Best Gifts for Swimmers that are Useful and Fun

Some swimmers seem to spend more time in the water than out. While that may seem like a problem when it comes to coming up with gift ideas for swimmers, instead use that as inspiration. The best gifts for swimmers are gifts that enhance their swimming experience, celebrate their passion, and add a splash of fun.

Swimming no doubt is a popular past time in the United States, with over ten and a half million pools in total. But true swimmers are more unique: over half of Americans don’t even know how to swim! Swimming can be expensive–whether that means being a pool owner or joining a sports club or swim team. Between that and swim gear, there’s no doubt that there are many ways to celebrate the special swimmer(s) in your life.

What are the best gifts for swimmers? 

Now let’s delve right into gift ideas for swimmers. All of these ideas will be arranged by category, so you can peruse as you see fit. We’ve also made an effort to include gifts for a variety of ages and at a variety of price points, so whether you have a 9 year old swimmer in your life, a coach, or a competitive athlete, you’ll have gift ideas for birthdays, the holiday season, and more.

Best Gifts for Beginning Swimmers

In this category are gift ideas aimed at helping swimmers who may just be starting to learn. This could apply to young swimmers, but even those who are older and just got started, or want to get started with swimming. Of course, what you gift will be determined by how well you know the swimmer, as well as what they may or may not already have.

Swimming Kit

This is a great gift idea for anyone starting to dip their toes into swimming, especially if they don’t have much. Since this gift can be rather expensive, this could also work well as a group gift. Purchase a large basket, bucket, or container and fill the bottom with something like decorative confetti, then stuff it full with essentials. Better yet, buy a swimming bag (waterproof/mesh).

• We’ll have a category just for essentials, but here are some items you may want to include: lap swimming suit; swim cap; goggles; shampoo/ conditioner; towel; gym locker flip flops; reusable water bottle; casual clothes/ cover-up
• You may adjust based on what essentials the swimmer needs.

Swimming Guides

If your swimmer is old enough, get them started with some reading for beginners. A book or two can go a long way in encouraging, informing, and directing. Guide books include:

• The Complete Beginners Guide to Swimming by Mark Young. Meant to help swimmers through various levels of learning and training, this book may very well be essential that’ll grow with them. The book covers swimming technique of different type, fears, questions, and insights. With six easy to navigate chapters, readers can easily find guidance on topics and even get behind some topics of interest, such as the science of swimming.
  
  

• Swimming Made Easy: Beginner and Expert Strategies for Becoming A Better Swimmer by Ace McCloud. Another guide book for swimmers in your life, this focuses on learning and mastering the four main swimming strokes, as well as working on technique in order to improve power, speed, and efficiency. It does go into some more technical details of swimming strokes, but it should be an appropriate gift for swimmers just starting out.
  
  

• Learning to Swim by Marge Saiser. The most updated book on this list, this is more of a motivational book, packed with stories, but it’s a great gift idea for beginners looking to develop a love and fuller appreciation for swimming. Broken into short stories, it’s also a collection you can easily return to in between swimming sessions.

Gift Certificates

Gift Certificates may seem generic, but in this case, they can be a perfect option for beginners who are starting off without much gear or knowledge. Consider cards and certificates from sport stores, swim stores, or even towards paying for private lessons or swim classes. With those, you balance adding both a personal and practical approach for swimmers, while also making sure they’re getting what they need.

Essentials for Swimmers

This is the best category when it comes to helping swimmers with gifts that will prove essential to everyday swimming. Whether you’re helping a beginner stock up, or just replenishing the needs of regular swimmers, all of these gifts may seem less unique than some categories, but they may also come the most appreciated.

Swim Caps

Swim caps are one of the most useful gifts you can buy for swimmers because it’s hard to have too many. Swim caps are used both for recreational and professional swimming and are important for protecting the scalp and hair. You can always go for colorful, or even potentially personalized, caps to make them feel a bit more unique.

• Speedo Silicone Swim Cap: A classic but basic, at under ten dollars you could even buy a few. Highly rated and popular, the design fits smoothly and is perfect for lap swimming. It also is more durable than Latex caps, and comes in over a dozen colors.
  
  

• TYR Long Hair Wrinkle-Free Silicone Swim Cap: Long hair? No problem. Some swimmers may get frustrated with the work of cramming in longer hair into smaller caps, but this acclaimed cap by TYR helps make that easier, with an asymmetric, no-snag design that won’t wrinkle and is even designed to reduced pressure around the head. It comes in six colors, including basics and fluorescents.
  
  

• Michael Phelps Limited Edition Race Cap: For the swimmers who also happen to be Michael Phelps fans, there’s this fun but functional race cap, with two levels of silicone designed for fit and performance.

Goggles

Again, while the swimmers in your life may already own goggles, this is a great gift idea because it’s always good to have replacements on hand.

• Speedo Vanquisher Mirrored Goggle: Retailing at around twenty dollars, these popular goggles are a good all-around value, and feature anti-glare coating. The low profile design includes three nose pieces and a low profile design for a better fit.
  
