So you’re a fresher, you’ve just had your first few sessions and had a great time with some amazing people and now you’re thinking, “I could really get in to this, maybe I should get some better stuff to wear.”

Here’s something to get you thinking about what you could buy first, and then as you progress in the sport.

Let’s start with what you’ve probably got already. Your current kit will most likely consist of trakie bottoms, a t-shirt and trainers with a cag, deck and helmet provided by the club when you need it. It’s worth keeping in mind that the club will always be able to lend you these when your with them so do you really need to buy what for the moment you can borrow.

So what’s the first thing you should buy? Well some people might suggest to you that you buy a wet suit, and that could be a good option but you should think about both the short and the long term. A wet suit is good in the beginning when your taking regular swims but if you’re a planning to work yourself up to dry gear do you really want to spend money on something that eventually you not going to use.

“What do you suggest then?” you ask. Well, there are two things I would say should be you first bit of kit, shoes and rash top or thermals.

Shoes because they might be the most important bit of kit you will own, you will be wearing them no matter what you’re doing and they’re will cause loads of discomfort if they don’t fit right or do their job properly. Plus it means that you can stop ruining those trainers that you’d usually still wear but grabbed because they were your oldest pair.

Secondly thermals or a rash top so you have something to keep you warm when the temperature starts to drop. These can be worn under your trakies and club cag or under any dry suits you may find lying around. If you were considering a wet suit you could pick up a neoprene rash top that would do the same job when you swim but would more appropriate when you don’t.

Next, you could start looking at the club kit that you’re constantly borrowing, but doesn’t quite fit properly. Maybe you find yourself using club helmets a lot, but your head is human shaped, unlike the people who design them. Club BA’s not fitting correctly can also be an issue, mainly for girls who can end up having to wear a large or suffer with squashed boobs. If you don’t have these problems then whats wrong with continuing using club kit, for now at least. Why not save the money for the next social.

A while later you’ll probably find yourself in a place called Hexham for what their calling “Tyne tour.”  This is a great place to pick up some kit as it’s full of stall with sale racks and discounts for students and a good buy might be to grab a nose peg as it’ll be handy for practicing in the pool session.

Any kit you don’t have now can be picked up when you have the cash, probably when the next loan comes in. Just remember that this is just to give you something to think about. Everyone has there on opinion and you know best what you want and need, but if you are looking at buying kit, just asking people is a great way to get a little bit more knowledge, before parting with your money.

Andrew Sinclair.