Swimrun is a new sport and thus much of the kit is still 'new' and rather limited in terms of choice on the market.
Swimrun events take place in wilderness areas with very little in the way of rules and regulations, so too is the kit pretty much up to you to manage and master, often by experimentation.
Basic rules are:
- You need to use a wetsuit.
- The running segments obviously require trainer shoes, style is totally up to you.
- You don't need to swim in shoes, most do, but you could tow them in a swim tow.
- You need to carry a whistle and have this at the start and end of the event.
- Some events require a compass/maps depending on how far/off grid they are.
- You need to carry a reusable water bottle and have this at the start and end of the event.
- You can use hand paddles.
- You can use fins if 15cm or under measured from the toe.
That's pretty much it!
It is absolutely essential therefore that you build in time to try your kit, learn what works, what doesn't, get comfortable running and swimming long distances with the kit, unsupported, over rough terrain.
What works for others may not work for you. When watching videos of swimrun events we noticed most people using pull buoys, for example, but we found, being strong swimmers, that pull buoys were kind of clumsy and prevented us from kicking, which we both felt we could, even with shoes on. It's really up to you.
Here are a few options being mulled over prior to our second week of swimrunning....
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