Over the last decade, the swim snorkel has become one of the most popular pieces of swimming gear. Like the other gear in your swim bag – your paddles, kickboard, and pull buoy, a swim snorkel is a fantastic piece of swimming equipment to help with an endless number of stroke-related things in the water.
Created and patented by FINIS in 1995, the swim snorkel was designed to enhance technical stroke work, improve hypoxic function, and build aerobic capacity in the pool. The center-mounted snorkel consists of a rubber mouthpiece, a purge valve (only on some models), a plastic pipe, and an adjustable padded head strap to cater for all sizes of heads. The best swim snorkels fit comfortably, create little drag, and are stable for lap swimming.
The swim snorkel was designed to help swimmers improve their stroke. Snorkel Training by Chuck Allen / Flickr / (CC BY-SA 2.0)
What are the Benefits of Using a Swim Snorkel?
Using a swim snorkel for the first time takes some getting used to as it isn’t anything like a snorkel you use with a mask in the ocean. However, once you have the hang of it, the center-mounted swim snorkel offers a range of benefits that will help you improve your overall performance.
Let’s have a look at the benefits of using a swim snorkel:
1. Balances Out Your Stroke
The greatest benefit of using a swim snorkel is that it helps to balance your stroke, particularly if you tend to only breathe on one side. Bilateral breathing (breathing to both sides) is the ideal way to swim, but many swimmers tend to breathe to their dominant side, and using a swim snorkel can counteract this.
Having a balanced stroke is especially important for sprinters who need a smooth stroke turnover that can be maintained at high speed. It is also important for mid-distance and distance swimmers to have a balanced stroke, so the workload is spread evenly over both sides of the body. Spreading the workload evenly over a long distance will prevent overloading of one shoulder, which could lead to injuries like a swimmer’s shoulder.
2. Keeps the Face Down
Using a swim snorkel encourages swimmers to keep their head and face down in the water. It is an instinct to want to look up while swimming, particularly for open water swimmers who need to sight every few strokes.
This leads to the lower back becoming stiff and uncomfortable. If the head is too high while swimming, it causes the legs to drop, and the body loses its streamlined form in the water. This, in turn, leads to greater resistance in the water and hampers performance.
A swim snorkel will help to keep the head down and the face looking at the bottom of the pool. This will help to maintain a streamlined body position in the water and enhanced performance.
3. Keeps the Head Straight
For you swimmers out there who rock their heads from side to side while swimming freestyle, you are in for a soggy surprise when you turn your head and dunk the tip of the snorkel into the water like a straw.
A swim snorkel can help correct bouncing or rocking of the head while swimming. It also helps to reinforce a streamlined body position with a straight line from the top of your head to your ankles. A straight body line in the water instills the propulsion that comes from the rotation of the hips and shoulders.
4. Encourages the Correct Technique
Swimming is all about technique and all swimming equipment such as kickboards, fins, hand paddles, and pull buoys should solidify good technical habits, and a swim snorkel is no different. Using a swim snorkel will help to keep your head and body in the correct position, balance out your stroke, and allow you to work on technique.
5. Helps you Swim Faster
Good technique equates to faster swimming so using a swim snorkel can help you to swim faster. Studies show that top-level freestylers and breaststrokers sprinting over 100m using a swim snorkel swam significantly faster than when they swam without one.
6. Encourages a Better Kick
A common error among swimmers is to cross their ankles momentarily when breathing, halting their kick while swimming. Using a swim snorkel keeps your head straight as there is no need to breathe. This prevents the dreaded ankle-cross and maintains an efficient kick throughout the set.
Using a swim snorkel and a kickboard for kicking sets allows you to kick at maximum speed and efficiency. Leave the kickboard on deck and place your arms at your side if you prefer to simulate the rolling motion of your shoulders and hips to mirror your natural body position while swimming.
The greatest benefit of using a swim snorkel is that it helps to balance your stroke.
Who Should Use a Snorkel?
In short – all swimmers from beginner to advanced, as well as swimmers with injuries.
