Looking to amp up your aquatic fitness routine? Adding specialized water exercise equipment can take your pool workouts to the next level. With the right accessories, you can build strength, improve cardio endurance, enhance flexibility, and get an effective full-body workout without the impact on your joints.
Kickboards for Upper Body Workouts
Kickboards are a swimming pool exercise equipment staple for a reason. These floating boards allow you to focus on your arms and chest while keeping your lower body afloat. To use them for an upper body workout, grab the kickboard with both hands and pretend you’re doing the front crawl stroke. Pull the board through the water using just your chest and arm muscles to propel yourself across the pool. The drag from the water provides resistance to strengthen your upper body.
Look for kickboards with hand grips or contours to make them easier to hold. Styles with adjustable buoyancy are also available to increase the resistance as you get stronger. Using kickboards for intervals or circuits will get your heart pumping too.
Pull Buoys for Leg Exercises Without Drag
Pull buoys are small, foam flotation devices that you place between your legs when swimming. This keeps your lower body elevated so you can focus on your arm and shoulder exercises without any drag from your legs. Pull buoys transform exercises like the front crawl into a grueling upper body workout in the pool.
Look for a pull buoy that fits snugly between your thighs. It shouldn’t pinch or rub. Having a good grip on the pull buoy also helps keep it in place. Using a pull buoy requires good upper body form, so it’s a great swimming exercise equipment accessory for improving your technique too.
Hand Paddles for Building Arm Strength
Hand paddles attach to your hands like oversized flippers to increase drag and resistance through the water. This forces your arm and chest muscles to work harder with every stroke. Start by using smaller paddles and short distances to prevent straining your shoulders when first adding them to your swim workout equipment repertoire.
Look for paddles designed specifically for water aerobic exercise rather than competitive swimming. The water exercise equipment versions will be smaller, more buoyant, and easier to use properly. Hand paddles with open fingers or webbing are ideal for comfort and safety.
Ankle Bands for Added Resistance
Strap on ankle bands weighted with steel or sandbags to add lower body resistance to your water aerobics routines. The bands provide extra drag as you walk, jog, do jumping jacks, or kick through the water. Start with a 1-2 pound band and work up from there to strengthen your legs without high impact.
Look for water weights exercise equipment made of stretchy neoprene that fits snugly around your ankles. Make sure the bands have strong Velcro closures. It’s also helpful if the bags are tapered to slice smoothly through the water rather than creating lots of drag.
Aquatic Dumbbells for Full-Body Strength Training
Performing strength training exercises while submerged in water provides resistance for every move while protecting your joints. With aquatic dumbbells, you can mimic moves like bicep curls, shoulder presses, and weighted squats to build strength through your entire body.
Opt for water aerobics equipment made from foam rather than solid plastic or metal, which can sink too quickly. Brighter colors also make the equipment more visible underwater. Look for dumbbells with hand grips for comfort and control.
Aquatic Aerobic Belts for Core Engagement
Wearing an aquatic aerobic belt adds core engagement and stability demands to exercises in the pool. The buoyant belt wants to flip you upside down, so your core has to work harder to keep your positioned upright in the water.
Choose a form-fitting water resistant exercise equipment belt that will stay in place rather than ride up or wiggle around as you move. Make sure the belt is adjustable and comfortable rather than restrictive.
Pool Noodles for Fun Cardio Workouts
Inflatable pool noodles aren’t just for horseplay and games. You can also use them to get your heart rate up and add resistance by running, jumping, and doing battle rope-style exercises through the water.
Select durable noodles made of thick plastic that can withstand vigorous use without splitting. Opt for bright colors so you can easily spot the noodles as you work out. Textured surfaces help with gripping too.
Water Gloves for Improved Grip & Buoyancy
Water gloves help give you a better grip on aquatic exercise equipment so you don’t have to work as hard to hold on. The gloves’ webbing between your fingers also increases buoyancy to help keep you lifted higher in the water.
