Here is a list of various pieces of equipment that may be helpful to you in your open water swimming adventures.

1. Vaseline/Bodyglide/Channel Grease: While all three of these items serve the same general purpose, to prevent chafing, they all have their advantages and disadvantages.  Bodyglide (or something similar) is cleaner and easier to apply and reapply, and can be used with wetsuits, but wears off faster.  Vaseline is thicker and lasts longer, and is readily available but can be messy to put on.  Channel Grease is the thickest and longest lasting of the three, but is difficult to obtain or make (it is made of lanolin, Vaseline, and paraffin, and must be heated to be mixed) and is extremely messy and hard to clean up.  Channel Grease is thought by some to provide warmth if used on the entire body, but this practice can be dangerous in the event a swimmer must be helped out of the water or removed while unconscious.  When using one of these products it is important to avoid getting it on the swimmers hands or goggles. All products should be applied liberally to locations where chafing is most likely to occur, such as the back of the neck, under the armpits, and under suit straps.

2. Sunscreen: Sunscreen ideally should be applied multiple times and a few hours before entering the water, giving it time to absorb and making it more effective.

3. Tinted/Mirrored/Clear Goggles: Most open water swims will occur in daylight hours, making tinted or mirrored goggles an important consideration for protecting eyes from sun exposure. For night/early morning swimming it is advantageous to have a pair of clear goggles.  For those who may find themselves swimming in both daylight and darkness (usually channel swims) both goggles may be used and switched out as need be.  In any case, an extra pair of goggles on hand is a must.

4. Latex/Silicone/Thermal Cap: As is the case with many things, the choice between latex, silicone, and thermal (or no cap at all) is a personal choice.  Latex caps are thinner and less expensive.  Silicone caps are thicker and more durable.  Thermal caps are the most expensive but offer the most protection from heat loss. Many times the decision is made based on personal comfort. Caps for use in open water should be brightly colored for visibility and can be layered (usually a latex cap over a silicone/thermal cap) for warmth, although this practice is illegal by most channel swimming standards.  Many times races provide athletes with “race caps” that they may or may not be required to wear during competition.  Be sure to verify all rules before the swim.

5. Earplugs: There are some advantages and disadvantages to wearing earplugs.  Earplugs will help prevent ear infections and surfer’s ear (an abnormal bone growth caused by cold water exposure) and cut down on heat loss.  However, ear plugs can be uncomfortable to some and make it hard for the swimmer and his or her crew to communicate.

6. Glow Sticks: Glow sticks are used by open water swimmers swimming in darkness to increase their visibility to other swimmers and water craft.  There are various options, including LCD “Blinkies,” battery powered glow sticks, and traditional “break” style glow sticks.  Glow sticks are usually tucked into goggle straps or pinned to the rear and straps of the swimmers’ suit with baby pins.

7. Cold Water Training Equipment: For those who are training for cold swims, there are some must-have items that should accompany you for every cold training swim.  A survival blanket, warm sweats, hat, gloves, socks, and shoes/boots to change into should be waiting for you when you get

8. Waterproof Watch: A watch is helpful for recording total swim time, breaks, and keeping the swimmer on schedule during open water and pool swims.

9. Tempo Trainer/Tether: Tempo Trainers can be set to beep at designated intervals, helping the swimmer keep an even tempo.  These tempo trainers can be used a variety of way (see training recommendations) in the pool or in open water, but can also be very effective when paired with a swim tether for continuous pool swimming.

10. Support Crew Equipment: Ideally you would always have support crew escorting you on all swims and training swims that it is legal to do so.  Kayaks are ideal for accompanying swimmers and increasing their visibility, and folding kayaks are great for portability.  Many times kayaks can be rented at the venue.  Crew should carry a mobile phone in a floating waterproof case for use in the event of an emergency.  They should have a whistle on hand for catching the attention of the swimmer or any approaching watercraft.   A lifeguard buoy, extra life jacket, or some other type of flotation device can be used to keep the swimmer afloat in the event of an emergency.  A dry erase board is ideal for crew-to-swimmer communication, and a feeding stick or some other method of passing feeds from crew to swimmer should be in place. Dramamine or some other seasickness prevention should be required of crew, who must be alert and ready to assist the swimmer when on-duty.  Having ponchos or waterproof jackets on hand for the comfort of the crew is recommended.

11. Pain Relief and First Aid: The most easily consumed and absorbed form of pain relief is Liquid Tylenol.  It can be passed on to the swimmer in an empty water bottle or mixed in with the swimmer’s liquid feeds. In the event of jellyfish stings, Jellyfish Sting Relief can be applied, or for a home remedy, vinegar.  For abrasions and open wounds, it is recommended to apply an anti-biotic ointment and for those that occurred before the race, a spray-on bandage can be used. Ideally there would be someone on hand trained in CPR and First Aid, and a First-Aid Kit on hand.