Beginner swimmers who are learning to master the breathing technique and the correct body position can benefit from using a swim snorkel. Using one can help them obtain an optimal body line and work on elevating their hips, as well as the arm entry point and catch without having to worry about breathing.
Advanced swimmers use swim snorkels to enhance their technical stroke work, improve their hypoxic function, and build aerobic capacity in the pool by eliminating the breathing motion. When using a swim snorkel, advanced swimmers should place additional emphasis on their body rotation and focus on extending with their catch arm while rotating from their core.
Sprinters can use a swim snorkel in conjunction with fins and paddles to enhance hip elevation and shoulder connectivity to develop shoulder-driven and body-driven freestyle.
Swim snorkels are also a great tool for swimmers who have neck and back injuries as they encourage the swimmer to keep their head and neck still while swimming.
Advanced swimmers use swim snorkels to enhance their technical stroke work.
How to Choose a Swimmers’ Snorkel
There are several factors to consider when deciding on the right swim snorkel to get from what you will be using it for (hypoxic training, stroke technique work, and overall aerobic training) to the size of the spout – open water swimmers tend to prefer swim snorkels with larger spouts for more oxygen flow.
Here are some key features to consider when making your choice:
1. Spout size
The spout size of a swim snorkel will depend on what you are going to use the snorkel for. If you want to use it for hypoxic training, go for a swim snorkel with spout caps that restrict the airflow into the snorkel like the TYR Ultralight. A larger spout will offer more oxygen flow for distance and open water swimmers.
2. Head Piece and Strap Construction
Always try the snorkel before you buy it – make sure it is comfortable and fits well around your head. Some models like the Speedo Bullet have extra padding on the headpiece for comfort, which is great if you plan on doing long sets with the snorkel.
3. Snorkel Tube Length and Shape
Swim snorkels come in different shapes and sizes. The length and shape of the snorkel tube are important as they cater to different functions. Swim snorkels with longer tubes are good for open water swimmers as they help them to break through heavy chop and high swells and prevent rough water from entering the top of the tube.
Swim snorkels with curved tubes like the Finis Freestyle Snorkel are designed for specific stroke technique work as they reduce water entry and create less interference on flip turns for freestylers. Swim snorkels with shorter tubes are ideal for young swimmers who are learning how to use them as they are easier to control.
Swim snorkels with curved tubes like the Finis Freestyle Snorkel are designed for specific stroke technique work. FINIS Freestyle snorkel by Mia Russell (author).
Best Swim Snorkels
I tried and tested a few swim snorkels on the market and here’s my list of the best swim snorkels around.
FINIS Original Swimmer’s Snorkel
The FINIS Original Swimmer’s Snorkel was the first center-mounted snorkel for swimmers and is still one of the best swim snorkels out there. Designed and developed in 1994 by FINIS co-founders John Mix and Olympic butterfly champion Pablo Morales, this swim snorkel laid the foundation for all snorkels that followed.
Designed to accommodate a full range of motion for butterfly, breaststroke, and freestyle, the hydrodynamic tube is gently angled to fit comfortably over the head without causing any hindrance when swimming or doing flip-turns. It has an adjustable head bracket for a perfect fit and a one-way purge valve that allows water to flow out of the tube. This is a great function for clearing the snorkel after flip-turns.
The mouthpiece is made from soft and flexible medical-grade silicone, which makes it very comfortable to use and the snorkel comes with a few extras like the Cardio Cap and the Dry Top. The Cardio Cap is great for hypoxic work and helps increase lung capacity by increasing your workload by up to 40%. The Dry Top keeps the inner tube of the snorkel dry.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic tube for streamlining
- The one-way purge valve allows for clear and easy breathing
- Adjustable head bracket for a comfortable fit
- Soft and flexible medical-grade silicone mouthpiece
- Comes with extras like the Cardio Cap and Dry Top
No products found.
FINIS Freestyle Center-Mount Swimming Snorkel
The FINIS Freestyle Center-Mount Swimming Snorkel is designed specifically for swimmers to focus on freestyle stroke technique without the distraction of having to turn the head to breathe. The hydrodynamic tube has a unique curved design that sits closely on the head and promotes the correct head position and body alignment. This design is great for flip-turns as it doesn’t flap around like other swim snorkels tend to do.
