Top 5 Swim Bag Essentials

If you're serious about improving your swimming, having the right gear in your best swim bag can make a significant difference in your performance. From novice to pro, these swimming essentials help refine your technique, build strength, and elevate your swim game.

The best swim bag is not just for convenience—it's crucial for carrying the tools that offer feedback on streamline, drag, and propulsion. The right equipment helps you correct mistakes and enhance good technique, supporting sustainable form and endurance.

Best Swim Bag Essentials 

So, what are the best swim bag essentials? Check any swimmer’s bag, and you'll find these five must-have pieces that every swimmer needs for effective training.

If you are serious about improving your swimming, you know how important equipment is to honing your technique and getting stronger. 

From novice to pro, the right equipment provides both feedback on streamline and drag, to improving propulsion. They amplify mistakes AND good technique, providing feedback to correct and sustain form, and build your strength and endurance. 

1. Fins

A pair of medium-sized, flexible fins is key for correcting ankle mobility and position, streamlining your body for better propulsion. Fins increase the surface area of your foot, enhancing both up and down kicks, boosting power and leg strength. A strong kick is essential for balance and speed. For a top pick, I recommend the Finis Z2s , which I use in my own training and coaching sessions.

2. Paddles

Swim paddles come in various shapes and sizes, offering feedback on technique and water feel. Beginners and intermediates should opt for small to medium paddles to avoid excessive shoulder strain. Larger paddles can improve distance per stroke but may sacrifice stroke rate.

My favorite is the Finis Agility paddles for their strapless, low-maintenance design, which helps swimmers focus on entry and catch.

3. Snorkels

Breath is challenging for many swimmers and is a big focus on my coaching and programming on land and water. Center mount snorkels have become a staple training accessory for improving both position and streamlining, as well as providing a constant supply of oxygen. They’re great for working on technique, eliminating breathing challenges, and allowing you to stay aligned and streamlined to focus on form. Greater economy and speed can be reached using them, by staying in streamline and getting more air.

Finis’s center mount snorkel fits comfortably centered on the head with a tapered design, and purge valve for easy clearing. 

4. Pull Buoys

Gently squeezing the buoy is great for firing up your core, and maintaining a long taut body line. This position is also great for the shorter axis strokes, breaststroke and butterfly. Finis’s Axis buoy can also be work just above the ankle, ideal for the long axis strokes freestyle and backstroke. The long lever position places a greater demand on symmetrical rotation, and pressing your head and chest down to maintain your plank or streamline in the water. 

5. Kick Boards

Whether you have your own gear or not, chances are your local pool carries kickboards. While some may argue boards disrupt good position and streamline, when used properly they can be excellent teaching tools and a great way to isolate your legs. Regardless of board shape or position held, focus on long taut arms and body lines. Stay low to the water, even keeping your mouth or face down or just in the water. A benefit of kicking with a board is more time to breathe (and socialize) but like any exercise, you don’t need to be exchanging air constantly. Staying closer to and in the water creates a better streamline. Notice your buoyancy when your lungs are full, versus when you exhale and empty them.

For me, a compromise between streamlined kicking and board kicking is the Finis Alignment board. Its streamlined design and minimal buoyancy provide support for both surface and underwater kicking. The hand strap is also great for single arm drills, and streamlining underwater off walls. 

Having the best swim backpack or best swim gym bag packed with the right swimming essentials will ensure you're prepared for a productive training session. From fins to snorkels, these pieces of equipment will help you build strength, refine technique, and swim more efficiently.

Let me know in the comments what’s in your swim bag, or what piece of equipment you can’t train without. Share this with someone who could swim better with the right gear. Enjoy 25% Finis Products with code DALY25

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