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How to Pack for a Swim Meet

Are you wondering what to bring to your first swim meet? Maybe you’re nervous about leaving something important at home on a big race day. Use this checklist to pack your swim bag, and you can wake up the day of your swim meet feeling confident that you will have with you everything you need.

Hot Tip: When to Pack

Pack the night before the meet. As you put items in your bag, visualize the entire day of competition, from the moment you plan to wake up to the moment you walk back through your front door. If there are things you can’t pack until morning (say, your sandwich or the towels that are still in the dryer), make a “last-minute-additions” list as you go, and set that on top of your swim bag before you go to bed.

Swim Meet Packing List:

Competition suit
Backup competition suit, just in case
Two caps, preferably with team logo
Two pairs of goggles
Swim suit for warm-up
A towel for every event you plan to swim, plus one for warm-up
Snacks
Water bottle
A little bit of money

Meet programs usually cost a couple of bucks. And you may want a snack bar treat, especially if the meet is running slowly.

A decent lunch

Pack your own sandwich, fresh fruit, nuts, energy bars, and water. Don’t count on the snack bar to have many, if any, healthy options. And don’t drink only sugar water.

Comfortable chair
Sunscreen, if the meet is outdoors
Tent

You don’t want to get caught out in winter rains or summer sun. Both can drain you of energy.

Warm clothes: swim parka, comfortable pants, sweatshirt, socks, and shoes

Even at indoor pools, it is best to have a non-flip-flop option for your feet, in case the air-conditioning is cranked up or you get stuck near an open (or frequently opened) door.

Layers of clothing

As long as you have layers, you can adapt to any weather condition.

Entertainment

Be prepared to sit around for a couple of hours. Staying awake and alert will help you swim faster, so bring whatever keeps you happily entertained: a friend or two, a deck of cards, something to read, pens and paper for coloring, your iPod, board games, or all of the above.