Winter Swimming
Bikinis and bobble hats. It’s the signature look of wild swimmers splashed across social media. Whilst such attire might suffice for summertime swims, winter dipping for most of us requires a little more thought and preparation.
The air temperature has plummeted in the last couple of weeks with snow-frosted fields and icy roads; water temperatures are anything between 2 and 4 degrees - the lake where I swim near York was 4.1 on my last dip - and the North Sea is averaging 8 degrees.
A few wild swimmers have already started chipping away at ice to enter frozen lakes or bathe in plunge pools beneath icicle-fringed waterfalls while others have packed their costumes away until spring. If you have decided to continue swimming over winter, there are a few things to know and with that in mind, here are some tips to help you wild swim safely through the colder months.
Keep company. Even if you swim alone the rest of the year, when the water temperature drops to single digits, it is advisable to dip with a friend or swim buddy, or someone who is happy to accompany you, even if they are not getting in the water. Some swim places, such as Pool Bridge Farm, have a solo swimmers Facebook group so you can team up with others.
Warm up. As with any exercise, it pays to warm up beforehand. I try to go for a short, brisk walk before I swim so I can assess the air temperature, wind direction, wind chill etc, which all contribute to how the water feels. The exercise gets the blood pumping around your body so you don’t feel chilled before you get in the water.
What to wear? Just as we each dress differently on any given day, it is the same with wild swimming apparel. Some swimmers pursue winter swims in their regular costumes, adding neoprene boots, gloves and a woolly hat; others are kitted out head to toe in neoprene. For some a wetsuit feels like too much faff to put on and take off for a short cold water immersion whilst for others, it’s the only way to winter swim. There is of course, an in between comprising various garments such as long-sleeved neoprene or Yulex costumes which offer a bit more insulation. It is all a matter of preference. To give you an idea of what I wear for winter swimming, I have included a kit list below *
Getting in the water. Always check entry and exit points into the water beforehand if exiting from a different spot. Enter the water gradually but try not to dither for too long as you will get cold standing around. Once you are immersed to around chest height, take some deep breaths to regulate your breathing and only start swimming when you feel comfortable that you are through the initial cold water shock reflex, which varies from person to person.
How long to stay in the water? Winter swimming brings with it the very real danger of hypothermia. Someone somewhere once mentioned staying in the water for one minute per degree of temperature, however, this advice has been dismissed by most experienced outdoor swimmers. What experts seem to agree on is that the benefits of winter swimming are gained by just a short immersion and not the length of time you are in the water. All sorts of factors can affect the length of time people are in the water and this varies between individuals and even different swims. Our body shapes and sizes make a difference as does our individual resistance to the cold. On a day to day basis, tiredness, stress, hangovers, hunger, thirst and illness can impact our cold water tolerance. Best advice is to always ‘swim your own swim’, and not to feel under pressure to stay in the water - or even get in the water - if it doesn’t feel right. Get out of the water before you start feeling settled and ‘warm’ as this can be one of the first signs of hypothermia.
Getting dressed. Seasoned wild swimmers lay their clothes out in the order they will be putting them back on which saves rummaging around to find garments with cold hands post swim. Once out of the water, take off your wet clothes and pat yourself dry with a towel. It helps to stand on a mat to avoid losing heat through your feet. A hot water bottle placed amongst your clothes means they will be toasty to put on. Then start getting dressed. Layering is key. Lots of layers. So, pants and bra or bra top (some people leave underwear off but I find my bottom and boobs get cold!), merino wool vest, long-sleeved thermal top, wool jumper, thermal leggings, tracksuit bottom or trousers, a haramaki (a very simple but super effective core body warmer), wool socks, neck buff, woolly hat (spare dry one if the other is damp), coat or dry robe, slip on boots or shoes. You are channelling Michelin Man! Try to be dressed within 5 minutes.
Post swim snacks. Bring a flask of hot tea, coffee or hot chocolate and pour yourself a drink with a slice of cake, biscuits or banana. I am always quite thirsty after swimming so I also bring a flask of warm water and a satsuma or tangerine. I am not sure why but I really feel like something juicy.
After-drop. When you get out of the water your body temperature continues to cool even though you are in a warmer environment. You can feel colder up to 40 minutes after getting out of the water than you did in the water. This is because when you swim, your body shuts down circulation to your skin, pooling warm blood to your core. When you exit the water, the cooling process does not stop immediately. This is why it is important to get dry, dressed and warm up gradually. Some people like to sit and warm up. I prefer to move around a little or go for a short stroll to warm my feet and hands. Don’t leap into a hot shower immediately and don’t drive until you are properly warmed up.
Log book. I have got into the habit of keeping a basic log of my swims including swim spot, air temperature, water temperature (if known), how long I was in the water, how I felt in the water and afterwards. It just helps to build up a picture of my swims.
My winter swimming kit list
These are all items I have invested in myself. None of these are sponsored kit; they are just pieces of clothing that I find help me to swim safely and comfortably in the colder months.
Finisterre Women’s Nieuwland 2e Yulex long-sleeved top and pant
Lomo triathlon and swimming gloves
Gull Powerboot 5mm wetsuit boots
Seabirds woolly bobble hat
Dryrobe towelling dry robe
Multi mat to stand on while getting changed
My haramaki is from here
I haven’t got a waterproof changing robe but these are hugely popular and everyone swears by them. I am tempted! There are many different brands out there within different price brackets, all using the same idea of a waterproof shell and warm sherpa fleece lining. In winter the aim is to get dressed quickly so a towelling robe for discreet changing and a good, longish warm winter coat works too.
I hope you find these tips useful and I wish you a safe and wonderful winter swim season. If you have any other tips or recommendations, I would love to hear them so feel free to add them in the comments below.
