Swimmer? I Gots Questions.

springlering62

I started swimming last December, was basically drownproofed as a child but no technique. Took some swimming classes at our gym, and usually swim about four hours a week.

Technique better, but no great shakes. I enjoy it, though.

So, just a few questions to make it more enjoyable

How often should I replace my goggles, OR what can I do to keep them from fogging over. Because of a head on collision in a swim lane, I discovered and now buy the strongest nonprescription goggles I can find, not super expensive but not cheap, either. The gooey stuff on the lenses goes bad after while and fogs up.

Is there any such thing as earbuds for swimmers? Or an underwater metronome? Something that could keep a beat?


Is there any way to keep water from getting under a bathing cap and into your ears? If I wear a super tight cap, it gives me headaches.

cmriverside

one drop of baby shampoo in each lens, rub it around with finger, quick rinse - I mean very quick. Stops fog.

The headphones, there are some for listening to music so no reason why you couldn't just load a "beat" into them.

It never bothered me to get water in my ears...do you have a perforated eardrum? I got nothin' for that... I don't think earplugs AND music would be impossible, some of the swimmer's music devices don't even go in your ears, just near them.

claireychn074

springlering62 wrote: »

I started swimming last December, was basically drownproofed as a child but no technique. Took some swimming classes at our gym, and usually swim about four hours a week.

Technique better, but no great shakes. I enjoy it, though.

So, just a few questions to make it more enjoyable

How often should I replace my goggles, OR what can I do to keep them from fogging over. Because of a head on collision in a swim lane, I discovered and now buy the strongest nonprescription goggles I can find, not super expensive but not cheap, either. The gooey stuff on the lenses goes bad after while and fogs up.

Is there any such thing as earbuds for swimmers? Or an underwater metronome? Something that could keep a beat?


Is there any way to keep water from getting under a bathing cap and into your ears? If I wear a super tight cap, it gives me headaches.

Ex-swimmer, in as much as I tore a shoulder muscle and now don’t swim as I have no self control!

I second the baby shampoo on goggles, but you can also get goggle demister from Speedo which works well. Needs to be applied every few swims but stops the fogging. Tonnes of underwater MP3 players now and I tried a few, and I ended up with a bone conductor one, the sound paddles rest on your temples and when your head is under the water the sound quality is awesome. I used to pick trance music for the regular rhythm- helped time the strokes on my longer swims. Might help?

You can also get made to measure ear plugs: my mum has them, not cheap but she got an ear infection and it was either them or no swimming. I think she got hers online - again check Speedo or TYR as I think they stock them. You basically take a mould of your ears, they make the plugs and the completely stop the water entering the ears. The issue with in ear MP3s was they still let water in for me.

I loved my music underwater - totally great for zoning out 😀

springlering62

@cmriverside My siblings are profoundly deaf. I don’t know if I have sensitive ears or am just particularly sensitive towards them. I’m just hyper aware of my ears and hearing, so water in my ears makes me anxious.

@claireychn074 I've looked on Amazon for waterproof buds and gotten mixed reviews. Can you tell me which ones yall have successfully tried?

Will try the spray you suggest. Shampoo first, though. Seems less chemical-ly that close to your eyes? (The other thing that makes me anxious, since my parents and I often discussed we could handle being deaf, but not blind. My eyesight is horrendous enough. Age not helping. 🤷🏻‍♀️)

cmriverside

BABY shampoo, though. Not regular shampoo. It is gentle on eyes. One drop, rub it around, quick rinse with water.

claireychn074

cmriverside wrote: »

BABY shampoo, though. Not regular shampoo. It is gentle on eyes. One drop, rub it around, quick rinse with water.

The quick - gross - alternative is spit. Sorry, but it works temporarily! 🤣 (just getting the deets of the ear plugs and I’ll post that.)

claireychn074

@springlering62 I’ve just checked with my mum and apparently the Amazon ones didn’t work - so the ones she loves and uses 3x a week are from the audiologist. Basically she gets her hearing aids from Boots (Uk) and they will take a mold of the ears then make some latex plugs specifically for the individual. She swears by them and they stop water going in her ears. I’m guessing that might be a service other audiologists provide - the US is usually ahead of the UK so it was probably developed over there!

springlering62

claireychn074 wrote: »

@springlering62 I’ve just checked with my mum and apparently the Amazon ones didn’t work - so the ones she loves and uses 3x a week are from the audiologist. Basically she gets her hearing aids from Boots (Uk) and they will take a mold of the ears then make some latex plugs specifically for the individual. She swears by them and they stop water going in her ears. I’m guessing that might be a service other audiologists provide - the US is usually ahead of the UK so it was probably developed over there!

I spent a good bit of my childhood (donkey’s years ago) waiting for folks to be fitted for “ear molds” at the audiologist. It was trial and error. These hurt? Try again. Still uncomfortable, try yet again. Oh great, now they’re whistling feedback? Back to the audiologist my poor mom would haul us.

I can still remember the smell. Man, if you could ingest toxicity via your ears….wowsa.

Thanks for the tip. I need to research further on this side. A good quality, good fitting swim cap is probably my best bet, I’m thinking. I think they’re like ear molds. Try try again til you get it right.

adtips

Regarding underwater metronome, get a tempo trainer, you slide it under your swim cap or attach to your goggle strap. Great for keeping a steady pace during your longer swims.

springlering62

adtips wrote: »

Regarding underwater metronome, get a tempo trainer, you slide it under your swim cap or attach to your goggle strap. Great for keeping a steady pace during your longer swims.

Oh, thank you! I’ve ordered a bone conductive earphone, but this is what I was looking for.

riley5504

I've had the same goggles for at least 6 months. Baby shampoo once in awhile for fogging.

I purchased the Shokz open swim headphones a year ago and they have been a game changer. In fact every time I'm at the pool it seems I let someone try them out and everyone has loved them. Guy yesterday wore them and also wore his earplugs with no issues.

SoCalSwimmerDude

Sounds nasty, but you can lick or spit in your goggles and that keeps the fog away for most of a workout.

If you’re nervous about ears, try some “swimmers ear” ear drops after each swim… been using the product for yrs.