Swim question: Typical to breathe out through nose?

Does anyone have any certian exhale patterns or rituals? I sometimes have to focus too much on my exhale because I get caught up in everything else and forget to maintain to consistent outflow of air. I read on Men's Health to keep about 10% capacity in before going for another breath.. Any thoughts..? 

Not to be contrarian, but I haven's seen the science here. The video is great...very good illustration of nose breathing....but might not be the fastest, at least per the science.

Two things strike me about the technique in the video: 1) by breathing out continuously, you certainly empty your lungs, but also leak air for up to 4 or 6 strokes, decreasing bouyancy, and 2) the air you leak out early certainly hasn't given your body enough time to extract the oxygen from the air, and to this layman, it implies you're doing 4 strokes worth of work on two strokes worth of oxygen. If it's different, I'd like to know.

I've seen olympians in Ann Arbor, and rockstars from BT that do a combo nose/mouth exhale on the stroke prior to their breath, finishing just in time to gulp that sweet, sweet O2 from the surface, as the norm.

don't want to hijack this thread, but i have an interesting question about breathing i've been meaning to ask.

i'm swimming using TI.   i taught myself and have done very well over just 3 months.   i finished my first Sprint last week and my swim was my best event....finishing the 750m in 17 minutes.

so here is my question, i've got a pattern down where i come up to breathe every 4 strokes.   i know alot of people do every 3 or even 2 strokes, but so far 4 strokes is working for me.   now, the entire time my face is underwater, i DON'T breathe out through my nose.   i only exhale slightly before i turn to grab a small breath before i turn back face down.   is this not a good idea?

i'm not too concerned about it because i never feel short of breath while swimming or light-headed afterwards.   As a matter of fact, i swam for 45 minutes continuously yesterday and was refreshed and in good shape afterwards.

should i consider changing this or since it works for me...just keep doing what i am doing?   i always read about the importance of breathig out through the nose the entire time you are underwater, but i don't do this.   anyone comment on this for me?   does anyone else do this?

i have an Oly coming up next month and my wife is telling me not to change anything now since it is working for me.

I've only been swimming a few months so I'm no expert, but I can share the advice I was given here and what I learned visiting the USMS forum. I was advised to exhale through my nose AND mouth in order to get the most effective exchange of air. I breathe in through my mouth and as soon as my face is back in the water, I start to exhale through my nose and mouth until I take the next breath. Until I started this, I was getting a breathless/dizzy feeling because I was letting CO2 build up from not exhaling enough.

I think everyone finds their own way that works for them, but this advice really helped me and breathing has never been an issue since. 

I exhale through my nose mainly to keep water out during swim and flip turns,I exhale the majority of used air through my mouth and try to get it all out before my next breath, i do feel that there is some air left but its not intentional and although I vary my breathing patterns I try to stick with breathing every stroke.

I agree with Rick on this one although the best way to breathe is the way that you can be most relaxed. For me, I exhale all my air just before turning my head to take a breath. I find a nice rhythm breathing this way and it actually allows me to retain a little breath if I get a face full of wave and have to take another stroke.

Speaking of face full of wave and opposite side breathing. Although I feel it is important to know how to breathe on both sides I have never needed to breathe on the opposite side due to the sun or waves. (I have done my share of OWS with large white caps.)When you are rotating correctly and breathing correctly there is a trough below the waterline to take in air.

The point Rick makes about the buoyancy is correct as well. If you are exhaling the entire time your face is in the water you will start to lose some of your buoyancy. Try to kick on your back without a board using the two breathing techniques and you will find yourself sinking when you use the "long exhale" technique vs the "explosive exhale" technique.

If you are breathing every 3 or 4 strokes then you are putting yourself in O2 debt before each breath. If you are relaxed and feel that this rhythm works for you then go with it. I would say that it's not the fastest technique but if you come out of the water 2 minutes slower but are less tired then that's not a bad thing heading into 2 more legs of a race.

I do breathe every two strokes, depending on how it's counted I guess.  Right arm back, roll to left, breathe, start my exhale just as my right arm is going forward and my face is going down in the water (sometimes start exhale just as nose is on surface going down...call it my blowhole technique. ), breathe slowly out (It's a similar thought process to my breathing cadence I use while diving...no shallow breaths), take a stroke left, roll, breathe again.  That's either every two strokes or every one, depending on how it is counted.  As long as I'm doing endurance work, I breathe out exclusively through my nose, but you are right, when I mix 25 or 50 meter sprints into my routine, I do breathe out both my nose and mouth (a little).  I also noticed during my trainer work last night (after swim), it was easier for me to nasally breathe than normal.  Either I was more attuned to thnking about it or maybe my body got used to it from the swim, and it was a carry-over.  Either way, I was happy.