Unlike elephants who can go swimming at the drop of a hat because they always have their trunks with them, most people discover at some point that calculated packing for a day of swimming fun in the sun is what makes the difference between a carefree, enjoyable experience and a frustrating or even painful one.
Consider this blog post your ultimate list of all the things you won’t want to forget to pack for your swim day.
Things You Need To Pack When You Go Swimming
Pack these items for a great time at the beach or pool.
- Swimsuits & Towels
Top of the swimming essentials to pack is swimsuits and towels. You can put your swimsuit under your clothes to make changing simpler or pop these into your swimming pool bag with all the other paraphernalia you’ll need.
- Swimming Gear for Beginners
For kiddies, an extra towel and underwear are often handy. Swimming gear for toddlers should include a swim diaper so they can enjoy the fun without worrying about accidents. Swimming equipment for beginners, such as flotation devices, will help them grow more confident in the water.
- Vinegar & Pain Reliever
This may sound a bit odd, but if you’re going to a beach where blue bottles might be present, take a pain reliever and anti-inflammatory. Vinegar can disinfect the sting site, and a topical cream can be applied.
- Snacks & Drinks
Man can’t live on pool noodles alone, so don’t forget snacks and something to sip to keep the family fed and hydrated. Soggy or sandy sandwiches are not an inviting prospect, and Seawag dry bags are one way of preventing this exasperating experience.
- 6. Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
The benefits of swimming are legion – it’s good for your health, and naturally, it’s loads of fun – but not when you’ve forgotten the sunscreen and have managed to get sunburnt. Sun protection with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 50 will prevent you from turning into a lobster and feeling miserable after a nasty sunburn.
- Sunhat
A sunhat with a wide brim protects vulnerable areas like the nose, ears, and neck from getting too much sun.
- Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a must, especially for sensitive blue eyes. Polarized glasses have a chemical applied to them that filters light and are worth wearing in the glare of a typical summer’s day.
- Goggles
Goggles can protect the eyes from chlorinated water. They are also fun for beginners to use so they can open their eyes underwater.
- Combination lock
This only applies if you leave your things in a locker.
- Water Bottle
If you’re training for a swimming event, you might not realize how much you are sweating in the water; take a water bottle and have a sip after every couple of lengths.
- Book or Kindle
Take a book or Kindle to read when taking a break from the water.
- Pool Bags
Drenching waves or water splashed by swimmers can ruin electronic devices and items like books. Seawag produces some of the best pool bags for moms, so ensure your mobile or tablet is safely ensconced in a sealed Seawag case. Better safe than sorry.
- Flip flops
Whatever you do, don’t leave the flip-flops behind. If not for scorching concrete or sand on hot summer days, they are poolside essentials when going to the restroom or showering in public showers and could help you avoid nasty infections like athlete’s foot and plantar warts.
- Hair clips
Hair clips and hair bands are useful to keep hair from cramping your style and floating in your face.
- Swimming caps
Swimming caps are useful for anyone who struggles to keep their locks in check. A cap may not be the look you’re going for, but it keeps hair out of the face, reduces “drag,” and your hair won’t need to be washed after swimming.
- Pool Wrap
Life’s short, and there’s no point in waiting till you’re “beach body ready” before letting your hair down to enjoy it. The self-conscious might feel more at ease bringing along a pool wrap to provide a little cover for bulges at beach or pool parties.
- Hair care Products & Moisturizer
Chemicals used in pools and salt from the ocean have harsh, drying effects on the skin and hair, so remember to pack hair care products, body wash, and moisturizer.
- Hair Comb or Brush
A hair comb/brush makes you look respectable if, after a day in the water, you need to dash into the shops for a loaf of bread.
- Warm Clothes
When the breeze starts to pick up, a change of clothes, with a jacket or pullover, will keep you warm.
- Dry Bag
Those with surfing enthusiasts and keen swimmers in the family can attest to the nose-wrinkling smell of wet car seats that smell of chlorine, mildew, or sea salt for days. One way to combat this is to put your family’s sodden swimsuits, wetsuits, and towels in a dry bag, et voila… A clean, dry car!
Swim day? No Worries, Seawag’s Got You!
Keeping your possessions safe and dry has never been easier. Seawag has a range of attractive, durable waterproof bags and cases for all purposes, even one that allows you to safely take an underwater selfie to celebrate the end of a great day in the H2O.