The mouthpiece is made from soft and flexible medical-grade silicone so is very comfortable to wear and an adjustable head strap allows for a universal fit for most swimmers and quick strap adjustments in the water.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic tube promotes the correct head position and body alignment
- Unique curved design for super streamlining
- Adjustable head bracket for a comfortable fit
- Soft and flexible medical-grade silicone mouthpiece
Cons
- Best for experienced swimmers
No products found.
MP Michael Phelps Focus Snorkel
Endorsed by one of the greatest swimmers of all time and his longtime coach, Bob Bowman, the MP Michael Phelps Focus Snorkel has a unique triangular-shaped tube that provides a more stable fit and inhibits side-to-side rotation with less rolling or sliding back-and-forth.
The unique low profile, hydrodynamic triangular tube design reduces drag and allows for easy breathing, and it doesn’t flap around when doing flip-turns. The snorkel has a snug-fitting adjustable head bracket with an integrated cushion for a comfortable fit.
The MP Michael Phelps Focus Snorkel Focus snorkel has a specially designed Silicone Comfo-Bite mouthpiece which is super comfy to wear and helps with jaw fatigue. It has a one-way purge valve to clear any excess water in the tube and comes in two different sizes – a regular and a small fit and a range of funky colors.
Pros
- Unique, low-profile, hydrodynamic triangular tube reduces drag
- Adjustable lightweight head bracket
- Integrated cushioning on head bracket makes it a comfortable fit
- Uniquely designed mouthpiece reduces jaw fatigue
- One-way purge valve keeps the tube clear of the water
- Stable fit that inhibits side-to-side rotation
Cons
- One of the more expensive swim snorkels on the market
No products found.
Arena Swim Snorkel
The Arena Swim Snorkel is another great addition to the swim snorkel range. It has a comfortable Super soft hypoallergenic silicone mouthpiece with a bottom purge valve for easy clearing of the water from the tube.
It has an adjustable, rotatable headpiece that turns smoothly and offers a super comfortable fit. The uni-directional headband provides outstanding stability when you are swimming at high speed with fins and during flip-turns. A unique liquid silicone headband strap makes it easy to adjust over your swim cap.
The Arena Swim Snorkel is suitable for all levels of swimmer and is available in blue, hot pink, and black.
Pros
- Soft hypoallergenic silicone mouthpiece is super comfortable
- Bottom purge valve for easy clearing of water
- Adjustable, rotatable headpiece
- Unique liquid silicone headband strap makes for easy adjusting
- Suitable for all levels of swimmer
No products found.
TYR Ultralite 2.0 Snorkel
The TYR Ultralite 2.0 Snorkel is super light! Weighing in at 175g, the featherlight swim snorkel has a hydrodynamic tube and a distinct boomerang shape that is gently angled to fit comfortably over the head without causing any hindrance when swimming or doing flip-turns.
The mouthpiece is made of soft silicone which makes it very comfortable to use and reduces jaw fatigue for swimmers who bite down on the mouthpiece. The head strap on this snorkel is slightly different from other snorkels in that it has two thin straps that are tightened like goggle straps.
The TYR Ultralite 2.0 is available in black and pink.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic tube with a distinct boomerang shape
- Adjustable straps similar to those of goggles
- Suitable for all levels of swimmer
Cons
- No purge valve so clearing the tube from water takes some effort
No products found.
FINIS Stability Snorkel
The FINIS Stability Snorkel is designed for advanced and competitive swimmers and can be used for both drills and tough training. This snorkel does not have a head bracket and purge valve, which makes it extremely comfortable to wear. The gently curved shape of the tube provides a sleek, streamlined fit that helps the swimmer to cut through the water at high speeds with the correct body position.
The compact bracketless design of the snorkel also helps to keep it in place during flip turns and swimming at high speed with fins. The snorkel has cushioning that follows the line of the head for a super comfortable fit. It also stops the snorkel becoming painful after long sets like a swim snorkel with a head bracket.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic and low-drag tube provides excellent stability and streamlining
- The tube has five different lengths for a personalized fit
- Cushioned resting spot fits the natural curve of the head
- Double head strap for super stability
Cons
- Designed for advanced and competitive swimmers
- No purge valve for clearing water from the tube
No products found.