Look for lightweight Lycra water aerobics equipment gloves with open fingers for comfort. Make sure they have flexible webbing and Velcro wrist closures for a snug, secure fit. Silicone grip pads on the palms are also useful.
Barbells for Versatile Strength Exercises
Barbells allow you to perform classic strength training moves like squats, lunges, and deadlifts in the water. The water provides constant resistance as you move the weighted barbells through your full range of motion.
Select adjustable barbells so you can increase the water weights exercise equipment as you get stronger. Foam or inflatable barbells are best since metal would sink. Get barbells with easy-grip handles to make lifting smoother.
Aquatic Resistance Bands for All-Over Toning
Resistance bands take all the toning and strengthening benefits of land-based bands and combine them with water resistance. Simply anchor the band and move your limbs against the pull of the water.
Look for aquatic resistance bands made of high-quality latex with handles on the ends. Make sure the handles have soft grips. The bands should come in multiple resistance levels and be long enough to accommodate different exercises.
Aquatic Jump Ropes for High-Intensity Cardio
Jump ropes provide an intense cardio workout on land, but they’re even more challenging in water. Each jump generates increased drag and resistance to get your heart pumping fast.
Select adjustable aquatic jump ropes with foam or inflatable handles that float on the water’s surface as you jump. Make sure the rope is long enough to easily maneuver through the water.
Stationary Swim Trainers for Swim Practice Anywhere
Stationary swim trainers are devices that attach to your body to provide adjustable resistance as you swim in place. They allow you to get in swim training without having to do laps.
Look for swim trainers with secure leg and waist belts as well as sturdy tethers. Make sure all materials resist corrosion and that the device is adjustable to fit most sizes.
Weighted Pool Shoes for Leg Strengthening
Walking through water provides great resistance training for your legs. You can amp up the resistance even more by wearing pool shoes weighted down with sandbags or steel weights.
Select pool shoes made specifically for water exercise rather than everyday wear. They should have vented uppers that won’t balloon up trapping air as well as non-slip soles. Make sure any weights are securely attached.
Underwater Tethers for Sprint Swim Training
Attaching an underwater tether from your waist to a fixed pool anchor provides added drag and resistance to your swim strokes. This allows you to strengthen your swimming muscles through sprints and interval training.
Look for adjustable tethers that you can shorten or lengthen depending on your needs. Make sure all hardware is corrosion-resistant and that the tether attaches securely around your waist.
Flotation Belts for Buoyancy & Safety
Flotation belts are essential for staying upright, achieving proper body position/posture, and remaining safe during water workouts. They help keep your head above water while allowing free range of motion.
Select adjustable flotation belts made of quick-drying materials that resist mildew. Look for belts with multiple buckles and straps to keep them securely in place as you move. The belts should not pinch or restrict breathing.
With the right swimming pool exercise equipment, you can make every minute count during your water workouts. Kickboards, paddles, aquatic dumbbells, resistance bands, and more let you tone, strengthen, increase flexibility, and challenge your cardio endurance without stressing your joints.
Looking to take your pool workouts up a notch? Adding specialty water exercise equipment can help you get more from your aquatic fitness routines. One must-have accessory to amp up leg exercises in the pool is the pull buoy.
Pull Buoys for Leg Exercises Without Drag
Pull buoys are small, foam floatation devices that you place between your legs when swimming. Unlike other swimming pool exercise equipment, pull buoys focus on enhancing your arm and shoulder workouts rather than your legs. How do they work? The buoyancy of the pull buoy lifts your lower body up in the water to reduce drag while allowing you to isolate your upper body.
By keeping your legs elevated and minimizing their movement, you can hammer away at exercises like the front crawl using just your arms and chest. This transforms a swim stroke into an intense upper body workout by forcing those muscles to work overtime without the help of your legs. It’s like adding resistance bands to your upper body routine!
Pull buoys are a staple in the swim workout equipment bags of competitive swimmers. But you don’t have to swim laps to benefit. Even just treading water while stabilized by a pull buoy engages your core and shoulders more than normal.
