Checklist · 10 picks · 5 categories
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Swimmers go through goggles and caps, so these gifts are gear they'll grab every time they hit the pool.
GearJunkie's goggle picks run from the Aegend, its best budget pair for casual swimmers, to the Speedo Vanquisher 3.0, its best overall, a low-profile pair for beginners and serious swimmers alike. BestReviews' swim caps cover everyone: the Speedo silicone cap is soft and stretchy, the Elastomeric is latex-free, and the Swim Elite has extra room for long hair. Its kickboard picks are the light FINIS and the large TYR, its best of the best. The OlimpiaFit set is Garage Gym Reviews' best gym towel overall, three microfiber towels with a mesh bag. The splurges are the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe, GearJunkie's best anti-fog goggles, and the Matador NanoDry, a full-size towel that packs into a silicone case. Every pick is on my swim starter list with its source.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they work out on land; the fitness gifts page has home workout gear.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedo Silicone Swim Cap | budget | under $15 | a cheap cap that won't pull their hair | 1 outlet |
| Speedo Elastomeric Silicone Swim Cap | mid | $15-25 | latex allergies and a comfy fit | 1 outlet |
| Swim Elite Swim Cap for Long Hair | mid | $15-25 | long hair, braids and buns | 1 outlet |
Best swim capbudget pick · One size
Best for a cheap cap that won't pull their hair
BestReviews' best bang for the buck swim cap: soft, stretchy silicone that keeps chlorine off your hair without snagging.
Heads up. May not do a great job keeping hair dry, per BestReviews
1 outlet. BestReviews best Bang for the Buck swim cap.
under $15
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mid pick · One size
Best for latex allergies and a comfy fit
BestReviews' best of the best swim cap: latex-free silicone with an elastomeric fit that won't pull or pinch.
Heads up. Colors can look different in person than in photos
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best swim cap.
$15-25
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mid pick · S to XL
Best for long hair, braids and buns
A BestReviews top pick swim cap with a roomy design: extra room at the crown and sides, in sizes from S to XL.
Heads up. Covers your ears but won't keep water out completely, and finding your size can take trial and error
1 outlet. BestReviews top Pick swim cap.
$15-25
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Best swim gogglesmid pick · One size
Best for lap swimming several times a week
GearJunkie's best overall swimming goggles: a low-profile, fairly priced pair that suits beginners and serious swimmers alike.
Heads up. The anti-fog wears off with use, and you have to take them off to adjust the strap
1 outlet. GearJunkie best overall swimming goggles.
$25-50
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budget pick · One size
Best for casual laps and pool days
GearJunkie's best budget swimming goggles: a cheap pair that works best for non-competitive swimmers with wide-set eyes.
Heads up. Slight visual distortion underwater, a mirrored coating that scratches easily, and they can leak on close-set eyes
1 outlet. GearJunkie best budget swimming goggles.
$15-25
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Best kickboardbudget pick · Kid to adult sizes
Best for learning to kick properly
A BestReviews top pick kickboard, and its pick for beginners: light foam that's durable and gentle on skin.
Heads up. Not as buoyant as others
1 outlet. BestReviews top Pick kickboard.
$15-25
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mid pick · Multiple sizes
Best for kick sets they'll actually finish
BestReviews' best of the best kickboard: a large EVA foam board that's reliable, durable and easy to use.
Heads up. No finger holes
1 outlet. BestReviews best of the Best kickboard.
$25-50
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Best gym towelmid pick · 3 sizes
Best for a sweat towel, a hand towel and a shower towel in one buy
Garage Gym Reviews' best gym towel overall: three microfiber towels in different sizes, with a mesh carrying bag.
Heads up. Pricing varies by color
1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best gym towel overall.
$25-50
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Top picksplurge pick · One size
Best for swimmers who hate foggy lenses
GearJunkie's best anti-fog swimming goggles: the anti-fog recharges with a swipe of a finger and lasts longer than most.
Heads up. Expensive, and the very shallow eye cups don't suit every face
1 outlet. GearJunkie best Anti-Fog Swimming Goggles.
$50-100
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splurge pick · 52 x 24 in
Best for showering at the gym without a bulky towel
Garage Gym Reviews' best compact gym towel: a full-size towel that packs into a silicone case with a carabiner.
Heads up. Much more expensive than competitors, and only sold full size
1 outlet. Garage Gym Reviews best compact gym towel.
$25-50
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
Goggles and a cap are the easy wins. The Speedo Vanquisher 3.0 is GearJunkie's best overall swimming goggles, and the Swim Elite cap, a BestReviews top pick, has extra room at the crown and sides for long hair, braids and buns.
Anti-fog coatings wear off over time; GearJunkie says that about the Speedo Vanquisher 3.0. Its best anti-fog pick, the Arena Cobra Ultra Swipe, recharges its coating with a swipe of a finger.
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