16 Gift Ideas For Swimmers – Make A Splash This Christmas

Help an avid swimmer enjoy their time in the pool even more with a gift to enhance the whole swimming experience.

Swimming is a fantastic hobby to get into. 

As not only will it keep your body fit, strong and flexible, it will also leave you feeling refreshed and relaxed mentally too.

And being a low-impact exercise, as the buoyancy of the water supports your body as you swim, there is much less pressure and strain on your joints than with other forms of exercise.

Which makes swimming suitable for people of all ages and fitness levels.

So if you have a friend or loved one who is a swimmer, you should encourage them to keep it up, as it's doing them the world of good.

And what better way to do that than by getting them a gift to improve their swimming experience.

So to help you out, I've put together the following list of gift ideas for swimmers that will all help in some way.

1. A New Swimming Costume That Looks And Performs Great

Regular swimmers will want to both look and feel good when they hit the pool.

So getting them the right swimming outfit can be the ideal gift for them, as this will help to improve their performance, and also keep them them feeling comfortable as they swim.

And for women, you should look towards one-piece swimsuits that are great for swimming laps in at the local pool.

While for men, you could go for a traditional pair of swimming briefs for casual swimmers, a pair of square leg briefs for more modesty, or a pair of jammers for those that are more serious about speed.

And when it comes to which brand to go for, the Speedo Endurance Plus range would be my recommendation.

As these swimsuits are made from a material that is designed to hug the body and not cause any drag, but still be super comfortable to wear.

2. An Upgrade On Their Current Pair Of Swimming Goggles

Having a pair of swimming goggles that fit comfortably, don't let any water in, and allow you to see where you're going under water is an essential piece of kit for any swimmer.

As these goggles will protect their eyes from irritation from the chlorinated water, and being able to see clearly makes their swim much more comfortable and enjoyable.

And it'll help them to avoid other swimmers in their lane too when doing laps.

So getting a swimmer an upgrade on their swimming goggles, such as the Speedo Vanquisher 2.0 mirrored goggles, is a top gift idea.

As these ones are comfortable to wear, watertight, offer great vision underwater, and have mirrored lenses and UV protection to reduce glare and damage from the sun for those swimming outside.

3. A Swimming Cap To Protect Their Hair

Swimming regularly in a chlorinated pool is also tough on your hair, and can turn it dry, brittle, and lifeless before too long.

So a good way for a swimmer to protect their hair from this fate is by wearing a swimming cap.

As this will minimise the amount of contact their hair has with the water, meaning their hair will stay far healthier in the long run.

So getting a swimmer a swimming cap as a gift can make a nice little stocking filler, with a good choice being the Speedo silicone solid swim cap.

Because as this one is made out of silicone rather than lycra, it's more comfortable to wear and allows their head to breathe a little more.

4. Shampoo And Conditioner Specifically Made For Swimmers

Another way a swimmer can protect their hair from the chlorine and chemicals they encounter when swimming in a pool is by using specially formulated swimmers shampoo and conditioner after their swim.

And for this I'd recommend the UltraSwim shampoo and conditioner set.

As the shampoo works to get all the chlorine out of their hair, as well as removing any oxydised metal deposits that can cause a swimmers hair to discolour slightly.

While the conditioner helps to soften and nourish their hair again, replenishing the natural oils that the chlorine strips away.

So this can also make for a good stocking filler, as it'll help to keep a swimmers hair vibrant and healthy looking after every swim.

5. A Pair Of Fins To Help Them Go Faster

Strapping on a pair of fins when you go swimming isn't just great fun, it can make you feel like a fish, as you power through the water so much faster than you ever thought was possible.

And by training in a pair of fins, a swimmer can improve their body position in the water, increase their kicking power, and really hone their overall swimming technique.

Which is great, as technique is the most important thing for a swimmer to get right.

So getting your loved one a pair of fins to use when swimming is a really nice gift idea that can help them to become a better and faster swimmer.

And for a great pair, check out the Arena Powerfins.

As these are made of silicone rather than rubber, so are easier going and more comfortable to wear on the feet.

And the open heel design allows a greater range of movement in the foot, which is important for overall ankle flexibility.

6. A Pair Of Hand Paddles For Developing Better Swimming Technique

Getting your hand and arm technique right when swimming is also vitally important, no matter which stroke you are practicing.

And one prop that can help a swimmer to do this is by wearing a pair of hand paddles.

As these paddles allow you to really feel if your pulling motion is correct or not, and allow you to fine tune it so you can glide through the water with ease.

And using these paddles is also a good way of building up your hand and arm strength, as you'll get more resistance from the water with each stroke while wearing them.

So a set of paddles can make for another good gift for a swimming striving to get better in the pool, with my recommendation being the Finis Agility paddles.

7. A Pull Buoy To Help Build Upper Body Strength

If you want to give a swimmer a gift that can give them a more intense upper body workout in the pool, then you could get them a pull buoy.

These are foam floats that swimmers hold between their thighs as they swim, which immobilises their legs and forces the upper body to do all the work.

So using one of these is a great way for a swimmer to build up strength and endurance.

And for a good one check out the Finis pull buoy, as this one is made from an EVA foam which prevents skin irritation that some swimmers experience from using other pull buoys.

8. A Snorkel For Improved Balance And Breathing

Training with a snorkel can be a great way for a swimmer to work on their stroke without losing focus by having to turn their heads to the side to breath.

So they can keep their heads facing downwards, which puts their body in a better balanced swimming posture, and lets them work on ironing out any bad habits.