Choosing the Right Pull Buoy
Not all pull buoys are created equal when it comes to improving your pool exercise equipment regimen. Here’s what to look for:
- Snug fit – A pull buoy needs to fit tightly between your thighs without pinching or chafing.
- Good grip – The top of the buoy should have handles or textures to hold onto.
- Neutral buoyancy – Pick a buoyancy level that keeps your legs elevated but not so high that your hips drop down.
- Tapered shape – A tapered silhouette will slice smoothly through the water with minimal drag.
Pull buoys are usually made from buoyant ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. Try a few different styles to find the size and shape that feels most comfortable and stable.
Using Pull Buoys Safely
While pull buoys strengthen your upper body, they also shift more strain onto your shoulders. To avoid injury:
- Start with short distances of 25-50 yards until your shoulders adjust.
- Pay attention to posture and don’t let your hips sag.
- Take breaks from using the pull buoy during longer swims.
- Stop immediately if you feel shoulder pain.
It’s also critical to maintain proper swimming form when using a pull buoy for pool exercise equipment sets. Poor technique puts you at higher risk of shoulder impingement or rotator cuff injuries. Using a pull buoy forces you to rely more on your arm stroke form than leg kicking.
Pool Exercises to Try with a Pull Buoy
Here are some of the top water aerobic exercises to attempt using a pull buoy:
- Front crawl – Focus on pulling through the water with each arm stroke. Keep elbows high and hands entering thumb first.
- Backstroke – Drive your arms back forcefully and finish with thumb down. Squeeze your shoulder blades together.
- Breaststroke – Concentrate on the propulsive outsweep phase to push maximum water back.
- Butterfly – Emphasize driving your chest and arms up and forward out of the water to lift your body.
- Treading water – Stay upright using just your arms and minimal leg kicks for stability.
- Vertical kicking – Hold onto pool wall and focus on kicking from the hip with buoy between your legs.
Jazz up these exercises by integrating equipment like aquatic dumbbells or resistance bands. Just maintain good form to avoid injury.
More Water Workout Equipment to Amp Up Your Routine
Pull buoys aren’t the only specialized aquatic fitness gear worth incorporating. Here are some other water exercise equipment options to take your pool workouts up a notch:
Kickboards for Nonstop Upper Body Training
Flip the lower body focus of the pull buoy by strapping on a kickboard instead. Designed to keep your upper body afloat, kickboards let you isolate your legs and glutes for intense kicking sets. Tapered styles help minimize drag.
Hand Paddles to Build Arm and Chest Strength
Strap webbed hand paddles onto your hands to transform simple exercises like the front crawl into a grueling upper body workout. The increased surface area amplifies drag and resistance.
Ankle Bands for Heavy Legs
Weighted ankle bands are the lower body equivalent of hand paddles, providing extra drag to humble your legs and glutes. Secure them just above your ankles and get ready to feel the burn!
Aquatic Barbells for Full-Body Resistance
Perform classic strength moves like squats, lunges, curls, and upright rows against the natural resistance of water using foam aquatic barbells. It’s like a weight room workout in the pool!
With the right swim exercise equipment like pull buoys, you can take your water workouts to the next level and build athleticism in a low-impact way. Why not give your routine a boost?
Searching for new ways to challenge yourself during your pool workouts? Adding specialized swimming exercise equipment like hand paddles can take your water-based fitness to the next level. Read on to learn how hand paddles can help build arm and chest strength.
Hand Paddles for Building Arm Strength
Hand paddles are an easy addition to any swim workout equipment routine to intensify upper body training. These oversized flippers attach to your hands using adjustable straps to increase the surface area of your strokes.
The enlarged paddle shape dramatically boosts drag and resistance as you pull through the water. This forces your chest, arm, shoulder and back muscles to work much harder with each stroke. It transforms simple exercises like the front crawl into a grueling strength workout for your upper body!
