Cold water swimming

[nosos]

As the temperature at the unheated local lido has been dipping, I've discovered that I love swimming in cold(ish) water. Or at least colder than I realised as someone who had previously just gone outdoor swimming at the height of summer. The lowest water I've been in has been about 17 degrees which I realise isn't very cold at all really but I'm realising I'd like to keep this up and try much colder temperatures. They've announced they're keeping the lido open throughout the winter which gives me the perfect opportunity to try.

Any tips on getting into cold water swimming? At what temperature do I need to think about getting a wet suit? Are there any intermediate steps between casual swimwear and full wetsuit?

 

[Aladdin]

I like a cold shower.
Very invigorating.
I cant swim but I imagine cold swimming is invigorating enough...

 

[ice-is-forming]

Swimming in open water | Wim Hof Method

Swimming in open water

www.wimhofmethod.com

Wim Hof can be pretty extreme, but one of my son's swims all year round in the ocean here & introduced me to his stuff. Admititly the Pacific ocean probably never gets as cold as your lido in winter though.

I used to go cold water swimming when I was growing up, but maybe cos I loved swimming and in those days if you went all year round, you'd have to jump through a thin layer of ice to get in at Beckenham baths.

I have a feeling that Oula likes cold, wild swimming.

 

[nosos]

Your username is so appropriate

 

[platinumsage]

You don't need a wet suit unless you're going sub-zero or plan to stay in the water for a long time. The Finns swim in frozen lakes all the time.

 

[chilango]

I swim in a wetsuit all year round. The gloves come on below 16 or so. An additional neoprene cap below about 15.

...but
a) I feel the cold
b) I like wearing neoprene
c) I'm swimming crawl, usually around 1km.

I swam in colder in the Spring including a New Year dip at about 4c. Whole different ballgame.

I plan on just keeping on going this year through the Autumn/Winter even if it's just a short "bob".

 

[Ms Ordinary]

You're starting at the best time of year, just keep going for as long as you enjoy it.

Thermos, warm clothes (leave neatly, so they're easy to put on if you get a bit too cold).

 

[Ms Ordinary]

Are there any intermediate steps between casual swimwear and full wetsuit?

Neoprene socks & gloves are cheap, but honestly, your best bet is just to get good at putting all your warm clothes on really quickly.

 

[Oula]

have a feeling that @Oula likes cold, wild swimming.

I do. There are quite a few others here too.

I'm a bit drunk and on a bus, so it may be better to ask me tomorrow, but i swim all through winter. I've done the UK cold water swimming championships. The coldest I've done is 1.75 degrees. I've never had to break ice though. I got a wetsuit for the first winter but found it a bit of a faff so only used it for one winter. When it gets really cold i wear neoprene socks and gloves and a fleece lined rash vest. And two hats. And do shorter swims. Did that answer the questions?

I love it. It's absolutely the best feeling.

 

[Oula]

Tips. Just keep doing it. You never regret a swim. Get out feeling like you could still do more.

 

[nosos]

Thanks everyone, this has left me massively enthusiastic. I'm just going to keep going for now and see what it's like when the temperature starts to dip over the coming weeks.

Any tips on choosing a rash vest? It seems like that should be my first experiment (along with a hat maybe) once it starts to get much colder...

 

[chilango]

Thanks everyone, this has left me massively enthusiastic. I'm just going to keep going for now and see what it's like when the temperature starts to dip over the coming weeks.

Any tips on choosing a rash vest? It seems like that should be my first experiment (along with a hat maybe) once it starts to get much colder...

I'd go:

1. Hat (silicone swimming cap)
2. Neoprene boots/socks
3. Neoprene gloves
4. Neoprene 2nd swimming cap

before looking at rash vests.

Then look at something like this perhaps? Unless you just bite the bullet and get a wetsuit...

Neoprene Thermal Vest - 1mm Hot Top

Our neoprene thermal vests are made from high-stretch 1mm neoprene. They are extremely comfortable and fit you like a 'second skin'. The 'Hot top' is popular with surfers, sailors, wakeboarders, kayakers and many others. It is a great alternative way to keep warm in the water and represents...

www.lomo.co.uk

3mm Neoprene Swim Vest - Mens

Our 3mm neoprene vests can be worn on their own or under a wetsuit. With a sleeveless anatomical design, the neoprene vest is ideal for keeping your body core warm without restricting your freedom of movement while swimming. The swimming vest uses high quality 3mm double lined stretchy...

www.lomo.co.uk

 

[nosos]

I'd go:

1. Hat (silicone swimming cap)
2. Neoprene boots/socks
3. Neoprene gloves
4. Neoprene 2nd swimming cap

before looking at rash vests.

Then look at something like this perhaps? Unless you just bite the bullet and get a wetsuit...

Neoprene Thermal Vest - 1mm Hot Top

Our neoprene thermal vests are made from high-stretch 1mm neoprene. They are extremely comfortable and fit you like a 'second skin'. The 'Hot top' is popular with surfers, sailors, wakeboarders, kayakers and many others. It is a great alternative way to keep warm in the water and represents...

www.lomo.co.uk

3mm Neoprene Swim Vest - Mens

Our 3mm neoprene vests can be worn on their own or under a wetsuit. With a sleeveless anatomical design, the neoprene vest is ideal for keeping your body core warm without restricting your freedom of movement while swimming. The swimming vest uses high quality 3mm double lined stretchy...

www.lomo.co.uk

Thanks very much - is the idea about stopping heat leaving from your extremities?