Speedo Bullet Head Snorkel
The Speedo Bullet Head Snorkel is a simply designed swim snorkel with a padded headband and an adjustable strap for comfort. It has a low-profile tube that provides stability and streamlining in the water, and the silicone mouthpiece is removable, so it is easy to clean. It doesn’t have a purge valve though, so it takes some effort to clear the tube of water.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic and low-drag tube provides excellent stability and streamlining
- The removable silicone mouthpiece is easy to clean
- Comfortable padded headband
- Double head strap for super stability
Cons
- No purge valve for clearing water from the tube
No products found.
Kraken Aquatics Swimming Snorkel
The Kraken Aquatics Swimming Snorkel is a center-mounted front snorkel with a low-profile tube that is gently curved to comfortably fit the curve of your head and reduce resistance while swimming. It has a comfortable silicone mouthpiece made from soft, flexible, premium quality silicone that helps to reduce jaw fatigue for swimmers who tend to chew on the mouthpiece.
This snorkel has an adjustable padded head bracket with split straps that can easily be pulled tighter for a secure and stable fit. A one-way purge valve allows water to flow out of the tube. This is a great function for clearing the snorkel after flip-turns.
Pros
- Hydrodynamic and low-drag tube provides excellent stability
- Soft, flexible, premium quality silicone mouthpiece
- Comfortable padded headband
- Double head strap for super stability
- One-way purge valve keeps the tube clear of the water
- Stable fit that inhibits side-to-side rotation
Cons
- The tiny screw in the head bracket has been known to fall out
No products found.
WACOOL Training Head Strap Support Dry Top Snorkel
The WACOOL Training Head Strap Support Dry Top Snorkel is a slightly more high-tech swim snorkel that can also be used as a diving snorkel. This snorkel has a quick-release adjustable clip that allows for movement up and down the snorkel tube to set the most comfortable position.
The snorkel has a large diameter tube for maximum oxygen movement, and the mouthpiece is made from a super-soft, high-grade silicone that can be removed to be cleaned or replaced. A one-way purge valve clears the snorkel effortlessly with a strong blow.
A great feature of this snorkel is the lever paddle flip dry top, which automatically flips and closes the air entrance when submerged underwater like on flip turns or in rough open water.
Pros
- Large diameter tube for maximum oxygen movement
- Soft, flexible, premium quality silicone mouthpiece
- One-way purge valve keeps the tube clear of the water
- Lever paddle flip dry top is great for flip turns or rough open water
- Stable fit that inhibits side-to-side rotation
Cons
- Can be a bit bulky for advanced swimmers
No products found.
Top Tips for Using a Swim Snorkel
Using a swim snorkel takes some getting used to when you first start. Here are some top tips to help you get the hang of it and use it most efficiently:
- When the snorkel fills with water, blow out hard in a rapid burst to expel the water. This will clear the tube and allow you to take another breath. Swim snorkels with purge valves are easier to clear than those without, so start with one with a purge valve if you are new to swim snorkels.
- Mastering a flip-turn with a swim snorkel can be challenging and takes quite a bit of practice to perfect. Start with a nose clip when using a snorkel during a flip turn to help you save enough air to purge the water from the tube when you surface again to breathe.
- Advanced swimmers can add a snorkel cardio cap to restrict airflow for a more challenging snorkel training session.
- The top of the snorkel should only be a few inches above the surface of the water to be the most effective. If the top is more than two inches above the surface of the water, it means the head position is incorrect and needs to be dropped.
Happy swimming!
Mia Russell is currently the head swim coach at Aquasharks Swimming Academy in South Africa. She has worked as the head swim guide at SwimQuest Open Water Swimming Holidays in London and was previously a Swim Coach at Cybersmart Aquatics. She has a AIDA International Level 3 Freediving Certification, PADI Open Water Advanced Certificate, SSI Level 1 Free Diver Certificate and RYA Beach Lifeguard Certificate.