What to pack for a summer swim meet: the ultimate guide
Attending your first swim meet can be a challenging experience if you aren’t prepared ahead of time. Knowing what to pack for a swim meet can make or break the entire event. Here’s a list of the extra things to pack for a swim meet that might not be immediately obvious.
Packing for the swimmer
Two+ towels: During swim meets, swimmers are in and out of the water a lot. By the end of the meet, a single towel will be soaking wet. Packing one extra towel allows swimmers to travel home completely dry or even give them a soft place to sit on the bleachers.
Extra socks: When it’s time to head home, the worst feeling is putting the socks that you’ve been wearing all day on the pool deck back on your feet. Packing just one extra pair for the trip home is such a lifesaver.
Extra shoes: Staying warm is of the utmost importance during a swim meet. For indoor pools, you’d be surprised how much heat is stolen from a swimmer’s feet when barefoot. Throwing on a pair of crocks or tennis shoes (with those extra socks!) easily helps swimmers stay warm and ready for the next race.
Extra pants: Lots of extras, right? Staying dry after the meet can make or break the drive home. Throwing an extra pair of pants/shorts (depending on the weather) can help tremendously. Bonus tip: depending on the age of the swimmer, it may be better for the parent to hang onto these extra clothes until the end of the meet to ensure they remain dry.
Snacks: Swimmers don’t necessarily eat one large meal during swim meets. It’s much easier to continually snack during the day then eat one large meal–it makes them feel a little sluggish in the water if their bodies don’t have time to digest it. If you’re trying to figure out what to pack for a swim meet, lots of small, bite-sized snacks are a great option.
A deck of cards: Swim meets aren’t just in the water. There is a lot of downtime between individual races. Packing things for your swimmer to do with friends can help long meets go by much quicker. Many swimmers bring decks of cards or a few balls to toss when not in the water. It really does help the swim meet go by much quicker and keeps your swimmers engaged with their friends, not simply on their phones!
Packing for the swim parent
Water. Lots of water: Swim meets can be long, especially championship and large, club meets. Packing a full water bottle or two or three will fight a headache and keep you prepared for a drive home. Most facilities have places to fill water bottles, so it’s not usually necessary to bring lots of disposable ones, just a single refillable one.
Snacks: Same with your swimmer, small, bite-sized snacks are usually best. Whether you’re getting ahead on work or a big socializer, having lots of snacks to munch on can really keep your energy up.
Sunscreen: Pretty self explanatory. Don’t want to get burnt if you’re sitting outside at a swim meet in the hot sun on a hot, Saturday afternoon in the summer.
A good cushion: Most facilities have seating, but usually it’s a little hard on the behind. Sitting on a stadium seat cushion, a spare towel (like the extra dry one you packed for your swimmer), or even your own sweatshirt will save your back and make the event a little more bearable.
Folding chair: A personal chair can oftentimes be overlooked when deciding what to pack for a swim meet, but this is one of the best things you could bring. Even if there is seating, you may find a nice secluded spot or an area that gives you a better view of the pool. Bringing your own chair gives you the ability to move around and gives you a softer place to sit!
Portable charger: Whether you’re getting ahead on work or just spending time on your phone, long meets can drain your battery. A portable charger is always nice to keep in your reserves, just in case.