Swim gear doesn't last forever. Chlorine, UV exposure, and mechanical stress all take their toll. Here's a practical guide to knowing when each piece of equipment has reached the end of its useful life.
Goggles — Every 30,000-50,000 yards
Signs it's time: Anti-fog coating is gone (even after cleaning), silicone gaskets are cracking or hardened, nose bridge is loose, lenses are permanently scratched.
Pro tip: Rinse goggles in fresh water after every swim and store them in a case. Avoid touching the inside of the lenses — this destroys the anti-fog coating faster than chlorine.
Suits — Every 75,000-100,000 yards
Signs it's time: Fabric is thinning or see-through, elastic is stretched (the suit sags when you push off the wall), stitching is coming undone, the suit takes longer to dry.
Pro tip: Competition suits should be reserved for meets only. Train in a durable training suit and save the tech suit for when it counts.
Caps — Every 50,000-80,000 yards
Signs it's time: Silicone is tearing easily, the cap doesn't grip your head anymore, wrinkles and creases won't smooth out, latex caps become sticky or tacky.
Fins — Every 150,000-200,000 yards
Signs it's time: Blade is cracked or split, foot pocket is stretched and the fin slips off, rubber is hardened and brittle.
Track It Automatically
This is exactly why we built the Gear Bag feature in Swimmer's Notes. Add your gear, set a lifespan threshold (we provide smart defaults), and the app automatically tracks mileage based on your logged workouts. When your gear hits 80%, you get a yellow warning. At 100%, it turns red.
No more guessing. No more racing in dead goggles.