7 BEST GIFTS FOR SWIMMERS (THAT THEY WILL ACTUALLY USE)

Finding the perfect gift can be tough. I personally dislike giving "useless" gifts, items that look nice but just sit in the back of a closet gathering dust.

If you are hunting for a gift for a swimmer, why not give them something that will actually make them better at their sport? Whether it's for a birthday, a holiday, or just because, a useful tool that improves technique or safety is a gift that keeps on giving.

Here is a curated list of 7 gifts that help swimmers train smarter, not just harder.

Dive Into: 7 Gifts for Better Swimming

• 1) The Focus Tool: Swimmer's Snorkel
• 2) The Feel Tool: Technique Paddles
• 3) The Power Tool: Training Fins
• 4) The Safety Tool: Open Water Buoy
• 5) The Rhythm Tool: Tempo Trainer
• 6) The Knowledge Tool: Online Subscriptions
• 7) Gifts for the Tech-Savvy Swimmer
• Frequently Asked Questions

1) The Focus Tool: Swimmer's Snorkel

A center-mount snorkel is the number one piece of gear I recommend to anyone who wants to improve.

By allowing you to breathe without turning your head, it eliminates the biggest distraction in swimming. You can focus entirely on your body rotation, your catch, and your rhythm. It's essentially a shortcut to better technique.

You can learn more about how the snorkel is used here.

2) The Feel Tool: Technique Paddles

Standard paddles build strength, but technique paddles build skill.

• Agility Paddles: These strapless paddles will fall off if your technique is sloppy, forcing you to maintain a proper catch.
• Antipaddles: These convex paddles reduce your grip on the water, forcing you to learn how to use your forearm for propulsion (the High Elbow Catch).

3) The Power Tool: Training Fins

Not all fins are created equal. Swimmers need short, specific fins to improve their game.

• Zoomers Gold: With their short blade, these force you to kick faster and harder, building explosive power without slowing down your tempo.
• ShinFin Leg Fins: These unique fins strap to your shin, helping to lift sinking legs and teaching you to kick from the hip rather than the knee.

4) The Safety Tool: Open Water Buoy

If the swimmer in your life heads into lakes or the ocean, safety is the number one concern.

The 360swim Safety Buoy is a bright orange buoy that tows behind the swimmer. It makes them visible to boats and provides a float to rest on if they get tired or cramp up. It's a thoughtful gift that provides peace of mind.

5) The Rhythm Tool: Tempo Trainer

The Finis Tempo Trainer is a small, waterproof metronome that fits under a swim cap.

It beeps at a set rate, helping swimmers find their perfect stroke rhythm or hold a specific pace during distance sets. It keeps you going like the Duracell bunny!

6) The Knowledge Tool: Online Subscriptions

Sometimes the best gear is knowledge. A subscription to a top-tier coaching platform can be invaluable.

• GoSwim TV: Features thousands of videos on technique and drills.
• Swim Smooth: Offers world-class coaching advice and stroke correction systems.

7) Gifts for the Tech-Savvy Swimmer

Forget checking your wrist at the wall. The future of swimming is Heads-Up Display (HUD) technology. These devices project your split times, stroke rate, and distance directly onto the lens of your goggles while you swim.

The Integrated Solution: FORM Smart Swim Goggles This is the most seamless smart goggle on the market. The display is built directly into the high-quality lens.

• Why it's a great gift: It gives swimmers real-time feedback without breaking their streamline. They can see exactly how fast they are going during the lap, not just after it. It's like having a coach whispering your times in your ear.

The Modular Solution: FINIS Smart Goggle (Powered by Ciye) If you prefer a modular approach, this is the answer. It consists of a "Smart Coach" module that clips into the side of specific Finis goggles.

• Why it's a great gift: The genius here is the attachment. Because the tech is in a removable module, if the goggles get scratched or worn out (as all goggles eventually do), you don't have to replace the expensive tech, you just move the Smart Coach unit to a fresh pair of compatible goggles (which are cheap to replace).

(Note: I've omitted obvious items like swimming T-shirts or customized swimming caps to focus on gear that truly makes a difference in the water!)

Bonus Swim Gift: last but not least you can recommend 360swim Blog to all the enthusiastic swimmers on your list to give them the gift of knowledge :), so their swimming improvements come in leaps and not in strides.

There you have it, the best gift ideas for swimmers as I see them.