Gear & Equipment

Equipment

Fins

Fins are a key component in a swimmer’s gear bag and allow increased specificity in muscle, mobility, and technical development. Major factors with fins are heel construction and fin length.

Younger swimmers can opt for longer fins as they improve body position and basic kicking patterns. More developed swimmers will use shorter fins to improve practice/race applicability. Shorter fins allow for improved ankle mobility and faster kick speeds which carry into race principles more easily. Snorkeling fins are not recommended as they are designed for easy, slow movement and do not reinforce proper kick technique.

The open heel construction allows for kick position and helps incorporate foot and ankle mobility into workouts. Closed heel fins can be slightly more comfortable for beginner swimmers. (Recommended: Honu group+)

Paddles

Paddles improve water resistance during swimming and allow for great force application and improved “catch” awareness. Paddles are specialized tool that will be gradually introduced into a swimmer’s practices. The use of paddles too quickly or with paddles that are too large can result in shoulder strain and injury. (Recommended: Mako group+)

Pull Buoys

Pull buoys are held between the legs and improve core engagement and body positioning while also allowing for upper body isolation during the stroke. Buoys are a great tool for all ages and swimmers will work core strength and mobility as well as abductor activation and strength. (Recommended: Honu group+)

Snorkels

Snorkels are an advanced tool that enables a constant head position for extended swims. Snorkels help reduce the the rotation movement and improve focus on breathing and body line and position. (Recommended: Mako group+)

Nose Clips

These supplemental tools are used primarily for backstroker’s who spend a significant time under water on their back. The nose clip helps reduce water taken in through the nose and eases the natural effort used to seal the nasal passage. (Optional)

Ear Plugs

For swimmers who experience frequent cases of swimmer’s ear, ear plugs reduce chances of ear infection and the discomfort of stubborn water within the ear canal. (Optional)

Gear

Swim Suits

Swim suits are a key component of a swimmers gear. There are a huge variety of aesthetic and functional choices and it can be overwhelming selecting the right suit. We recommend suits that are close to the skin and allow for free range of motion.

Tech suits are specialized suits that improve hydrodynamics, muscle compression, blood flow and buoyancy. There are restrictions on legal suits for swimmers 12 and under. Coaches will work with swimmers to select the best tech suit when needed.

Goggles

Goggle options are very swimmer specific with different face and nose structures impacting goggle fit and effectiveness. Socket, Standard, single lens options are available and swimmers preferences are usually based on comfort. Generally, swimmers should look for an hydrodynamic design which will help the goggles stay seated properly through push-offs and dives. An adjustable nose piece can help ensure the goggles sit around the eye socket comfortably and minimize water leaks.

Swim Caps

When considering swim caps, there are two main factors to consider: Material & Shape. For material, Silicone and latex are the main constructions with Silicone being more expensive but generally more comfortable. For younger swimmers, lycra material caps are also available as an introduction to caps.

For shape, regular, long hair, and dome (racing) shapes are available. Regular caps are the standard shape and long hair is generally only selected for swimmers 13+ with hair lengths below the shoulders. Dome (racing) caps are used exclusively for competition and swimmers.

Team cap order forms will be periodically sent out by coaching staff.