Webbed Swimming Gloves (InnoGear)
These gloves were sent to me for test and evaluation. My husband and I swim regularly and, until now, we had used the rigid type of swim paddle. I was curious to see how these flexible alternatives would perform.

The basic idea is the same. These neoprene gloves are designed to make your swimming workout more challenging by providing more resistance than your bare hand but not so much that you risk a sprained shoulder (as with the rigid variety). With their webbed design, the gloves allow you to catch the water more efficiently and thus gain an understanding of what it feels like to swim powerfully. You can then translate this new feel into better technique when swimming without the gloves.

After a suitable testing period, I would say that they are very effective and, when used appropriately, will assist in building muscle in the target areas. Also I think they are preferable to the paddle variety for most recreational swimmers for a number of reasons:
  1. It is unlikely that anyone would overdo their first few workouts because the gloves provide a moderate amount of resistance.
  2. Although they force the fingers to spread, it is possible to cup the hand slightly and so change the position, which helps avoid stiffness.
  3. With the rigid paddles, good technique is essential. If your hand enters the water incorrectly, you are in trouble. With these, there is a lot more flexibility.
  4. Probably the most important reason: because they are soft, there is no danger of hurting someone's face with them. An important consideration in a public pool because of the inevitably close proximity with other swimmers.

Choosing the correct size is based on your hand size, whereas with the paddle type, size relates to the intensity of the workout. With these, generally-speaking, Large for men, Medium for women with average-sized hands and Small for women with small hands, and children.

These gloves are solidly made, the stitching is carefully done and strong. Provided they are rinsed in fresh water after every use, they should last well. They feel comfortable and are easy to put on and remove. The wrist closure with the Velcro tab allows for a custom fit and can be easily adjusted; once the gloves are wet, you may want to tighten them a little. We really like this product and we'll be using the gloves a lot to maximize the effectiveness of our swimming sessions. An effective and safe tool for swimmers at all levels.

Swimming Goggles (Incite Elite)
Up until now, Incite was known to me as an excellent brand of nutritional supplements. It turns out that they also make some seriously cool swimming goggles. My husband is an ex-International swimmer (still competitive in Masters whenever he can get to a meet) so I feel that we speak from experience. Having used many different models from all the best brands, I would say that these are exceptionally comfortable and well designed.

They offer a wide area of vision with larger than average lenses, an outer reflective surface and grey-tinted, glare-reducing lens material. Instead of a set of exchangeable nose bridges, these have a moulded, fixed nose bridge which flexes easily. The rubbery material extends into extremely soft eye cups that immediately produce that suction effect necessary to ensure a secure, leak-free fit. The strap feels very elastic but also quite substantial, thicker than most.

Unusually, the adjustment mechanism and excess length are positioned at the back of the head, either side of a circular locking buckle. It's an ingenious design feature which allows more lateral flexibility, and lets you remove the goggles without pulling your hair, but I would also identify this as a potential weak point, because if you were to step on the clasp and break it, you could kiss your goggles goodbye. I wonder also if the plastic material is going to stand up to daily use without getting brittle. However, since there is a lifetime guarantee in place, perhaps my worries are unfounded.
The anti-fog feature works as advertised and swimming with these goggles on is a totally fabulous experience. I forget that I've got them on. They give me perfect visibility, stay securely in place through tumble-turns and dives and leave only the slightest temporary mark on my face. I should add that my skin is very thin in that area and marks easily.

The presentation is also impressive: the goggles are protected inside a zipped hard-shell fabric case with a plastic carabiner clip (the sort that normally houses sunglasses). Inside are some extra accessories: a quality cleaning cloth, a nose clip (which looks extremely tight)and two different kinds of earplugs. Normally I would prefer a plastic case but the fabric on this seems impervious to water and dries fairly fast. Everything considered, these are incredibly comfortable goggles and ideal for everyday swimming, both in a pool and in open water.

