Gift Guide: SWIMMERS
Every year, I say I’m going to finish all my Christmas shopping by Black Friday. We have several birthdays in our family that fall into the holiday season, so birthday shopping on top of Christmas shopping can get a little overwhelming at times. I always plan to start early and be done, but I have yet to actually make it happen. I haven’t given up hope yet though—maybe this will be the year?
Regardless of whether this is the year I actually finish Christmas shopping by Black Friday, I’ve already put a lot of time into coming up with ideas. I’ve been building wish lists and organizing my spreadsheet, and thought—I’ve already put so much effort into this, I might as well go the extra step and create some gift guides!
With two year-round swimmers in our house, I’ve been coming up with lots of swim-related gift ideas. If you, too, have a swimmer in your life, you are in the right place!
KEEPSAKE GIFTS
Santa Swimming Ceramic Ornament // Swim Lanes Photo Frame
I’m in the “ornaments with meaning,” not “ornaments that match” camp when it comes to decorating the Christmas tree. I love to get ornaments that match things going on in our lives, whether picking up ornaments when we travel or finding ornaments that match my children’s interests. I think they’d get a kick out of this Santa swimming one! My camera roll is full of pictures from the pool, and I think this photo frame is one they’d love to display some of their favorite memories in!
Stocking Stuffers
Waterproof Cards // Eat Sleep Swim Socks // Sharpie Variety Pack // Uno Splash
I’m always on the lookout for things to stuff those stockings and I aim for a good mix of fun and practical. The waterproof playing and Uno cards are a great thing to keep tucked in the swim bag for in-between-race entertainment, while the socks are a fun way for swimmers to show their love of the water when on dry land. And swimmers can never have too many Sharpies for marking those arms! A fun swim cap and an extra pair of goggles are another great thing to tuck in a swimmer’s stocking!
to wear on dry land
Eat Sleep Swim T // Swimmer Tie // Sporti Swim Parka
Even the most avid swimmers have to be on dry land sometimes. This Eat Sleep Swim T comes in seven colors and youth and adult sizes! I thought this tie was a nice nod to a favorite sport for older swimmers who might have the occasional reason to get dressed up! And of course, every serious swimmer needs a swim parka to stay warm when they get out of the water after those winter workouts.
ALL THE BAGS
Swim Makeup Bag // TYR Alliance Swim Backpack // Travel Toiletry Bag
We used an old school backpack for a while before upgrading to a swim backpack, because I figured: a bag is a bag, right? Wrong. Investing in a swim backpack was a great decision—it’s a great size for bulky towels, with plenty of pockets for snacks, water bottles, goggles, and swim caps. And if there aren’t enough pockets for your swimmer—this makeup bag and water-resistant toiletry bag are great options for corralling all the little things. After a full-size shampoo spill that almost ruined a bag, I like to have my kids keep travel-size shampoo and conditioner in their toiletry bags!
to read
Grayson // Speed to Glory // Sports All-Stars: Michael Phelps
My nine-year-old loves to read about swimming almost as much as he loves swimming. We enjoyed reading Grayson together—a story about open-water swimmer Lynne Cox’s swim with a baby whale. Last year, he flew through Speed to Glory after getting it for Christmas. And this year, a Michael Phelps book is on his wish list, so I have my eye on this one! (Do your swimmer have any books about swimming they love? Leave me a comment and let me know—I’m always looking for more recommendations!)
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