Hand paddles are commonly used by competitive swimmers for building power and endurance. But you can benefit from using them recreationally too. Just a few laps with the paddles on gets your muscles burning in no time.
Selecting the Best Hand Paddles
With so many hand paddle varieties for sale, it helps to understand the different options:
- Smaller paddles are best for beginners before working up to larger sizes.
- Structured rubber or plastic paddles provide more resistance than soft fabric kinds.
- Open fingers paddles improve comfort and stroke technique compared to enclosed mitts.
- Contoured paddles feel more natural and make catching the water easier.
- Bright colors increase visibility which is important for safety.
Consider starting with a smaller, more flexible paddle and using hand straps to help you hold on. This reduces strain on your hands and makes it easier to maintain proper stroke mechanics.
Using Hand Paddles to Prevent Injury
While hand paddles deliver an effective strength workout, they do put more stress on your shoulder joint. To avoid potential overuse injuries:
- Begin with short 25-50 yard paddle intervals.
- Focus on excellent technique – entering the water thumb first with high elbows.
- Take breaks from paddles during longer swims.
- Stop immediately if you feel any shoulder pain.
It’s also important not to clench your fists when using paddles. This can restrict blood flow. Keep a relaxed grip and take full advantage of the paddle surface to maximize your workout.
Swimming Exercises to Try with Hand Paddles
Hand paddles can intensify any water-based upper body exercise. Some top options include:
- Front crawl – Focus on the catch and powerful pull phase of your stroke.
- Backstroke – Concentrate on driving your arms forcefully back through the water.
- Butterfly – Work on bringing your hands together under your chest and lifting up strongly.
- Breaststroke – Use the paddles to emphasize the propulsive outsweep phase after gliding forward.
- Treading water – Keep yourself afloat using just your arms and minimal leg kicks.
You can make these even harder by treading water only using your arms or adding resistance bands around your ankles.
More Swimming Exercise Equipment for a Complete Workout
Hand paddles provide an excellent upper body challenge, but they aren’t the only specialized equipment worth using in the pool. Other water workout accessories like:
Pull Buoys for Zero-Drag Leg Training
Pull buoys float your lower body so you can isolate your arms and shoulders. They maximize upper body engagement by removing leg involvement completely.
Kickboards for Nonstop Leg Toning
Kickboards do the opposite by keeping your upper body afloat so you can zero in on kicking exercises with your legs and glutes.
Ankle Bands for Extra Lower Body Resistance
Weighted ankle bands add significant drag as you walk, jog or jump through the water to humble your leg and glute muscles.
Aquatic Barbells for Full-Body Strength
Perform squats, curls, presses and other moves against water resistance using foam aquatic barbells for a complete strength workout.
With the right swimming pool exercise equipment like hand paddles, you can build functional strength and take your aquatic fitness to new heights. Why not give them a try?
Aquatic resistance bands are becoming an increasingly popular workout accessory for all-over toning. Unlike traditional land-based resistance bands, aquatic bands provide resistance when submerged in water, allowing for a challenging full-body workout. With the right aquatic resistance bands, you can sculpt, strengthen and define muscles from head to toe – no pool required!
Aquatic Resistance Bands for All-Over Toning
Working out in the water offers unmatched benefits. The buoyancy of water supports joints and eases impact on the body while providing gentle resistance that tones muscles. Aquatic resistance bands amp up the benefits of water workouts by adding extra resistance to engage muscles even more. Just like land-based resistance bands, aquatic bands use latex or rubber to create tension but they are designed specifically for underwater use.
Aquatic resistance bands come in a variety of resistance levels, from light to extra strong tension, so you can customize your workout intensity. They also come in a range of styles. For all-over toning, opt for full-body aquatic resistance bands that you step into and pull up over your shoulders. The longer the band, the more resistance it provides. Other options include aquatic resistance cuffs for wrists and ankles and aquatic Power Bands that connect to aquatic barbells or hand buoys for added resistance.