  

• Roka R1 Goggle: Sure to make a splash, this sleek design by Roka is hard coated to last longer, includes anti-fog technology, and special design to adjust to changing light, speed, and a variety of swimming environments. Best for performance athletes and retails at around forty dollars.

Other Essentials

While you can buy a swimsuit, it’s not the best gift idea for most unless you know a specific size and preference. If you’re looking for more essentials you can’t go wrong with, consider the following:

• Flippers. Flippers are meant to improve technique and often used during training. Good picks include TYR Crossblade; Speedo Adult Fitness (for recreational) and TYR Flexfins. Or, as an alternative, you can also try DragSox, which work like flippers but are mesh ‘socks’ you put on your feet and gaining in popularity.
  
  

• Shower. Conditioner and shampoo, no matter who you are, is a must to keep your hair from becoming damaged. Ultraswim is a popular brand, as is Malibu C. Consider also leave-in conditioners and detanglers, especially for swimmers with longer hair.

Technology/ Electronics

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You may think that electronics and swimming don’t mix, but in this case, there are a number of gifts that may be just perfect for swimmers who already have the essentials covered and are looking for a fun, innovative way to enhance their swimming experience.

Waterproof Headphones/ Players

If you want to add some music into the swimmer’s life, just make sure that the headphones and players are 100 percent waterproof and designed for swimmers.

• SYRYN MP3 Player: At just sixty dollars, this gadget offers up to 8GB of storage, or an average of two thousand songs. The lightweight design features a swivel clip that works with goggles, while large raised buttons can be reached while swimming to shuffle or change songs.
  
  

• Delphin Waterproof Micro Tablet: This incredible device goes beyond the basic shuffle player and works with Bluetooth and Wifi, complete with a touch screen, with the ability to add apps like Spotify, Pandora, and even Podcasts. Choose from an 8 or 16GB device, for a little over two hundred dollars.

Watches/ Trackers

 

 

Activity trackers may be all the rage, but did you know you can also get ones designed for swimmers?

• The Swimmo Smart Watch comes in three unique designs and colors; and features three tracking systems for heart rate, intensity, and a training guide. It also syncs with smartphones for an app to track your workouts, goals, and overall progress. Retails at around two hundred dollars.

Out of the Box

Looking for something unique but still useful? Consider something like a Training Mirror, which can be placed at the bottom of any pool. The idea is to give swimmers quick, unbiased feedback so they can assess swimming strokes and technique; this retails at just under a hundred dollars.

Stocking Stuffers/ Something Extra

 

Maybe you’re looking for the best gifts for swimmers who seem to have everything. If so, go with one of these picks–all budget-friendly and fun ways to celebrate the swimmers in your life.

• Swimming Pool Socks: This is more of a fun, whimsical gift, best suited for swimmers with a sense of humor. Meant to be just a fun statement, they do also have performance, moisture-wicking material for comfort, and feature a design that’s hard to miss, retailing at under twenty dollars. The same company also sells swimming design sneakers, leggings, and tote bags.
  
  
• TYR Big Mesh Backpack: Though technically this could be under the essentials category as well, this vibrant backpack is versatile and useful as well, available in bright colors, and complete with plenty of compartments, mesh, and adjustable straps that nearly all swimmers will appreciate.

• Water Bottle: This may seem self-explanatory, but there are a few features you’ll want to look for when it comes to a reusable water bottle. Your best bet is to get one that’s BPA free, like this cleverly designed one by EcoVessel. It also features a tilted spout for easy use and is lightweight, perfect for carrying in a tote.

• Ornaments: Either order a custom ornament from a site like Etsy or go with a fun saying and design, like this porcelain ornament from ChalkTalk Sports.

For Young Swimmers

Perhaps the most challenging category for best gift ideas is for younger swimmers. To be sure, many young swimmers will love, or get use out of any of the categories we’ve listed above. For very little ones or even just very casual simmers, though, consider these fun gift ideas:

Swimming Games, such as PoolMaster Toss N’ Splash Game. Not everything with swimming has to be about laps and competitive times. This whimsical toss game can be enjoyed by swimmers and non-swimmers alike and is a great family activity.

• Melissa and Doug Spark Shark Fish Hunt Set offers a way to introduce swimming to the young in a fun and approachable way. The seek and find a game is a sure way to please.
  
  

• Pool Floaties/ Inflatables are also a fun way to get little swimmers at the pool, without demanding, or taking a break from lap swimming. This SunnyLife Pool Ring, for instance, gives a fantastic touch and will appeal to younger kids.

Swimming Equipment for the Very Young

Have a budding, very young swimmer? A great gift idea is a simple set with fun inflatables, like this five-piece set, sold through Bed, Bath and Beyond. This twenty-dollar gift comes with a fun, bright and cartoon-like design sure to bring a smile to a kids’ face.

FAQ’s About Gifts for Swimmers

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