Want to Get Into Swimming? Experts Break Down the Essentials to Get Started

For beginner swimmers learning proper technique, Labrador says she likes the Speedo Endurance line. It’s known for its quick-dry Endurance+ fabric and four-way stretch for maximum flexibility and movement in the water. The back of the suit is a specialized design with thinner, reinforced straps that offer a wider range of motion in the water.

I appreciate the durable fabric that’s chlorine-resistant with color retention to last longer. It also includes a front liner for extra coverage, adding another layer of protection to ensure it’s not see-through when wet or stretched.

For the more competitive or experienced swimmer, our experts recommend this Jolyn Fixed-Back one-piece suit. “Anything Jolyn has my competitive-swimmer heart. They brought fun and fashion into the competitive swim world without sacrificing durability,” says Katie Schimmelpfenning, RD, swim coach and founder of Eat Swim Win.

This one-piece offers a higher neckline for extra coverage and is lined for maximum privacy, so you can focus on swimming laps, not repositioning your swimsuit. It’s also a fixed-back design, meaning the straps are built in and don’t tie, offering a more secure fit. “As a coach, I always vote fixed-back. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had swimmers pause mid-set to retie their suit,” says Schimmelpfenning.

It’s also built to last with durable fabric, which Schimmelpfenning says holds up beautifully in both chlorine and salt water.

If you want a swimsuit that’s built to last but won’t break the bank, the Nike Women’s Hydrastrong suit fits the bill. Schimmelpfenning has owned this suit for more than 12 years. “During the first four years, I was swimming 10-plus hours per week, and it never stretched out or faded,” she says. “It’s durable and can often be found at an affordable price point from certain websites.”

Schimmelpfenning’s husband, who was a Division 1 collegiate swimmer, also swears by his men’s Hydrastrong suit and has noticed no visible wear or tear.

The Garmin Vívoactive 6 smartwatch is water-resistant up to 50 meters and can provide detailed activity metrics from your swims, including pace, distance, and stroke count, to monitor your progress over time. You’ll need to download an app to view your stats.

It also has other features, such as breath work and meditation exercises, insights into women’s health and hormones, and the ability to track sleep and heart rate. And if you forget to charge it and leave it in your swim bag, it can last up to 11 days on a single charge.

If you’re an advanced swimmer looking for all the bells and whistles, you’ll have it with the Garmin Fēnix 8 fitness tracker. This smartwatch is water-resistant with a 40-meter dive rating and leakproof metal buttons, which means it’s designed to withstand not only surface-level swimming but also more high-pressure activities, like diving and high-speed water sports.

This watch can track several detailed metrics for advanced swimmers, such as automatic stroke type recognition, swimming efficiency, and critical swim speed calculations. It also comes with a Garmin coach to help you set more specific training goals during your swims.

Because of the price tag, this fitness tracker is more intended for the serious swimmer who understands all the more complex metrics it tracks.

If you’re not quite sure you’ll be a lifelong swimmer, these swim fins are affordable, comfortable, and great for beginners. They’re made of soft rubber for optimal comfort for adults and kids alike. I particularly like the extended foot pocket that ensures a snug fit and reduces discomfort during longer swims or training sessions.

These also have a unique midfoot flex, which allows for greater flexibility of movement. This can help eliminate stiffness and cramping in the foot during use. In addition, its angled blade design helps you propel your body more quickly in the water and reduces ankle strain. Overall, these fins are a win for both affordability and comfort.

For the swimming elite, the DMC Elite Swim Fins made by Speedo offer an asymmetrical design for optimal comfort and powerful performance. This type of design can stabilize ankle rolling, increase speed, and decrease fatigue during longer swims.

These fins feature a special Siliform silicone material for maximum comfort as well as an off-center drain chute at the top of the fin to prevent water buildup, helping your fins stay on and promoting faster kicking.

These swim fins are a great option for both the everyday and competitive swimmer, as they’re designed for speed and strength. Their design offers a good balance of comfort and propulsion capabilities due to shorter, flexible blades that are paired with more rigid areas.

The shorter fin blade is lighter, which can enhance efficiency and kick speed, whether you’re swimming competitively or racing your kids in your home pool. These sport a comfortable open toe box with grooves for superior grip, which keep your feet and ankles in place while allowing your toes to breathe.

If you want a swim cap that stays in place while you swim, this silicone cap from Arena has a special reinforced edge to prevent it from riding up. It’s made of a soft, stretchable silicone fabric that Schimmelpfenning says is very comfortable, durable, and thick.

“Silicone swim caps are less likely to pull hair, tear, or overstretch compared to latex options,” adds Schimmelpfenning. This cap is also flexible and fits different head shapes, and comes in several bright, eye-catching colors. And while some silicone-based caps are more costly than other materials like latex, this one is very affordable.

