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Packing Tips
Below are some packing tips I was given by my coach and other swimmers. I thought swim brief would be enough. Wrong!
Start EARLY
Pack your bag early and refine it as you pick up more ideas. Review the camp's clothing and equipment list, like swimwear, rainwear, casual clothing, shoes, and such. It is usually quite a lot of kit you'll need. Most of it gets soaking wet again and again. Bring enough clothes for several wet activities every day.
Luggage
You'll need a robust and roomy bag for all your kit. NATO deployment bags are fairly tough and have shoulder straps that can be hidden away. Available in good army surplus stores or online.
Plastic bags that hold laundry or wet items will come in very handy, as well as zip-locks to keep small items together. Prepare a bathroom kit with toiletries and shower shoes.
Pack enough sun care protection like hat, sunglasses, sun block, lip balm with SPF,
as well as insect repellent.
Unlike sun lotion, clothing doesn't wash off when you go swimming.
Your clothes will get wet
Bring enough clothes,
as putting on cold and wet kit can be brutal.
Start each event in dry clothes.
Don't buy everything new.
Comfortable clothing and shoes are more important than having everything new for camp.
Some items return damaged, or not at all.
Look through your closet to see what you already have.
Then decide what you want to buy.
Ease into the camp spirit by wearing camp clothes until it is time to pack.
Before you pack anything, wear all these clothes in a pool, or your bath and shower at home.
Make sure all clothes fit well, and feel good in the water and soft on your skin when wet.
Nothing is more annoying at camp like clothes that are itchy and scratchy, chafe, or fit badly during wet and wild adventures.
Listed below are clothes and other bits you may want to take to a watersports or outdoor centre.
Be ready for the many different activities on offer.
All of this will get wet at some stage, so choose quick drying kit where possible.
Take several of each item, especially socks and shirts.
Bring a fair amount of swimwear as base layer for all activities, including the early morning swim sessions.
These clothes can double up as sleepwear, so you're ready for a quick morning swim in the pool.
For all outdoor adventures you'll wear robust clothes on top of your base layer.
The middle layer that keeps you warm and the outer layer that protects from the wind and weather.
These clothes are also used for survival swim training in the pool and should therefore be easy to keep clean.
Good fit is essential.
After a long day many adventure centres offer pool parties to relax.
These are not planned swimming events, but social gatherings where it won't take long until everyone ends up in the pool.
Always dress well for pool parties so you look good and keep warm.
These clothes are also good for dry activities, or just relaxing by the pool or in the pool.
The key here is that they are comfy, both wet and dry, on land, on poolside, or in the water.
You'll wear them between events, so they should be soft and cosy, and work well as a warm up.
Prepare to get pushed into the pool or invited for a spontaneous swim on the beach.
You won't have time to change into swimwear but will go into the water just in the clothes you wear.
This is what pool parties and other poolside gatherings are all about: suspense and surprise.
Jogging suits are made for this.
The hoodie should be longer than normal so you can snuggle up in them to keep warm.
Wear it with baggy jogging pants that allow for freedom of movement when you get thrown into the water.
This is just a short list to begin with.
You will feel empowered when your bag is packed up.
Remember to take a photo of you sitting on your luggage.
It marks the beginning of the camp season for you.
Wear it at home
Sample Pack List
Swimwear
Adventure Clothes
Base Layer
Middle Layer
Outer Layer
Pool Parties
Other Kit