For many the best part of summer is open water swimming (OWS).  There’s just something about the Zenlike quality of swimming uninterrupted by lane lines, walls & other swimmers.  Not to mention the peace & quiet that comes from looking down into the water at…nothing…no black lines…no T’s to mark the pool end…just nothing.  It’s pure heaven!  If you’re headed out to enjoy swimming in Quinn’s Pond or Lucky Peak, here’s a gear list for a great open water swim.

Gear List for a Great Open Water Swim

1. Swim Cap – Although arguably not as important in a pool, a swim cap is one of your most critical pieces of equipment in open water.  Why?  Because you need to be seen!  A brightly colored cap can ensure that you’ll stand out to other swimmers, paddleboarders, boaters and/or rescue personnel.  If you need extra warmth, double cap with 2 latex or silicone caps or get an extra-warm neoprene hoodie (but, because neoprene is black in color, just make sure to put your bright yellow latex cap over the top).

2. Goggles – At the most basic level all you need is a pair of goggles to keep the water out of your eyes.  But open water swimming does have a few unique challenges which the right pair of goggles can address.  (For a brief summary of the difference between pool goggles & open water goggles, click here.)

• Varying light conditions:  The weather can vary from sunny to overcast.  To handle specific lighting conditions, you may need several pairs of goggles with different tinting – darker for sunny days, lighter to clear for overcast conditions.  (Tip:  There are now several goggle brands offering photochromatic lenses which adapt quickly to changing light conditions.)
• Greater peripheral vision needs:  Open water swimming requires a bit more peripheral vision than the slimmer pool goggles offer.  Look for goggles that sport a wider, over-sized lenses to improve your panoramic view.  Another great option are mask-style goggles which give you an excellent field of vision as well as relief from the problematic “racoon eye” issue.

3. Wetsuit – For water temps lower than 75 degrees, a wetsuit will make your swim experience much more comfortable.  Full-sleeve suits will give you more warmth, better flotation & increased hydrodynamics…but they can create arm motion restrictions if not properly fitted and/or put on.  Sleeveless suits give you better shoulder range of motion, but less warmth & buoyancy.  The choice is yours!  FYI – For a great wetsuit fitting experience, go see Dominique at TriTown!

4. Additional Cold-Water Accessories (Neoprene Hoodies/Booties/Gloves) – If water temps are especially chilly, you may want to invest in some neoprene items.  A hoodie, booties & gloves can make your cold-water swim experience go from horrible to quite enjoyable.  Just remember to put that brightly colored latex cap over the top of your neoprene one!  NOTE:  For Ironman & USA Triathlon-sanctioned races you are allowed to wear hoodies & booties, but NOT gloves.

5. Earplugs – Some folks experience vertigo, dizziness and/or are prone to ear infections when water enters their ear canals.  Moldable silicone earplugs can be a lifesaver if you are one of these swimmers.

6. Swim Buoy – No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, you NEED a swim buoy.  These little floaties are great – they attach to your waist & float behind you.  They carry your keys/phone, they are yet another brightly colored object to ensure that you are seen…and most importantly, they act as a floatation device should you get into trouble.  Don’t leave home without one!

7. Your Swim Buddy – Last, but not least, THE MOST IMPORTANT item that you need to safely open water swim is your swim buddy.  I can’t say this enough – NEVER, EVER swim alone.  It’s just too dangerous.

Heart attacks & strokes can happen in the water just as easily as they happen on land.  And there is an actual cardio-respiratory response (cold shock response) by which cold water can cause a heart attack due to the heart’s blood vessels severely constricting thereby making the heart work extra hard to pump blood.  (For a really good article on the potential physiological problems that can occur when swimming in cold water, click here.)  And of course, there’s always the risk of a panic attack.  As a coach who works with folks who have significant fear/anxiety in water, I can tell you that, when the human body panics in the water, nothing good will come of it.  When we panic, we do two things that effectively make us drown ourselves.

• We take a deep breath in…and then we hyperventilate.  The sad truth is that we humans simply can’t breathe water.
• We run.  Unfortunately, the running motion of the legs pulls us very effectively & very quickly underwater.  There’s no getting to surface once the legs start to run.

 

And on that sad note, my list is complete.  But if you follow this list, I know you’ll have many wonderful hours out there enjoying your open water swims!

Swim on, Everyone!

If you’d like to swim in a small group, my Small Group Open Water Swims will be starting end of Jun.  Cost is $20/session.  Click here to register.  And, if you’d like to schedule a Private Open Water Swim Session, click here for more info.