Swim Training Gear Explained: What Each Piece Does (And Who It's For)
Walk past the lane ropes at any serious swim squad in New Zealand and you'll spot a pile of gear on the pool deck — snorkels, paddles, pull buoys, straps. If you're new to structured pool training, it can look baffling.
But every piece of swim training equipment has a specific job. Once you understand what each one does, you'll know exactly what belongs in your bag — and why your coach keeps telling you to grab it.
Here's the full rundown on TYR's training accessories and equipment range: what each item is, what it does, and who it's for.
The Front Mount Snorkel
TYR UltraLite Snorkel 2.0
A front-mounted swim snorkel sits in the centre of your forehead — not on the side like a dive snorkel — so you can breathe without turning your head.
This removes the rhythm interruption of bilateral breathing and lets you focus entirely on your stroke.
It sounds counterintuitive, but removing the need to breathe to the side is one of the most effective ways to fix stroke imbalances. When you're not rotating to breathe, you can feel exactly what your arms, hips and body are doing — and so can your coach.
Many swimmers and coaches consider the front snorkel the single most useful technique tool in the bag.
Best for: fixing stroke asymmetry, drill work, building stroke awareness, swimmers who want to isolate technique without managing breathing.
Shop Snorkels and Accessories →
Ankle Straps
TYR Elliptic & Rally Training Straps
Training straps loop around your ankles to restrict your kick — forcing you to rely entirely on your upper body and arm pull. Used in combination with a pull buoy, they create a pure pulling set where your legs are completely switched off.
The Rally Strap is a soft silicone loop. The Elliptic Strap has a figure-eight shape that sits between the ankles. Both do the same job — the right choice comes down to personal comfort and what your coach recommends.
Best for: building upper body strength, isolating arm stroke, making pull sets more demanding.
Shop Elliptic and Rally Straps→
Resistance Belt
Where a flotation belt keeps you up in the water, a resistance belt drags against your movement — adding drag around your hips and waist to make swimming or water walking significantly harder. The extra resistance builds strength and elevates your heart rate without adding extra distance or time to your session.
It's a popular tool for pool-based cross-training and fits neatly into a pool rehab programme or strength conditioning block. If you're interested in how resistance tools fit into injury recovery, our pool rehab guide covers that in detail.
Best for: adding intensity to swim training, strength conditioning in the water, aqua jogging with progressive overload.
Hand Paddles
TYR Catalyst Stroke Training Paddles
Paddles are flat panels that strap to your hands, increasing the surface area of your pull through the water. This makes each stroke harder — you feel the water more, build pulling strength faster, and get immediate feedback on your catch angle and hand entry.
The Catalyst paddles are shaped to encourage correct hand position and help you understand where your pull is going wrong. If your stroke has a weak catch or your hands are slipping through the water, paddles will expose it quickly.
Use them for pulling sets, ideally combined with a pull buoy and ankle strap for a complete upper-body focus.
Best for: building pulling strength, improving catch mechanics, upper body conditioning, swimmers wanting to feel the water better.
The Pull Buoy
TYR Classic Pull Float
The pull buoy is the most-used piece of training equipment in the pool — and for good reason. You grip it between your thighs and it floats your hips and legs to the surface, letting you switch your legs off completely and focus purely on your arm stroke.
Without kicking to maintain position, your upper body works harder and your stroke mechanics become much clearer. It's also popular with triathletes who want to simulate the buoyancy of a wetsuit and train their arms to carry the load.
The TYR Classic Pull Float is available in both adult and youth sizes.
Best for: pull sets, isolating arm stroke, upper body conditioning, triathlon swim training, pool rehab sessions where kicking isn't yet on the cards.
Fins
TYR Hydroblade Fins
Short training fins add gentle resistance to your kick, help you maintain proper kick mechanics while building leg strength, and are especially useful for stroke drills where you want forward momentum without working your arms.
Best for: kick sets, drill work, building ankle flexibility, post-injury lower body conditioning.
Carrying It All: The Mesh Bag
TYR Mesh Mummy Backpack
Once you've got the gear, you need somewhere to put it. Mesh mummy bags are a training essential for swimmers who live in and out of the pool — the breathable mesh lets water drain quickly and air circulate, which means your gear dries faster and smells fresher between sessions.
From kickboards and fins to paddles and pull buoys, everything has a place. Lightweight and built for daily use, it holds up to early mornings and double sessions alike.
TYR Big Mesh Mummy Backpack - Blue
Which Gear Should You Start With?
If you're building out your training kit for the first time, here's a sensible order of priority:
A pull buoy is the best first purchase for almost any swimmer — it's versatile, immediately useful, and helps with both technique and conditioning. Add goggles that actually fit and don't fog, then work in paddles once your stroke is solid enough to handle the load. A snorkel is worth adding early if you're working on technique. Straps and resistance tools come later, once you're training consistently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pool training gear for aqua jogging or rehab?
Yes — a flotation or resistance belt, pull buoy, and fins all have applications in low-impact pool rehab. See our pool rehab guide for more on how these tools fit into injury recovery.
Is a front snorkel the same as a snorkel for diving?
No. A dive snorkel sits to the side and would interfere with your stroke. A front-mount swim snorkel sits at the centre of your forehead so you can swim in a normal streamlined position.
Do I need all of this gear to swim properly?
No. Most recreational swimmers get along fine with goggles and a cap. Training equipment is for people doing structured sessions who want to improve faster — each tool isolates a part of your swimming to train it more effectively.
Can beginners use paddles?
With caution. Paddles increase the load on your shoulders significantly. If your stroke technique is still developing, paddles can reinforce bad habits and increase injury risk. Most coaches recommend getting your catch reasonably sorted before adding them in.
What's the difference between a pull buoy and a kickboard?
A pull buoy floats your hips and legs so you can focus on arms. A kickboard supports your upper body so you can focus on legs. They're essentially opposite tools — both useful, both common in squad training.
What size pull buoy do I need?
TYR offers adult and youth sizes. Most adults use the standard adult size. If you're between sizes or petite, the youth size can work — the goal is that it sits comfortably between your thighs without gripping too hard or slipping out.
