is the Timex, Sleek, 50-lap. It has a some very cool features. One such feature is the chronograph (stopwatch) indicates both my average pace per split and my fastest split. This can be per 50 yds. or for miles. Whenever I push the button for a split. Another feature I like is the multiple interval timer. I can set two timers in one. For example, I can set it up so it beeps after one minute, and then again after three minutes. After this it repeats the one-to-three sequence again until I push stop. It's great for intervals. I like the other features too. I use the countdown timer for when I ice, and I use the alarm (there are three) for getting up early to workout. The size of the read-out is nice and large as well. Nice watch, which does the key things I need it to do.
I also where sandals at the pool to keep my feet safe. I wear a TYR variety, but a cheap $2 pair would be just fine. I just happen to use mine for a variety of purposes, so I want them to be durable.
Another piece of "equipment" I use when swimming at the pool is my sling bag. It carries my swim essetials easily to and from the pool.
This is what works for me, but there are a lot of great products out there. Good luck finding the essentials that work for you.
Peace,
~Sam
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