Benefits of Aquatic Resistance Bands
Working out with aquatic resistance bands offers many benefits for all-over muscle toning and body sculpting. Some top benefits include:
- Full-body resistance – Aquatic bands add drag and resistance to engage all major muscle groups at once for complete upper and lower body toning.
- Customizable intensity – Progress from lighter to heavier aquatic resistance bands as you get stronger.
- Low impact – Water provides a gentle, joint-friendly environment for resistance training.
- Versatility – Bands can be used for aquatic walking, running, kickboxing and other cardio or paired with resistance moves like bicep curls.
- Portability – Bands are lightweight and packable to take to any pool.
- Water support – Buoyancy eases strain on the body during challenging resistance moves.
15 Must-Have Aquatic Resistance Tools
Ready to take your water workouts to the next level? Here are 15 must-have aquatic resistance products to amplify workout intensity and maximize results:
- Aqua Jogger Pro Aquatic Resistance Belt – The original aquatic running belt provides excellent resistance for cardio conditioning.
- FINIS Aqua Power Bands – Attaches easily to wrist, ankles, swim barbells and more.
- Hydrorider Professional Aquatic Dumbbells – Make bicep curls, shoulder presses and more challenging.
- POOLFIT Aquatic Resistance Bands – Full-body bands come in varying resistance levels.
- Swim Trainer Exerciser Equipment – Tones upper body, torso and legs.
- Water Weights – From 1-10 pounds for challenging arm movements.
- Ankle Aquatic Weights – Add lower body resistance.
- Aqua Flex Hand Buoys – Tone arms with integrated resistance.
- Swim Barbells – Use with or without added band resistance.
- Swimming Parachute – Increases drag for challenging cardio.
- Swim Belt – Enhances flotation to increase resistance.
- Hydro Hurdles – Provides resistance for running drills.
- Aquatic Power Rack – Use for resistance band bicep curls and tricep extensions.
- Aquatic Exercise Gloves – Protect hands and add resistance.
- DragSox – Increase leg resistance for kicking drills.
With the right aquatic resistance tools, the pool can provide an incredibly effective full-body workout. Use buoyant resistance bands and accessories to tone arms, sculpt the lower body, carve the core, amp up cardio and more – all while easing stress on joints.
Focus on slow, controlled movements and full range of motion when using aquatic resistance equipment for maximum toning and muscle definition. For best results, aim for 30-60 minutes of aquatic resistance training 2-3 days per week. Pay close attention to proper form and technique to avoid injury.
Turn your neighborhood pool into a full-on resistance training gym! With the latest aquatic resistance bands and accessories, you can take water workouts to a challenging new level and sculpt a lean, toned physique from head to toe.
Stationary Swim Trainers for Swim Practice Anywhere
SwimExpert Swimming Machine: This comprehensive trainer has adjustable arms and leg/kickboard towers to customize your workout. The dual hydraulic cylinders offer 30 levels of smooth resistance. Many pro swimmers use the SwimExpert for conditioning.
Endless Pools SwimJet: Designed to use with the Endless Pool swim spa, the SwimJet generates a smooth adjustable current for swimming in place. The dual-propeller system provides resistance on both push and pull phases.
PoolRX iSwim Full Body Trainer: Compact and portable, the iSwim has padded paddles and kickboards attached to a central tension device. Resistance ranges from 10 to 75 pounds to strengthen all swim muscles.
NordicTrack Swim Machine: Ideal for vertical swimming at home, the machine has paddles on hydraulic cylinders and a leg kickboard on a sliding rail. Monitor your workout on the LCD console.
Sprint Swim Trainer: This simple above-ground pool trainer has adjustable padded paddles on elastic cords and a leg kickboard. The self-contained resistance unit is easy to use anywhere.
ZOKE Non-Motorized Tethered Swim Trainer: Great for kids and adults, this affordable trainer floats in the water for extra resistance. It allows arm and leg swimming in place in a pool.