 

[chilango]

Thanks very much - is the idea about stopping heat leaving from your extremities?

Probably. Head, hands and feet are the first bits of me to get cold during a swim.

Suits me as it's easy enough to deploy in whatever combination necessary.

The other thing is making sure you stuff to get into quickly after the swim to warm you up. Wooly hat and dry robe does me, but a big fluffy hoody works well.

 

[Ms Ordinary]

How long is the lido where you'll be swimming?

You'll be fine just being sensible about warming up afterwards until it heads down to about 12C. (Late October, November-ish )

And by then you'll probably know whether you want to be someone who dons layers of neoprene and carries on swimming miles, or someone who has a bracing 5 minute dip in their swimming togs & a hot drink & warm jumper afterwards, in which case you might not need much at all.

(FWIW you do still get an amazing amount of physical & mental health benefits, from being a 5-minute dipper - its as if 5 minutes in ice-cold water gives your body the same physical stress & endorphins as a long workout - but if you actually enjoy swimming for longer, you may want to try out some neoprene bits & bobs to help you along )

 

[nosos]

How long is the lido where you'll be swimming?

You'll be fine just being sensible about warming up afterwards until it heads down to about 12C. (Late October, November-ish )

And by then you'll probably know whether you want to be someone who dons layers of neoprene and carries on swimming miles, or someone who has a bracing 5 minute dip in their swimming togs & a hot drink & warm jumper afterwards, in which case you might not need much at all.

(FWIW you do still get an amazing amount of physical & mental health benefits, from being a 5-minute dipper - its as if 5 minutes in ice-cold water gives your body the same physical stress & endorphins as a long workout - but if you actually enjoy swimming for longer, you may want to try out some neoprene bits & bobs to help you along )

It's 90m which is just brilliant thanks both I really appreciate it. I've been away so I've been swimming indoors over the weekend but looking forward to getting back to the lido tomorrow.

 

[RubyToogood]

I'd go:

1. Hat (silicone swimming cap)
2. Neoprene boots/socks
3. Neoprene gloves
4. Neoprene 2nd swimming cap

before looking at rash vests.

I'd go the other way round. Gloves and socks can mislead you into thinking you're warmer than you are.

 

[nosos]

Does a rash vest add much to your body temperature? It's starting to get a bit cold which makes me feel my autumn/winter swimming commitment might not last very long...

 

[colacubes]

Does a rash vest add much to your body temperature? It's starting to get a bit cold which makes me feel my autumn/winter swimming commitment might not last very long...

Keeping your core warm is the main thing. A rash vest will help with that. If you really feel the cold go long sleeved.

I swam all through last winter for the first time last year. I wore a wetsuit but think I won’t bother this year. I have a long sleeved neoprene swimming costume to keep my core warm and will add swim socks and gloves once my extremities start getting chilly. None of the above will be needed till below about 12c and we’re a long way from that. The main thing is to keep going - your body gets used to it. I had my first swim today in the UK after 2 weeks abroad swimming in considerably warmer waters. I thought it would be a shock to the system but after the first minute it was totally fine cos my body adjusted having been doing it for so long

 

[Oula]

It's 90m which is just brilliant thanks both I really appreciate it. I've been away so I've been swimming indoors over the weekend but looking forward to getting back to the lido tomorrow.

I think that's my Lido.

 

[nosos]

I've started feeling a lot of tightness in my shoulders. Is this a sign I might be swimming too much? I've been drifting upwards towards going daily...

 

[nosos]

My first attempt at swimming in 16 degree water when it's cold and raining has destroyed my open water swimming ambition

 

[nosos]

Having found that deeply unpleasant, I'm now starting to pine to go back tomorrow....

 

[chilango]

Local lake was still "close to 20" on Saturday, certainly felt warm.

 

[nosos]

So jealous! The unpleasantness of this afternoon swim set me off on a depressing cycle about the summer being finally over, with nothing but a covid-filled winter waiting...

 

[RubyToogood]

I've started feeling a lot of tightness in my shoulders. Is this a sign I might be swimming too much?

No such thing.

So jealous! The unpleasantness of this afternoon swim set me off on a depressing cycle about the summer being finally over, with nothing but a covid-filled winter waiting...

October can be nice. However there does tend to be a point somewhere around now where the weather goes like this, then I get a cold, and I no longer make it through that.

 

[nosos]

It's not the water temperature, it's the combination of the water temperature with the air temperature...

 

[colacubes]

It's not the water temperature, it's the combination of the water temperature with the air temperature...

You can mitigate. Get changed quickly after you get out. Have a warm drink to hand.

 

[nosos]

Thanks I'm going to try at least one more time. I went swimming indoors today for the first time since May and it was... underwhelming.

 

[RubyToogood]

Thanks I'm going to try at least one more time. I went swimming indoors today for the first time since May and it was... underwhelming.

It'll still be nice when the sun's out.