Swimming Cap (The Friendly Swede)
Normally I prefer to swim with my hair in a ponytail, but quite a few swimming pools require all swimmers to wear caps, and, more to the point, when I swim every day in the summer, my hair suffers from the relentless attack of sun and chlorine combined. When I was offered the opportunity to try out this swimming cap, I was glad to accept, especially as it was described as suitable for long hair. I have tried to squeeze my shoulder-length hair inside other silicone swim caps, but they either slip off my face, or have trouble accepting the extra bulk. Either way, my hair still gets wet. The other reason I really should wear a cap is that water in my ears bothers me but wearing earplugs is even worse.

This cap is exceptionally accommodating. It stretches easily but returns to a satisfactorily tight fit all around my head, once all my hair is inside. To facilitate putting it on, they suggest wetting your hair first with clear water. I haven't found this necessary, in fact, it's super easy to fit on even perfectly dry hair. I start over the forehead and ease the cap over the back of my head. Then I twist my hair loosely and tuck it in at the back.
The other unique feature, in my experience, is the small but effective ear “pouch”, which eliminates squishing and creates an air lock. The cap stays comfortable during a long swim and puts almost no pressure on my ears. Diving and tumble turns don't dislodge it, and it keeps my hair in much better shape.

Like other products from The Friendly Swede, these caps are sold in sets of two, and there is a good choice of colours. I chose the blue and black combo, but there are brighter options. I am ecstatic at having found a swimming cap that actually protects my hair while I'm in the pool without giving me a headache. As for going faster, that is a welcome bonus.

Swimming Goggles (The Friendly Swede)
An excellent pair of goggles with all the features I love. I received a set for review purposes and am happy to say that I really like them. Like other products from The Friendly Swede, these goggles are sold in sets of two, one clear, one black. As you can tell from the photo, the black lenses are only slightly tinted and offer perfect clarity of vision without altering the colours you see.

Each pair is nicely protected inside a see-through, well shaped, easy to open, hard plastic case; the best way to ensure they stay scratch-free and uncrushed. The fit is customizable by means of three interchangeable nose bridges. The nose piece is one of the best features of these goggles, as it has enough curve to accommodate noses of every shape and size.

My eye sockets are really sensitive to pressure and many goggle designs do not work for me. These goggles remind me of the best features of the Speedo Futura Unifuse model (which are the most comfortable goggles I have ever used) and the Speedo Speedsockets (a great choice for competition).
The eye cups are quite large and the silicone rim is wide enough for comfort and shaped to fit a range of morphologies. The suction effect is evident and it is possible to retain this water-excluding fit even when the straps are not tightened completely. In other words, I can adjust the tension so the goggles are not super-tight, and they still keep water out of my eyes. Like all swimming goggles, they do leave a temporary mark, but on my skin that is inevitable. The comfort level, however, is very high.

 The lenses in both the black and clear versions offer a really sharp view (I could see details of the opposite wall across a 16-metre pool) and that allowed me to swim in a straight line, and to time my tumble turn with full confidence. There is a double elastic strap at the back, which I prefer because it improves stability whether you wear a cap or not. The silicone material feels strong and, hopefully, will prove durable. The lifetime guarantee certainly gives me confidence.
Adjustment is done by pulling the spare length of strap out of the buckle, feeding the strap through (rather than pulling like mad, which eventually destroys the strap) and securing the slack back inside the buckle keeper. The anti-fog treatment works well and it is worth remembering that rubbing the inside of anti-fog goggles is never a good idea. Applying saliva is also unnecessary and ineffective. If you must clear the goggles' interior, just submerge them for a moment so some water washes in and then shake them dry before putting them back on. After my initial trail period, I'm delighted with their faultless performance and with how comfortable they feel, even during a long swim. To extend the life of any goggles, just remember to rinse them in tap water to remove salt and chemicals before allowing them to air-dry naturally. At the current price of about £12 ($16) for two pairs, they represent great value for money.
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