Hand Paddles – The larger surface area increases resistance to build arm, back, and shoulder strength. Models with different hand placements change muscle emphasis.
Kickboards – Essential for isolating and strengthening the legs without using the arms. Angled boards work inner thighs, while straight ones engage glutes.
Pull Buoys – Foam bars placed between the legs support your lower body to let you focus on your upper body and core.
Swim Fins – Short blade fins work leg muscles harder so you don’t tire as quickly. Long blade fins improve ankle flexibility and kick technique.
Ankle Bands – Stretchy bands worn around the ankles provide light resistance for strengthening leg kicks and vertical jumps.
Power Paddles – Circular paddles with holes increase resistance through the water to build upper body explosiveness.
Swim Snorkels – Let you focus on stroke technique and body position while swimming freestyle without needing to turn the head to breathe.
Tempo Trainers – Devices like beepers or metronomes attach to goggles and cue you to speed up or slow down your stroke rate.
Paddles with Resistance Bands – Bands attached to paddles create drag for added upper body training intensity.
Ankle/Wrist Weights – Increase resistance during kick drills, laps, water aerobics, and other moves.
Water Trampolines – Bouncing on these rigs boosts cardio, balance, core strength, and vertical jump power.
Weighted Pool Shoes for Leg Strengthening
Water Walking/Running – Strengthens calves, quads, hamstrings, glutes and improves cardio endurance.
Water Aerobics – Works leg muscles harder during jumping jacks, grapevines, lunges and other moves.
Swimming – Builds leg power to increase speed and efficiency with flutter, frog, and dolphin kicks.
Aqua Jogging – Adds resistance to enhance hip and core strength while protecting joints.
Water Plyometrics – Develops more explosive power for vertical jumps and agility moves.
Water Therapy – Helps rebuild leg strength safely after injury or surgery.
Hydro-Fit Weighted Shoes – Comfortable with adjustable velcro straps and pockets for 4 – 6 lbs per shoe.
Sprint Aquatics V-Force Weighted Shoes – Rugged construction with 6 pockets per shoe for incremental weights.
All Pro Weighted Pool Runners – Excellent traction and quick-drying materials hold up to 6 lbs per shoe.
Perry Weighted Swim Shoes – Compact design with 4 inner pockets suitable for everyday lap swimming.
Letkoo Aqua Shoes – Budget-friendly shoes with removable weights to gradually increase resistance.
Ztel Weighted Aqua Socks – Comfortable neoprene boots have 4 pockets for weights and good tread.
Underwater Tethers for Sprint Swim Training
– Develops stronger propulsive arm stroke movements
– Builds leg strength and kick power
– Improves core engagement and rotation
– Increases stroke rate speed
– Enhances muscular power and anaerobic endurance
– Elevates cardiovascular intensity
– Improves swimming technique and efficiency
– Finis Swim Tether – Provides adjustable light to heavy resistance for all strokes.
– StretchCordz Power Swim Tether – Lets you quickly adjust resistance strength with the turn of a knob.
-焠Zionor Drag Barrel – Generates smooth variable resistance through the water.
– Finea Resistance Swim Belt – Budget-friendly option for moderate resistance training.
– Ritfit Swim Parachute – Creates intense resistance for demanding high-intensity intervals.
– Dolfin Pool Tether – Durable and portable to take your swim power training anywhere.
Flotation Belts for Buoyancy & Safety
– Speedo Float Belt – Provides adjustable buoyancy with thick foam panels for comfort.
– AquaJogger Float Belt – Highly visible with extra padding and secure velcro closures.
– Gystyle Swim Float Belt – Durable nylon with segmented chambers maintains support if punctured.
– Greatever Swim Float – Bright strap design allows unrestricted arm and leg motion.
– Gopaws Support Belt – Features thick waist padding and reflective strips for safety.
– Derby Originals Water Trot Belt – Versatile belt for equestrian therapy and rehabilitation exercises.