Indoor pools: Everything you need to go swimming as they reopen

From 25 July they will be permitted to reopen, so get ready for your first dip with these essentials

From a nose clip to goggles, make sure you're prepared to hit the lanes (The Independent/iStock)

As lockdown restrictions continue to ease, and public places such as outdoor pools, pubs, restaurants, art galleries and museums reopen, many of us are returning to hobbies that were put on pause for the past few months.

For gyms and indoor pools, customers and business owners alike have had a long wait to find out that doors can finally reopen on 25 July and indoor workouts can resume.

As reported by The Independent, the delay in reopening them has been due to the difficulty in socially distancing in changing rooms and by pools rather than transmission of the virus in water, as chlorine is likely to kill the virus.

It’s also advised that you do not go swimming if you are presenting with Covid-19 symptoms.

Social distancing is still encouraged when in the water, as is arriving with your swimwear on underneath clothes and not showering using the facilities to minimise your time spent in the changing rooms.

But before you head back to the water for a long-awaited swim, make sure you’re kitted out with all the essentials you need to streamline your lengths. As it's been a while, yoou might have forgotten those goggles did actually leak, or your once trust cosy is now a little see-through.

Even if you just want a leisurely paddle, we’ve rounded up everything you need, from sustainable swimwear to stylish gym bags.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Swimwear

Make a sustainable splash for your first dip in the pool post lockdown with an eco-friendly swimsuit such as this Casa Raki Maggie Maillot one-piece (Casa Raki, £180) which came highly rated in our guide to sustainable swimwear.

This sustainable swimsuit is stylish and eco-friendly (Casa Raki)

The London-based brand applies an environmentally conscious approach to every part of the manufacturing process from the packaging down to the clothing tags, with the aim of minimising waste.

We tried the one-piece styles and our reviewer described them as “very flattering, comfortable and the material is very soft.” Sizing (from XS to L) comes up a little small so we recommend sizing up if you’re in between sizes.

For men, try these channel cross swim short 7“ (Lululemon, £44) made from water-repellent fabric and available in bright orange or burgundy red.

These brightly coloured shorts will be easy to find in your gym bag (Lululemon)

It also comes with a discreet back pocket, ideal for storing a locker key or earplugs when you're not using them.

Goggles

A good pair of goggles for indoor swimming, particularly if you’re sharing a lane with others, will not only protect your eyes from chlorine but keep other swimmers visible at all times and help you anticipate tumble turns off the side of the pool too.

We loved the Speedo futura biofuse flexiseal goggle (Speedo, £21) for their comfort and ease to wear, even after a long pool session, there were no marks left on our reviewers face.

Keep your eyes protected with good visibility with these goggles (The Independent)

They are easy to adjust with its button system and didn’t fog up either while we were doing lengths.

Swimming cap

Depending on what you’re looking for, a swimming cap has multiple uses, from streamlining you to help you go faster or to protect your hair from chlorine.

Typically caps come in one-size, as they are made from stretchy silicone, but if you have long hair with lots of volume, look for a specific extra large-cap to ensure it stays securely on your head.

For dreadlocks, extensions and afro hair, try this Soul Cap extra-large swimming cap (Amazon, £16.99).

Keep flyaways, long locks and afro hair tucked neatly away with this swim cap (Amazon)

Designed with extra fabric to avoid it slipping off when you push off the wall, we found it did a really good job, holding in place well even with diving, faster swimming and strong pushing off from the side.

We also loved this Speedo plain moulded silicone cap (The GAA Store, £5) that we found easy to get on and off, stayed in place even during fast swimming and didn’t snag hair or lose its shape with repeated use.

Keep your hair out of your way and streamline your swim with this cap (Speedo)

“The fabric felt thick and durable as if the hat would last a long time. And we liked the bright colour, which would provide extra visibility during summer sea swimming,” said our reviewer.

Nose clip

Avoid the horrible feeling of water going up your nose when you're head is beneath the water with a nose clip.

We'd recommend this arena nose clip pro (Wiggle, £3.84) that has soft pads and an adjustable frame for a comfortable fit.

A good nose clip will keep your swimming session distraction-free (Wiggle)

It's small and lightweight too, so will stay securely on your face but can fit into a small back pocket on your trunks of swimsuit for when you're taking a rest.

Hair mask

Don’t dive into the pool without applying this Philip Kingsley swimcap water resistant mask (John Lewis, £19).

Apply this water-resistant mask before you get in the water to protect your hair from chlorine (John Lewis & Partners) (John Lewis & Partners)

It’s a deep conditioner that protects tresses from chlorine and salt water, so your colour will stay intact, and dehydrated, limp hair is kept at bay for indoor and outdoor swimming.

Suited to all hair types, it’s enriched with castor oil, olive oil, vitamin E and fatty acids to boost shine and reduce breakage.

Earplugs

Often forgotten about when swimming, earplugs can be a game-changer at making your time spent in the water better.

Their benefits include preventing water from entering your ears, reducing the chances of infection and helping tune out background noise.

In our IndyBest review of the best earplugs, we were impressed with the View 2 way silicone earplugs (Mail Sports, £5.95).

This pair of earplugs come with straps too, so you'll never lose them (Simply Swim)

They come with handy straps, which can be attached to your goggles, making them near impossible to lose and it’s definitely not style over substance.

“The three-tiered design means they not only block out water, but also any unnecessary background noise. Plus, they are made from soft silicone, so they’re super comfortable,” said our reviewer.

Swimming Towel

To dry off, this Nabaiji ultra-compact microfibre towel XL (Decathlon, £9.99) is essential.

If you're short on time and space, a microfibre towel is a must-have (Decathlon)

The microfibre material is a mix of polyester and polyamides that makes it super absorbent, but quick-drying, so fast, in fact, you can put it right back in your bag without a wet puddle by the time you get home.

Despite being XL, it folds ups smaller than a T-shirt, while still being big enough to wrap around you twice.

It doubles up as a great lightweight beach towel too, so keep it close for your next holiday.

Swimming bag

Keep your kit safe with a spacious gym bag that will not only hold all your stuff and make it easy to find but fit in a locker too without losing its shape.

In our guide to the best gym bags for women, we loved this colourful State of Escape escape neoprene tote (Selfridges, £255).

This bold tote bag will keep your belongings safe while you do lengths in the pool (Selfridges)

The cheerful neon yellow impressed us with its clever design features, such as a bright white interior making finding what you’re looking for easy, and the main body is wide enough so you can fit everything in.

“There’s also a handy removable pouch, which we stored our card and phone in while leaving the rest in the locker room,” said our reviewer.

The Fjallraven vardag duffel 30 (Fjallraven, £85) is also ideal if you prefer a holdall style.

This bag will keep its shape, even after it's been stuffed into a gym locker (The Independent)

The duffel design is made from water-resistant heavy-duty fabric, including 65 per cent recycled polyester and 35 per cent organic cotton and its durability is perfect if you’ll be shoving this into a locker while you work out.

Our tester described it as, “a fantastic bag that looks and acts every part of the classic gym bag – it’s simple, durable, neatly sized and a good environmental choice too."