Essential equipment for every swimmer

Swimming may be a low-equipment sport but that doesn’t mean your swimmer can rock up with just a costume and a towel. 

At TC Aquatics, we use a range of tools in training to develop strength, technique and body awareness. Here’s our complete, age-appropriate gear guide including which items your swimmer needs right away, and which ones they’ll grow into over time. 

The essentials for every TC swimmer:

Swim jammer (boys) or full-piece training costume (girls) 

These are built for comfort, coverage and movement, not racing. Skip the fashion costume and go for function.  

Swim racer (also called a tech suit or race suit)
These specialised costumes are designed for competition and offer compression, reduced drag, and improved performance. 

Note: These are not essential when your child is first starting out. They can be quite pricey and are usually only needed when swimmers start racing regularly at a higher level. Your coach will let you know when it’s time to invest. 

Goggles 

A good pair of goggles helps swimmers stay focused and confident in the water. Pro tip: Always pack a spare! 

Swim cap 

Required at training and galas. TC swimmers must wear the club cap when competing. 

Wet bag 

A mesh or ventilated wet bag keeps gear together, allows airflow, and makes post-training cleanup easy. 

Kickboard 

Used for kick sets and developing leg strength and body position. 

Pull buoy 

Helps isolate arm strokes and improves upper body strength. 

Short swim fins 

Used to refine kick technique and support drills not for speed. 

Front-facing swim snorkel 

These are designed to help swimmers focus on stroke technique without worrying about turning to breathe. (Also known as a centre-mount snorkel.) Snorkels are used by more experienced swimmers and coach will advise when your swimmer is ready for these.

Finger paddles 

Used for advanced stroke correction and strength building. These should only be introduced under coach supervision to avoid shoulder strain. 

Sponge and ski rope 

A resistance tool used for advanced swimmers during strength-based training sets. Only purchase once your child is training at a level where coach recommends it. 

Skipping rope (for dryland)

Great for warming up, improving coordination, and getting the heart rate up.

Theraband / elastic resistance band (for dryland)
Used for shoulder activation, strength training, and mobility work. A versatile tool every swimmer should own.

Yoga mat (for dryland)
Ideal for core workouts, stretching, and injury-prevention routines. Gives comfort and grip on any surface.

Conclusion 

At TC Aquatics, we believe in keeping equipment age-appropriate and purposeful. We’ll always let you know when your child is ready for a new piece of gear so there’s no need to buy everything at once. 

Focus on the basics, invest in quality, and keep it all packed in a labelled wet bag to make life easier. Because smart swimmers come prepared and Tomorrow’s Champions always respect their tools. 

"You don’t need the flashiest gear — just the right tools, used with purpose."