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Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers

899 replies

TriSkiRun99 · 02/10/2020 16:52

After sea swimming regularly since May I’m hoping to carry on. Is anyone else hoping to carry on open water or sea swimming through the winter? If you fancy supporting each other and sharing hints n tips come join me. I’ve just bought some socks and neoprene hat, I’m hoping to to stay in my cossie as long as possible but I do have a wet suit if I cave. Smile

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TriSeaSwim99 · 22/12/2020 22:04

Welcome nyancat I’ve heard other more experienced swimmers say C-skins are good but they are out of stock everywhere. I’ve got some Lomo socks with bootie bottoms, they are ok but I sewed some extra elastic to the front as they are bit too lose as if I kick hard they feel like they would fall off! It’s a real juggle between needing tight fitting to keep warm but then it’s a challenge peeling them off again. Soo don’t have the answer except try some??
I’d Be interested to hear which makes others on here have tried?

TriSeaSwim99 · 22/12/2020 22:04

Someone else I know had some from two bare feet and they have been ok.

Nyancat · 22/12/2020 22:14

Thanks @TriSkiRun99. I was looking at the two bare feet earlier so might try them and see how I get on.

Heres a pic from my sunrise swim at the weekend, worth the frozen toes!

Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers
CMOTDibbler · 22/12/2020 22:20

I've got Zone3 socks which stay on well and I can get off. Someone did tell me that wearing pop socks under your neoprene socks makes them easier to get off, but I keep forgetting to try!

RomeoLikedCapuletGirls · 22/12/2020 22:24

Oh wow I’ve always wanted to do this but am too much of a wimp. Plus I live about an hour from the nearest beach.

Maybe a new year resolution Hmm

FrangipaniBlue · 22/12/2020 22:49

@Nyancat and @TriSeaSwim99 I have c-skins 3mm gloves and socks and can confirm they are AMAZE however alas yes they are sold out everywhere!!

My friends and I have tried zone3 and blueseventy neither of which come close to c-skins

TriSeaSwim99 · 23/12/2020 16:07

Cool picture nylancat I just hope that we can keep sea swimming even if tier4 restrictions start to creep across the whole country Sad
it also occurred to me I could attached a bike light to my tow float. I had a 1st light swim this week and I watched one lady with a glowing float then googled them and went Arrh I’ve got some cheap bike lights from Lidl’s that I could use instead as they are sealed unit.

Nyancat · 23/12/2020 16:18

That's what I do, my float has a dry pocket but I don't trust it on it's own so I have a small dry pouch from decathlon that I put a bike light in. Works brilliantly. Friends turn the torch on their phone on and use that but I'm too scared of leaks to try it.

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 24/12/2020 11:24

I have a small torch that I put in my tow float which is reassuring on a darkening evening. Mind you, I don't go more than 10ft from shore so I probably don't need it!

There has been lots of public health messaging asking people not to swim tomorrow to avoid crowds, so I went early this morning. It was cold and beautiful. I was wearing my gloves but haven't tried my wetsuit jacket yet. Because I can't swim properly at the moment to keep warm I was only in 10mins.

Happy Christmas Eve everyone Xmas Smile

Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers
TriSeaSwim99 · 24/12/2020 15:55

Looks lovely mother we went this morning as well it was stunning beautiful sunrise again. After a awful grey raining non-stop yesterday such a lovely morning. It’s sods law the calmest day this week for a seaswim is Xmas day and the RNLI & surf rescue have asked folk not to descend on the beach for the annual swim. I’ve never done it before don’t really have the desire to plunge in screaming with 100s of others but I’d have really liked an early calm swim but feel I can’t really Sad out of respect for the request.

FrangipaniBlue · 24/12/2020 23:51

We set out at the start of lockdown aiming to swim through winter and make it to Christmas Eve - we did it!! 4 degrees surrounded by snow on the fells Grin

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 26/12/2020 12:24

Well done, Frangipani! I had a very short dip today. It was so much colder than two days ago although the bay bouy reading was the same so I'm not sure how that works! Its very grey here and we're waiting for a storm to arrive this afternoon so I'm glad I got out early even though there was no lovely sunrise.

Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas day.

Ihaventgottimeforthis · 28/12/2020 00:05

Didn't make it out on Xmas day because jobs, but have done twice since. Looking to feb now!

Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers
MotherForkinShirtBalls · 29/12/2020 12:09

I had a gorgeous dip this morning, 7 minutes of icy bliss. Planning to go again on NYE for my last of the year.

FrangipaniBlue · 29/12/2020 21:18

We did a moonlight lake swim last night, water temp 2.7 air temp -1.5, full moon lit up the lake it was fabulous!!

Planning our very first sea swim for New Year's Day Grin

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 31/12/2020 13:56

I had a short swim (7 mins) today in an almost glass like sea. It was beautiful but icy. The water was 7.5c and the air temp 0. I really regretted forgetting my gloves. There was a swimming club doing a fundraiser and a few others in the water so there was a lovely atmosphere and people chatting. I think I'll be wearing my neoprene jacket from tomorrow.

Happy New year everyone.

CMOTDibbler · 31/12/2020 14:40

4.5'C in the water, -5 in the air today, and the lifeguards had to use their kayaks to break the ice on the lake! I did 45 minutes which I was surprised at but felt great. Back in tomorrow for a NY special swim

MotherForkinShirtBalls · 31/12/2020 16:28

Holy moly, Dibbler, that sounds bonkers. 🥶🥶

TriSeaSwim99 · 31/12/2020 19:06

Wow CMOT how do you stay in so long. I’ve had a couple of swims this week including today but only stay in 10mins or just get too cold. Beautifully calm sunny blue sky day today it was just a stunning sunrise swim.

CMOTDibbler · 31/12/2020 19:37

Wetsuit, gloves and socks!
Just seen that they might cancel the NYD swim as the lake might be too iced over and harder to ensure distancing which would be a real shame, but I totally understand the issue as the ice is so sharp.

BadgertheBodger · 31/12/2020 19:39

I haven’t been in for a couple of weeks due to weather and work but I’m meeting a friend on Saturday and I can’t wait! Pop socks under swim socks are a game changer, just slide right off.

Inniu · 31/12/2020 21:24

Can I join?

I have been trying to sea swim once a week. Still in a swimsuit with cheap gloves and water shoes that I bought on Amazon but I think I might need something warmer.

Littlebelina · 02/01/2021 19:17

Also want to join. I occasionally sea swim in summer but want to start making it a more regular thing. Assuming I'd be better waiting until spring to start now? Most round here still seem to be in costumes with socks and gloves, any particular brands I should look out for?

TriSeaSwim2021 · 02/01/2021 20:05

Just give it a try littlebelina the water will keep getting cold now until May probably. Yes the air temp is colder now but not the water temp. The sea in SW was 9c but air temp 1c this morning.

Was out this morning just after sunrise still frost on the sand but lovely calm sunny swim.

CMOTDibbler · 02/01/2021 21:43

9' sounds positively tropical! It was 4' in the water yesterday (after ice clearance) here. But the lake operator has decided to suspend swimming till at least late Jan due to all the surrounding counties being in tier 4 and rates rising. Hopefully the river will be down by next weekend so I can get a swim in, but its only just out of flood now and running very fast