And it can also help them to regulate their breathing and sync it with their movements, which will improve their overall performance.

So if you know a swimmer who would appreciate having one of these to be able to work on their swimming stroke, get them the Finis swimmers snorkel.

As this one has an adjustable head bracket that'll fit anybody, and has a one way purge valve so no water can get into their mouthpiece.

9. A Swim Bag For All Their Swimming Gear

As you can see, there can be far more stuff going into a swimmers bag than just their towel and swimming costume.

So getting them a stylish swim bag to hold all their swimming gear is a great gift choice.

As this will keep all their things safe and dry when visiting the pool.

And for a bag that is popular with swimmers the world over, check out the Speedo Teamster swim bag.

As this one is water resistant, has separate compartments for their wet and dry kit, and is spacious enough to be able to hold everything they're likely to need.

10. A Smartwatch To Track Their Swimming Stats

One of the best ways for a swimmer to stay motivated and to improve and achieve their goals is to keep track of their progress.

As this allows them to monitor their improvements over time, and gives them the push they need to hit the pool on days when they might be feeling lazy.

And one of the best ways to do this is by wearing a swimmers smartwatch.

As these watches track every data point from your swim, such as amount of laps, overall distance, lap times, number and style of strokes, and heart rate.

And they are even fitted with GPS trackers, which are great for open water swimmers.

So they make for a fantastic gift for a swimmer that will keep them focused and motivated, and one that ticks all the boxes is the Garmin Swim 2 smartwatch.

As this one is designed specifically for swimmers, being lightweight and comfortable to wear in the water.

11. The Gift Of Music Underwater

Now for me personally, I love the peace and tranquility I get when going for a swim.

However, for many this is what puts them off from swimming more regularly, as they become bored with the lack of stimulation as they swim lap after lap.

So a great gift idea for a swimmer like this is to get them an underwater music player.

These are small, waterproof mp3 players that clip on to a swimmers goggles or swimming cap, and allow them to listen to music as they swim via watertight earphones.

And while there are a few different options to choose from, and they all do a decent job, I'd consider going for the Delphin waterproof micro tablet.

As this one allows you to link it up to your Spotify and Audible apps, meaning you can play offline playlists or audiobooks as you swim.

So they'll never have an excuse for getting bored in the pool again.

12. A Foam Roller To Release Tight Muscle Knots

For regular swimmers, especially those that swim competitively, aches and pains in the shoulders, back, and legs are commonplace.

As they push their bodies hard to become faster and achieve the goals, with the repetitive movements eventually taking their toll.

So getting a swimmer a gift to help them soothe and release their tight and aching muscles after a long session in the pool is a great idea.

And for this I'd recommend a foam roller and self massage ball, such as the ones in the TriggerPoint mobility kit above.

As running your body over these can help tight muscle knots to contract and release, which increases blood flow to the area, aiding recovery and improving muscle health.

And getting in to the habit of doing this regularly can improve a swimmers flexibility and range of motion too, which is great for their stroke in the pool.

13. A Book To Inspire Them On Their Competitive Swimming Journey

Books always make for good gifts and for swimmers you have plenty of choices, from biographies of Olympic swimmers to books to help improve their swimming technique.

And if you are buying for a competitive swimmer then how about Silver Lining.

As this is the story of Elizabeth Beisel who tells of all the hurdles and hardships she had to overcome to reach the top and represent the USA at the Olympics.

Which I'm sure they'll find interesting and inspiring in equal measures.

14. A Medal Holder To Showcase All Their Swimming Achievements

Competitive swimmers will be proud of their swimming achievements and if they're good then they will start to gain a nice collection of medals.

So a gift idea that will allow them to display these awards would be to get them a medal holder to hang on their wall.

As this would allow them to show off to friends when they come over, as well as inspiring them to win more races in future too.

And one that'll work well is the Running On The Wall medal holder above, which comes with an inspirational Michael Phelps quote to boot.

15. A Novelty Swimming T-Shirt To Wear At Home

For many people swimming becomes a huge part of their life, as they get into the habit of swimming every day for so long that they can't imagine not doing it.

So a fun little gift for a keen swimmer is to get them this Swimming Heartbeat t-shirt.

As this is a good representation of how important swimming is to them and is also a cool t-shirt to wear around the house or when out running errands.

16. A Piece Of Swimming Inspired Wall Art

If your loved one is a really keen swimmer then I'm sure they'd appreciate the gift of a piece of swimming inspired wall art to hang in their home.

As this way they can display their passion for when all their friends come over to visit.

And there are plenty of options to choose from such as canvases, posters, and framed prints featuring inspirational swimming quotes, famous swimmers, and arty shots of swimming pools.

With a design I like being the swimming wall art canvas above.

A Bonus Gift Idea For Your Kid's Swim Coach

Your children's swimming coaches do a great job of improving their technique and keeping them motivated.

So why not get them a little gift to say thank you for their hard work.

As not only would they appreciate the gesture, it'll make them feel good too.

And something that would be ideal for this is the funny swim coach mug above with the slogan 'Swim Coach: Paid to yell at people for breathing' on the side.

Rounding Up

Swimming is a really great activity that is beneficial for both the body and the mind.

So if you know an avid swimmer, getting them a gift that they can use on their trips to the pool is a really lovely thing to do.

And I hope that you've found something suitable among the gift ideas for swimmers that I've given you here.

As these include things that can help to improve their technique, health, comfort, and overall experience when going swimming.