ACCESSORIZE YOUR SWIM
Sometimes it’s the little things that make the difference. Once you’ve got your wetsuit dialled in, don’t forget to look around your local swim shop for the extras that can make all the difference to your comfort and performance. We have a few suggestions for you:
Blueseventy
$27; $36 POLARIZED We’ve said it before, but the message still works: what we’ve enjoyed about all the Blueseventy goggles we’ve tried is that they “just work.” The soft frame technology ensures you get excellent visibility and improved dynamics in the water all in a comfortable goggle that will get you through the longest workouts or open water swims. You can even get a polarized lens for sunny days to ensure you have the best possible vision of buoys to help you sight and find the best possible line.
Zoot Hydra-vision Goggles Swimfit Neoprene Cap
$30 Early- or late-season races and training swims can be plenty cold and we all know how much of your body heat gets lost from your head. (Remember all those times your mother told you to wear your hat?) Thanks to the Zoot Swimfit Neoprene cap that’s made of a combination of two and three mm neoprene, you’ll get some added warmth and protection.
Dare2tri 3-Angle Duffle
$80 Whether you’re carting your equipment off to a workout, or taking your wetsuit and other gear to an open water or brick workout, the uniquely-shaped 3-Angle Duffle will get the job done. There are separate compartments for holding a wetsuit, shoes, goggles, helmet, water bottle, cell phone and other valuable equipment.
Huub Kickpant
$250 Who wants buoyancy shorts when you can go the whole way and get yourself the Kickpant? Designed to give your legs and rear buoyancy while providing active stroke correction to your kicking technique and alignment in the water, the Kickpant does much more than simply act like a pull buoy.
The Kickpant actively improves your kicking technique by keeping you aligned and holding your legs straighter and with good alignment. Thanks to the ¾ length 5-mm thick pants you get the feeling of having a wetsuit on while improving your kick and technique.
Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 Mirrored Goggle
$26 Whether you’re swimming in a pool or taking on an open water challenge you’ll love the Vanquisher. It has a low-profile design favoured by pool competitors, but still offers 25 per cent more peripheral vision than other goggles. Soft silicone eye seals and three interchangeable nose pieces ensure you’ll get a snug, comfortable fit. The mirrored coating reduces glare, while the anti-fog lenses provide UV protection, too.—km Huub