Top 5 Swim Bag Essentials for Smarter, Stronger Training
/Your checklist for performance-driven swimming gear
If you’re serious about your swimming, your gear matters. I’ve seen it time and again - swimmers who consistently improve are the ones who come prepared. Having the right equipment in your swim bag doesn’t just make training more convenient. It sharpens technique, builds strength, and supports long-term progress.
Whether you're just starting out or chasing elite goals, here's what I consider the must-have swim bag essentials for training smarter, not just harder.
Why the Right Swimming Gear Matters
In every Train Daly program, we emphasize fundamentals—and that includes equipment. The tools you pack impact everything from body position to stroke mechanics.
Research supports this too: swimmers using training tools correctly can improve technical efficiency up to 20% faster than those who don’t. But it’s not just about faster gains—it's about swimming better, longer, and with less injury risk.
The Ultimate Swimming Equipment List: 5 Must-Have Tools
25% Off Finis Swim Gear
Use the code DALY25 at checkout to save 25%.
These are the same tools I recommend to my athletes. If you are serious about improving your swimming, you know how important equipment is to honing your technique and getting stronger.
From novice swimmers working on fundamentals to national-level athletes fine-tuning their form, the right gear helps build better habits in the water. Fins, paddles, snorkels—they’re not just accessories. They amplify both strengths and weaknesses, making flaws easier to fix and good mechanics easier to repeat. This equipment gives you a clearer picture of what your body is doing - and where it can improve.
1. Training Fins
More than just a speed boost, fins are key for:
Building ankle flexibility
Improving kick power and rhythm
Maintaining a better body line
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. Hand Paddles for Stroke Feedback
If you’re serious about technique, paddles belong in your bag. The key is to:
Start with smaller sizes (protect your shoulders)
Choose designs that encourage early vertical forearm
Focus on form, not force
My favorite is the Finis Agility paddles - no straps, just pure feedback. If your catch slips, the paddle falls off. That’s instant correction.for their strapless, low-maintenance design, which helps swimmers focus on entry and catch.
3. Center-Mount Training Snorkel
Snorkels allow swimmers to focus 100% on body position and stroke mechanics without the distraction of breathing. Benefits include:
Head position control
More consistent kick timing
Greater stroke symmetry
Finis’s center mount snorkel fits comfortably centered on the head with a tapered design, and purge valve for easy clearing.
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.
4. Pull Buoy for Core Strength and Body Alignment
The pull buoy is one of the most underrated tools in your swim bag. Yes, it provides lift - but more importantly, it helps swimmers lock in better body position and isolate upper-body mechanics for more focused training.
When worn between the thighs, the buoy elevates the hips, reduces drag, and shifts the work entirely to your arms and core. This helps swimmers - especially those with weaker kicks - swim higher in the water and often even faster due to a more efficient body line. It also reduces oxygen demand from kicking, letting you focus on long, controlled strokes and clean breathing patterns.
Gently squeezing the buoy activates your core, helping you maintain a taut, streamlined position - especially important in short-axis strokes like breaststroke and butterfly, where timing and bodyline are everything.
What sets the Finis Axis Buoy apart is its versatility. You can wear it just above the ankles for advanced training in freestyle and backstroke. This longer-lever position increases demand on your rotation symmetry and requires stronger core control to hold a stable plank-like position. It’s a drill I use often in my technique sessions to reinforce streamlined posture and body awareness.
Coach Demo: Finis Long Axis Buoy Freestyle
5. Kickboard for Lower Body Development
Often underrated, a good kickboard is essential for:
Strengthening the legs
Improving body line awareness
Isolating kick technique
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.
Swim Gear Care Tips
Extend the life of your swim essentials:
Rinse with fresh water after every use
Hang to dry before storing
Keep out of direct sun
Replace damaged tools (especially paddles and snorkels) promptly
Choosing the Best Swim Bag
What’s the best swim bag for swimmers? Look for:
Water resistance and wet/dry compartments
Ventilation to prevent mildew
Durability for daily use
Comfortable straps for easy hauling
Whether it’s mesh for pool deck use or a compartmentalized gym-style backpack, your bag should be as purposeful as your gear.
The right tools, the right plan - that’s what makes the difference. Train Daly Programs help you build the skills, strength, and endurance you need to become a better swimmer.
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
Clicking the links to these products helps to support this content.