Talk to your swimming instructor or coach to find out exactly what to bring to swimming. The basic essentials for swimming are the same for most classes or practice sessions. Pack all your dry items in one bag and bring a second plastic bag or water-resistant bag for your wet items. A small waterproof case can protect items such as jewelry, wallets and cell phones. Bring items that suit your particular swimming environment and personal preferences.
Essentials
Your swimming essentials include goggles and a swimsuit. Bring a one-piece suit if you are a woman. Men usually wear compressive-fit swimsuits that have brief or knee-length cuts for a competitive swimming class or swim practice. You can bring all-purpose goggles with a clear finish or a variety of alternative lens colors and finishes. Smoke and blue lenses reduce brightness and glare. Yellow, orange or red lenses might be ideal for swimming indoors because they remove blue from the color spectrum. Mirrored finishes help reduce brightness and glare, which can improve visibility when swimming outdoors.
Protection
Protective swimming supplies include sunscreen and a swim cap. Bring water-resistant sunscreen that has between 15 and 30 SPF. Use sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outdoors and reapply every two hours or whenever you spend some time out of the water. Use sunscreen outdoors, even on cloudy days, or when swimming indoors where there are lots of windows. You also might bring a swim cap to protect your hair from getting wet or from the effects of chemicals and toxins in the pool.
Shower Supplies
Take shower supplies for your skin and hair. Shampoo and soap or body wash help remove toxins that float around in the water, such as perspiration from other swimmers, urine and dead skin cells. Cleansing your skin and hair also removes pool chemicals that dry and irritate your skin. Hair conditioner can help keep your hair from drying out after swimming. You might want to bring a shower tote for carrying your items to and from the shower area. Bring shower shoes or sandals to avoid contracting athlete's foot and exposure to other toxins on the shower floor.
Post Swim
Bring a large towel to dry off after your shower and moisturizer to help your skin stay soft. Moisturizing your skin can help prevent excessive dryness that makes your skin feel tight or causes cracks, chaffing and irritation. Use heavy, oil-based moisturizer with antioxidants, grape seed oil or dimethicone for dry or aging skin. Bring a water-based, noncomedogenic moisturizer if your skin is normal or naturally oily. Pack everything that you plan to wear for the rest of the day, such as socks and underwear, shoes, a top and bottom.
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