What Equipment Do You REALLY Need?(No Marketing Fluff)

If you spend 10 minutes online researching swimrun gear, you’ll quickly feel like you need:

Carbon shoes.
Five different paddles.
Special swimrun wetsuit with 17 pockets.
Pull buoy shaped like a spaceship.
Elastic cords.
Safety whistles with GPS tracking.

Let’s simplify this.

For the Mana Art Erne SWIMRUN 2026, you need far less than marketing suggests.

Here’s the honest list.

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The Absolute Essentials

1. Wetsuit

For our Irish waters, a wetsuit is not optional.

It keeps you warm.
It adds buoyancy.
It gives confidence.

Do you need a specific “swimrun” wetsuit?

No.

A standard open water wetsuit works perfectly fine for your first event. Many first-timers complete Mana Art Erne SWIMRUN 2026 in a triathlon wetsuit.

Upgrade later if you love the sport.

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2. Goggles

Comfort > brand.

If they don’t leak and don’t fog, you’re winning.
Bring a spare pair on race day — not fancy, just sensible.

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3. Shoes You Can Swim In

This is where swimrun feels strange at first.

You run in the same shoes you swim in.

You do NOT need:

• carbon plates
• trail super-shoes
• expensive “swimrun-specific” footwear

You need:

• comfortable running shoes
• decent grip
• drainage (most shoes drain naturally)

That’s it.

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The “Very Helpful but Not Mandatory” List

Pull Buoy

Most swimrunners use one.

It offsets the weight of your shoes in the water and helps maintain body position. But it doesn’t need to be complicated.

A simple foam pull buoy works perfectly.

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Small Hand Paddles

Optional.

They give a little extra propulsion, but they are not required to complete the course at Mana Art Erne SWIMRUN 2026.

If you’re new to open water, focus on relaxed swimming first. Add paddles later if you want.

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Elastic Tether (For Teams)

If racing as a team, some pairs use a short tether so they stay together.

Not compulsory.

Many teams complete the course without one.

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What You Absolutely Do NOT Need

Let’s remove the noise:

❌ Expensive “pro-only” wetsuits
❌ High-end carbon racing shoes
❌ Gadgets you’ve never trained with
❌ New equipment on race week

Comfort and familiarity beat technology every time.

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The Real Truth

The best equipment for Mana Art Erne SWIMRUN 2026 is:

• Gear you’ve already trained in
• Kit that makes you feel calm
• Nothing brand new on race morning

Swimrun isn’t about looking elite.
It’s about moving through water and land with confidence.

And confidence comes from preparation — not purchases.

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If You’re Still Unsure

Ask yourself:

Can I swim comfortably in a wetsuit?
Can I run 5–8 km in shoes that get wet?

If the answer is yes, you already have what you need to start preparing for Mana Art Erne SWIMRUN 2026.

Everything else is refinement.

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Final Thought

The sport was born from adventure, not equipment catalogues.

Keep it simple.
Train smart.
Arrive prepared — not overloaded.

See you at the shoreline.