While most see swimming as a summer-only pursuit, for the dedicated, it is a year-round compulsion requiring daily trips to the pool or plunging into a pond or the sea.
This obsession can become a bit frustrating for those who aren’t as devoted to a dip, with plans put on hold and sleep patterns disrupted to enable the serious swimmer to get up early to complete their training.
But come Christmas time, it does have its benefits. Like buying gifts for runners and cyclists, purchasing presents for swimmers is a piece of cake. A swimmer will always appreciate more gear, and there are always new releases they can’t wait to get their hands on.
While obvious gifts include swimming watches, goggles and changing robes, there are plenty of other options if the swimmer in your life already has these big boxes ticked. To help you navigate these choppy waters, we’ve picked our favorite gifts for swimmers this winter, and grouped them into different categories, with options to suit all budgets—from secret Santa stocking fillers to serious budget-blowers.
Swimming Watches
While these are our favorite picks, check out our round-up of the best swimming watches if you need more inspiration.
The Garmin Swim 2 is our favorite dedicated swimming smartwatch. Able to track and guide pool and open-water sessions and log your heart rate with a built-in sensor, it’s a great addition to any swimmer’s armory. While it doesn’t have the bells and whistles like NFC card payments or HRV tracking of more modern smartwatches, its relatively low price more than makes up for it.
At £35, it’s tough to beat the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 on cost. The fitness tracker is a solid buy for those on a budget or if you’re just starting your swimming journey, and is ideal if you’re just looking to log time and distance rather than drill into post-swim data. It has more than 100 other sports modes too, making it something of an affordable all-rounder.
We were so impressed with the latest Forerunner that we gave it a glowing five-star review. The triathlon-focused smartwatch enables you to analyze every swimming statistic you’ll ever need, and is a top-tier multi-sport watch if you ever decide to dip your toe in the triathlon waters and sign up for one of the UK’s best events.
Goggles
Looking for even more eyewear options? Our best swimming goggles selection is jam-packed with recommendations.
While something Amazon-branded might scream “cheap” (and if it didn’t, its £8 price tag certainly does), that shouldn’t put you off from these goggles. Similar in features (UVA/UVB protection) and style to the much more expensive Speedo Vanquisher 2.0, they’re a solid set of goggles for occasional trips to the pool.
Every millisecond counts for those who get competitive in the water, and while the Vapor Mirrored goggles by Nike won’t instantly make you speedy, their oversized lenses should help you to stay focused and provide crystal-clear vision during high-intensity races and training. Their mirrored coating also helps reduce the sun’s glare when swimming outside, making them great for indoor and outdoor swimming.
The first eyewear release from the new US triathlon brand was a favorite in our best swimming goggles selection, and is at home in any open-water setting—whether that’s a super still pond or choppy sea. They also come with a microfiber carry bag, meaning your gift should last longer.
Changing Robes
The original changing-robe brand is still our favorite thanks to its ability to keep you warm and dry whatever the weather, while its use of recycled materials and eco-friendly waterproofing means it’s good for the planet too. And since it’s available in an array of colors and sizes, there’s sure to be a Dryrobe that fits the bill for the swimmer in your life.
Wiggle’s in-house brand DHB is renowned for making solid gear at attractive prices and its Hydron Robe is no different. Windproof and water-resistant, the fleece-lined offering should be able to handle the harshest changing conditions. A large looped zipper makes it easy to get on and do up even with ice-cold hands.
One of the most expensive changing robes around, this all-weather option from Vivida is also the comfiest thanks to insulation technology that stops cold air getting in and uses your own body heat to radiate warm air to all covered areas. If its robe credentials weren’t enough, it can also be packed down into a tow float for added buoyancy in open water. Stylish enough to be a go-to winter coat, the Vivida justifies its high price.
Gifts For Pool Swimmers
There’s only so long you can be left with your own thoughts when lane swimming, and adding some audio into the mix can provide a welcome distraction. This swimming-focused model from headphone experts Shokz is able to be fully submerged up to 2m in depth, and can store more than 1,000 songs and has up to eight hours’ playback. They’re not traditional earphones but instead use bone conduction technology, keeping your ears clear to hear any warnings from lifeguards or other swimmers.
Even if you’re experienced, keeping track of a training schedule can be tricky mid-swim. This ingenious water bottle should help, though. A range of warm-ups, sessions and technical drills are printed on its side, allowing you to simply glance up at the end of a length and focus solely on the next step.
Although Crocs are currently big in the slider game, you can’t beat the Adilette classics from Adidas to keep your feet elevated and protected on your walk to and from the poolside. Not only will they help to take the chill off between the changing room and the water, but they should help you stay protected against poolside nasties like verrucas too.
Gifts For Outdoor Swimmers
While we have a whole round-up of the best wetsuits, my current go-to is the Roka Maverick. It isn’t the cheapest around, but the company’s entry-level model has a cut, materials and swim feel like those of a premium (and much more expensive) wetsuit. Designed for triathlons, it makes a great general open-water swimming suit too.
For anyone venturing outside to swim during the winter months, even in a heated pool, a pair of neoprene gloves is an essential. This durable set from Huub is 3mm thick, keeping your hands warm even in Baltic conditions. They can also be used on a bike—handy for a swimmer who also dabbles in cycling.
If the swimmer in your life falls into the “adventurous” camp, then the Ruckraft from Above Below is the perfect gift. The two-piece kit combines an inflatable raft with an extra large dry bag, allowing you to tow your belongings behind you when in the water and opening up A to B possibilities across lakes, rivers and more. When not in use, it packs down into a small, lightweight package that’s easy enough to store in a backpack.
If your swimmer cares less about lap times and more about exploring wild swimming spots, this simple log book helps to keep a clear record of those exhilarating wild swimming adventures. There are dedicated sections for noting important details like location and water temperature, and room to expand on what it felt like to go for that dip.
Microfibre towels absorb a lot of water, dry very quickly and take up much less space than your standard towel, making them a useful item to sling into a swimming bag. They’re also a better option for beach swims, picking up less sand. The Eono towel comes in a range of different colours and sizes (S-XXL) and can be stored away in a zip-up case in between swims.
A swim buoy is a must for anyone who’s getting to grips with open-water swimming or thinking about swimming competitively outdoors. Along with keeping you visible and your possessions dry, it also provides extra buoyancy when you need a break in the water. WholeFire’s PVC float is suitable for all season swimming conditions. It has a detachable waistband that can be secured to the body, and it can be inflated and deflated quickly making it easy to transport and store.