For longer, thicker hair like mine, I love the Speedo Silicone cap. I have very thick hair that often gets snagged or pulled with swim caps, but with this cap, I never have a problem. Its interior grid texture provides added comfort and is made from soft, durable silicone for lasting wear.

If you’re looking for a lighter, more flexible, and more basic swim cap that’s affordable, the TYR Basic Latex Cap is made with lightweight latex and double-ribbed edges that help it stay in place. Latex swim caps tend to be lighter and more flexible than silicone options, which can help you move more easily in the water.

Schimmelpfenning says latex caps like this one are inexpensive and get the job done, especially for beginners, occasional swimmers, or kids. She notes that latex is thinner and lighter than silicone but tears more easily and can tug more on hair, so it would be best for someone with shorter hair.

Overall, this can be a great first cap if you’re just getting started swimming and want something simple. However, because of its potential for tearing, an upgrade to one of the silicone options may be in order if you become more committed.

If you value clear visibility in the water and when outside in the sun, the Speedo Vanquisher goggles are made with an Ocular 360 lens for greater vertical and peripheral vision. They also have a rubber gasket around the lens to ensure a comfortable, secure fit. This gasket helps create a watertight seal to prevent leaks. The adjustable nose bridge allows for a more secure, customized fit.

“These have been my go-to for years. They’re comfortable, rarely leak, and last a long time,” says Schimmelpfenning. She says the mirrored and tinted lenses are also useful to block the sun when swimming outdoors.

If you’re a minimalist or looking for a low-profile, affordable option, these Swedish goggles from Malmsten are a quality choice. Schimmelpfenning recommends these to her swimmers as a no-frills classic, noting they are affordable and offer excellent peripheral vision.

The Swedish goggle design is unique in that it has no rubber gasket or seal around the eyes. Instead, the goggles fit directly within the eye socket. They come with instructions on how to assemble them using the provided string nose bridge to tie the two lens pieces together, allowing for a leakproof, custom fit.

Labrador notes that waterproof headphones can make swim workouts more enjoyable by letting you listen to audio while you swim. The Zygo Z2 Waterproof headphones pair seamlessly with your phone’s Bluetooth without connection issues.

Our tester Spencer Ziegler, husband to writer and editor Ashley Ziegler, says the setup was quick and painless. “It just works, and that’s not something you can always say about Bluetooth headphones, never mind underwater Bluetooth headphones,” he says. “The sound is clear, particularly underwater (it’s actually clearer beneath the surface, which I found interesting).”

These also use bone conduction technology while fitting over the ear. “Bone conduction headphones tend to have the best sound quality underwater,” says Schimmelpfenning. Bone conduction technology allows for optimal safety during your swims, too, as it keeps your ears open to your surroundings while still enjoying high-quality audio. Ziegler says the fit is tight, which helps keep them in place when swimming. However, he notes this tight fit may be too much for some people and could put pressure on the temples with prolonged use.

These headphones are on the higher end in price but come with additional features, like the Zygo app, which includes audio workouts and the ability to track the number of laps you swim. This can be helpful if you’re using swimming to improve your fitness level and want to track your progress over time.

If your swimming workout is in an outdoor pool, protect your skin with a water-resistant sunscreen. The Banana Boat Sheer Sensitive Sunscreen Lotion is great for all ages. “I love that it’s lightweight and non-greasy,” says Ashley Ziegler. “I also like that it truly does seem to work well with sensitive skin.” Our favorite feature of the sunscreen is that it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes, which is plenty of protection during a workout.

It doesn’t contain oil, alcohol, or fragrances, and you don’t have to worry about the dreaded white cast (it has a sheer finish).

If you’re looking to indulge in a mini-spa experience after your swim, our tester Amy Sowder van Erk says this one fits the bill. “It smells expensive and salon spa-like, that is, natural, gender-neutral, with a light earthiness, like oakmoss, ylang-ylang, and cucumber,” she says.

This shampoo left van Erk’s hair cleaner and softer without feeling stripped. “My hair looked cleaner, softer, lighter, shinier, and glossier than it’s looked in a long time,” she adds.

Just note that because clarifying shampoos are more concentrated than traditional shampoo, they’re generally advised to be used once a week at the most. This is because hair experts say too much can strip away your hair’s essential oils, which can leave your hair dry and brittle.

This towel is perfect for swimmers due to its lightweight, quick-drying microfiber material. I’ve used this towel myself after swimming and love how fast-drying it is and its ability to absorb four times its weight in water. It also wrings out easily and includes a convenient hanging loop that facilitates faster drying and makes for easy storage.

It contains Polygiene odor control, which breaks down molecules known to cause odors, supporting longer-lasting freshness between washes. Even though it’s not cotton, the microfiber fabric is very soft and comfortable. And while it’s great for swimming, this compact towel would also be good for camping, travel, and any other outdoor adventures.