Ask a Gear Guru: What Are the Best Swim Training Tools?

You’ve probably seen That Guy. The one with the fins, the paddles, the snorkel, a pull buoy, the headphones, the smartwatch, and a few other things that scream triathlete without actually saying a word. He has no fear of wearing them all at once. He’s the T-3000 of swimmers – a biomechanical monster who has been teleported from the future, sent to destroy the natural beauty of your Masters workout.

While you certainly don’t want to become The Swiminator, there is a world of swim training tools that can help transform your land body into something maybe even slightly more fishlike. The best swim training tools are the ones that help you actually race better when the gun goes off. The best swim training tools are not the ones that automagically elevate you into the next lane at your masters practice for no other reason than bragging rights, because let’s be honest, if you’re a triathlete at a masters swim, you’ll probably never be cool anyway.

These swim accessories come in all shapes and sizes, and they do all sorts of things. The best training tools will help build strength, work your form, and increase your flexibility. There are a lot of swim gadgets that will help you with motivation or pacing or help let the yards tick by faster, but we’re going to stick to the stuff that will directly make you better. (Looking for gear that’ll just make swimming suck less? Don’t worry we got you.) But before we get to the best swim training tools, let’s talk a little bit about why you might need them.

Swim training tools for triathlon: More power

If you came from running or (God forbid) cycling, you’ve probably got little twiggy arms. Little toothpicks that slice through the water like cutting-side-down knife blades. Maybe climbing the rope in gym class was impossible. Maybe a chin-up has been an unattainable life goal.

Many triathletes struggle with the ability to not only apply swimming power (we’ll get to that later), but also to generate it. If you have fantastic form but can’t pull yourself through the water with that form, it doesn’t do you much good. Obviously, the gym is a good place to start, but there are tons of tools that may make you faster during masters (but see above…) while actually developing the strength that triathletes so desperately need: Aside from land-originating triathletes’ innate lack of strength, power in the open water is absolutely crucial to having a faster swim split (along with everything that follows).

Because we absolutely, 100% need to sight in open water, and lift our heads out of the water to do so, we need more strength than even regular pool swimmers (tell that to your masters haters). We also need to “power through” changing conditions in the water. We don’t have walls to push off of and restart our speed every half minute or so, so it’s important that we’re able to keep our own momentum. “Power tools” are crucial for this.

Swim training tools for triathlon: Better form

While better form could be the best reason to get some good swim training tools, they’re only as helpful as a swimmer lets them be. If you use these items wrong, they’ll not only slow any progress in the pool, but they could send you backward. The idea is not to use them like a crutch (fins, we’re looking at you), but as something to develop a skill that will be absolutely translated into real-world results on race day.

The best swimming tools for training are the ones you use sparingly and with intention. Think about what specific skill you’re developing, then swim without them immediately after to work on that perception sans-tool. The idea is to bring your body closer to that ideal when the gear is sitting up on the deck – or better yet when you’re out there with 1,000 friends trying to get through the washing-machine swim.

Swim training tools for triathlon: Flexibility

While this effectively goes hand-in-hand with form, it’s worth mentioning on its own because ankle flexibility is one of the biggest limiters in athletes who come to triathlon from another sport. Form and power are the big, sexy sides of of the “best swim training tools” coin, but any true swimmer can tell you that without flexibility, you’re basically just thrashing around in the water. Runners in particular are notorious for inflexible ankles, which can make all of the power training and body position stuff nearly unimportant with two flaps pointing downward like a bird with sideways wings (quite a visual, yes).

Also, a nasty side effect of all of those bike miles is inflexibility in the neck, scapula, and upper back, which can cause huge problems while breathing and lead to a snaking body position. Which is to say, without proper flexibility (and the tools to create it), running and cycling can really hurt your swimming – good form and power or no.

So now that you know a little bit about what makes a good swim training tool the best swim training tool, let’s look at a few picks, based on features:

Best swim training tools for triathlon

Best dryland swim training tool (on a budget): Sporti Resistance Cord

$9, swimoutlet.com

These fairly generic bands attach to any stationary object (doorknob, fence, etc) and give a great dryland workout. Available in three resistances, these are perfect for when you’re traveling and have no access to a pool; perfect for supplemental strength work after a swim. Just be sure you’re practicing good form when using these – keeping your elbows high and pulling all the way through the stroke to your hip. Use the tips found in this article on the best stretch cord exercises for swimmers. 

Best affordable dryland swim training bench: Halo Swim Training System

$500, Lanegainer.com

This setup combines stretch bands in varying resistances with a foldable bench to better simulate the swimming body position and a very novel cutout “guide” that helps put your hands and arms in the most optimal power position. Not only will this give you an excellent strength or aerobic workout, but it’ll actually help your stroke (as much as you can without being in the water).

Best pull buoy for triathlon swim training: Eney Buoy

$42, Eneybuoy.com

Hands down this is the buoy you should have if you ever train with a pull buoy. The middle segment is super comfortable and both sides are hollow with a cap to fill with varying amounts of water. Fill it up for up to seven pounds of resistance, or keep it empty for some serious floatiness. Price aside, this is no-brainer for a do-it-all tool. Here’s how to use your new pull buoy.

Best kickboard for triathlon swim training: Finis Alignment Kickboard

$30, Swimoutlet.com

This unique kickboard uses a special design and a hand strap to basically take the old foam kickboard to the next level. Ideally combined with a snorkel for the best body position, this is less fun than the standard kickboard for chatting during kick sets, but much better for actually improving your swim. Though it takes some getting used to, this is the next evolution of the kickboard for swim kick sets you won’t hate.

Best snorkel for triathlon swim training: FINIS Swimmer’s Snorkel

$27, swimoutlet.com

This is one of the best-selling swim snorkels for a reason: simple construction, a high tube that steers clear of turbulence, an easily adjustable headband, and a one-way purge valve that helps clear water after flip turns. The only downside to this snorkel? You might get it confused with your lanemates’, as almost everyone has this model. (And if you’re new to swim snorkels, read this: (Ask A Gear Guru: What’s A Swim Snorkel For?)

Best hand paddles for triathlon swim training: Speedo Preflex Swim Paddles

$25, amazon.com

While standard hand paddles are fine, some of the new advanced designs like the Preflexs do a better job of accentuating the catch phase near your fingertips. Using a curved design with channels shaped into the paddle, this smaller-than-usual paddle doesn’t cover your whole hand, but creates more resistance focused on finger-tip flexion – something triathletes generally need help with. Because of the half-paddle style design, you can also use the Preflex for other strokes. Want to know more on training with paddles? Check out Dear Coach: Why Should I Use Swim Paddles?

Best foam roller for swim training: Rollga Standard Foam Roller

$40, amazon.com

Hands-down the best-shaped foam roller, the ridges built into this firm roller are ideal for rolling out hard-to-get spots. Specifically for swimming, this will work your shoulder blades – a muscle group that’s super tough to get to otherwise (without massage). The included guide also serves as an excellent quick reference for how to get to which muscles. This is a must-have for triathletes who want to stay flexible and swim well. Just make sure you’re using your foam roller the right way.