The Daily Telegraph - Action Packed: The best watersports gear for women
August 9, 2014

Our gear expert, Michelle Jana Chan, tests the best essential watersports gear for women planning subaquatic adventures this summer.

Life at the seaside used to be so simple. In our beach bag was a towel, a bucket and spade, and a sandwich. Now we take our watersports much more seriously; it’s become hi-tech and just a little bit competitive. Here are some of the summer’s essential watersports accessories for women who prefer to get more than their feet wet.

Swimming goggles

Cressi Saturn Lady
Price: £21.90
cressi.it

Multi-use mask goggles may not be as streamlined as the close-fitting hydrodynamic shapes used for competitive swimming but they offer a comfortable, well-sealed solution with excellent visibility whether used for fitness training, triathlons, wild swimming or other water-based sports and activities.

The Saturn has a curved lens to improve visibility but that does mean objects may appear closer than they are. Its photosensitive lenses have been treated with UV protection and can adjust to changing light conditions. Despite the anti-fog technology incorporated in the lens, I did experience some fog build-up during long swims. The anti-scratch lenses also suffered minor scratching during the trial.

The durable skirt is made from the same silicone as the higher-spec Cressi scuba masks and offers a flexible fit with a good seal to prevent water leaking into the goggles. I did not have to tighten them even when swimming vigorously or at a higher speed. The wide strap is comfortable and secure with an easy-to-use buckle system.

Verdict (out of 5)
Fit 5
Vision 4
Durability 4
Value 5
Overall 5

Underwater camera

GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition
Price: £319.99
oceanleisurecameras.com

GoPro’s Black Edition, one of its most advanced models yet, is a tiny, lightweight action camera offering astounding high-resolution video quality (up to 4K at 15 frames per second). But its still photographs are not up to the same standard (12MP stills at up to 30 frames per second).

The camera demonstrates decent automatic adjustment when moving between bright and lowlight settings, while its so-called “SuperView” mode captures wide-angle video. An inbuilt Wi-Fi (with remote capability) can be connected to the GoPro app to enable streaming (but there is no GPS). There is a user-friendly GoPro editing system available to be downloaded free.

The camera itself is fragile but few use it without its housing case, which is very tough yet lightweight and waterproof up to 130ft. The housing apparatus is included with the camera, as are a generous number of mounts and other accessories. All you need to buy is a micro SD card. One extra accessory to consider getting is the SP Gadgets Remote Pole (£49.99), which allows for steady one-handed filming. It can be adjusted and locked to any length.

If you already own a robust camera that has a compatible waterproof case on the market, it may be worth exploring this option too – but note that cases sold separately can be expensive.

Verdict (out of 5)
Functionality 4
Features 5
Durability 5
Value 4
Overall 5

Waterproof pouch

Aquapac Medium Armband Case 217
Price: £30
store.aquapac.net

I like the generous proportions of this armband case, which makes it suitable for an array of products including some GPS devices, cameras and MP3 players. It comes with an elasticated adjustable armband and a lanyard for hanging the pouch around the neck.

The lightweight pouch itself has a lockdown seal that keeps it waterproof for up to 16ft below the surface, as well as offering protection against sand, dust and dirt.

Two plastic camera levers are twisted to seal the case shut and the seams also appear to be robust. But the material itself is thin and can be damaged by sharp corners and rough edges. That said, it is possible to operate a smartphone’s touch-screen through the thin material, as well as hear and be heard through the casing.

The smaller Aquapac Mini Whanganui 108 pouch, specifically designed for smartphones, has a transparent lens window which allows you to take photographs through that casing. But in my view, the mobile pouch can feel a bit too snug.

Verdict
Functionality 5
Reliability 5
Durability 4
Value 4
Overall 5

Women’s swimsuit

Speedo Fit Kickback costume
Price: £30
store.speedo.co.uk

This swimsuit looks about as slick as they come for fitness training. It has a comfortable fit made with a durable high-stretch fabric and offers bust support and well-placed crossover back straps. The soft, lightweight and seamless piece is quick-drying and chlorine-resistant. It retains its shape and does not fade in colour as quickly as conventional swimwear. Its medium-cut leg height and contrasting colours complement its sporty look.

Verdict
Fit 5
Durability 5
Style 4
Value 4
Overall 5

Snorkelling kit

TUSA Ceos mask
Price: £61.50
Solla strap fins
Price: £69.95
Platina II Hyperdry snorkel
Price: £24.50
simplyscuba.com

A lightweight, high-quality and good-value kit combination. The mask has a strong frame construction compatible with prescription lenses and a teardrop shape which increases the range of visibility, so you won’t have to tilt your head down as much. The silicone skirt has a varying thickness that allows more flexibility and reinforcement around the ridges of the face to help prevent the seal from breaking. The quick-adjust side buckles are mounted directly on to the skirt and its wide strap keeps it in place.

The snorkel can be easily clipped on the mask strap and its soft silicone mouthpiece is supported by an efficient purge valve, which allows the release of water and air bubbles from the mouthpiece, and a flexible corrugated silicone neck. A high visibility wave deflector at the top of the pipe helps prevent splashing water from entering it.

The Solla is a channel blade fin ensuring efficient swimming. It’s made with an open-heel design, which makes it easy to pull on and off with a finger loop, and an easily adjustable strap with quick-release buckles. The angled blade offers a good amount of flexing offset by reinforcing bars, which together provide good propulsion and less fatigue in the calf muscles.

Verdict
Comfort 5
Durability 4
Functionality 5
Value 4
Overall 5

About Michelle Jana Chan
As the lucky child of an airline pilot, Michelle embarked on adventures overseas from a young age, including camping in the Australian outback, volcano-trekking in Hawaii and driving across Tsavo National Park in Kenya. Her wanderlust and spirit of adventure has never waned. She loves nothing more than feeling the grit and fear when pushing herself to the limit, whether that’s in climbing Mont Blanc, swimming with whale sharks in Mexico, or flying, diving, sailing or rally driving.
She is motivated by sport and extreme adventure to keep fit and feed her competitive spirit but not least because she believes there are too few women in the public eye who are willing to show themselves at rock- bottom. “I’ve always preferred mud and sweat to make-up,” she says. She swears by reliable equipment, which has made her toughest challenges more comfortable at the very least and at other times has saved her life. She is a self-confessed gear addict and would love to hear from readers about any equipment that they love or loathe.