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Original poster

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

OP posts:
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Billybagpuss · 25/11/2021 06:21

Off to the lido on Saturday, slightly worried about the recent drops in temperature as this is our first winter we don’t know what to expect.

I did order a winter swim hat though, it’s bright orange, I will look like a traffic cone.

I think I might try a quarry dip before Christmas too

Billybagpuss · 25/11/2021 06:22

@Barmbraic

What gloves do you all wear when you get out of the water? I have some really warm ski gloves that I use most of the time day to day are just too awkward for trying to get dressed. I was thinking some silk glove liners might be a good first layer and then I could put my proper gloves over them, but thought I'd ask the experts first.

Oh, and huge respect to 15 mins of skins at 9c, chakraleaf!

So far just a cup of tea to warm the hands up but I have my woolly ones ready
Billybagpuss · 27/11/2021 16:29

Drove through a blizzard To the lido today, 6 degrees with blobs of ice in it.

BogRollBOGOF · 27/11/2021 18:33

@Billybagpuss

Drove through a blizzard To the lido today, 6 degrees with blobs of ice in it.
That's brave! It was chilly enough yesterday! I lasted 5 minutes longer than last week though.

I swim in a lake/ gravel pit. It's losing about a degree a week at present (maybe a bonus drop this weekend...) I'm guessing that it will stabilise off for a while before the long, slow warm-up in the spring?

Barmbraic · 28/11/2021 17:46

That's commitment Billy! I had a lovely 15 mins today although I need new gloves, my hands were my absolute weak point, they were painful by the time I got out. Water has got much colder today, down to 9c. One degree a week sounds very quick to drop, Bogroll. Where in the world are you? I think the lowest we got to last year was 8c (east coast Ireland).

On the upside, I remembered my turtle doves wrist warmers and they were so snuggly when I got out and still let me use my fingers.

BogRollBOGOF · 28/11/2021 20:29

I'm in the midlands about as far from the warming effect of the sea as you'll get and a fairly small body of water.

It's lost 2⁰C since Friday! 😱🥶

I'm just hoping that I can keep up with the drop and then stay acclimatised.
Some days I think about pool swimming then remember the joys of lane rage Grin

SkiRun0077 · 28/11/2021 21:27

Had a bone chilling 11mins swim today and that was wearing the shortie wetsuit 🥶 my fingers were numb and I still felt cold 2hrs later. It was the windchill which was a killer this morning. It was 3c air temp but -1 wind chill. Can’t believe at the moment I did most of last winter in my jacket not wetsuit but this year I’m either feeling it more or it’s colder earlier!

SkiRun0077 · 06/12/2021 10:10

Sunday morning dip was good despite the cold wind the sea state was calm. But taking a lot longer to warm up after now. Wore my double leggings & thermals all day Blush

Billybagpuss · 06/12/2021 12:39

Oh my god I need to rant.

Yesterday’s lido swim 5 degrees gorgeous. I went to the gym this morning 32 degrees it was awful I only managed half a mile before I thought I’d overheat. I did complain.

SkiRun0077 · 06/12/2021 13:30

Gosh not many folk could swim in 32c that’s insane I’d complain too. I just had a pool swim too but ours is much cooler.

Billybagpuss · 11/12/2021 08:23

Bets on, what will the lido temperature be this morning, last week it was 5.5 degrees

Billybagpuss · 11/12/2021 08:24

@SkiRun0077

Sunday morning dip was good despite the cold wind the sea state was calm. But taking a lot longer to warm up after now. Wore my double leggings & thermals all day Blush
I need to get me some thermals
BogRollBOGOF · 11/12/2021 10:30

My lake's heading down to 4⁰C. I've not been this week as I had my jab and a grumpy arm and it's not something to mess with while under the weather. Last week, I felt the cold at 6.3 so I'm a bit nervous about returning to another big drop and I'm already well-neoprened as much as I can. It's a bit daft if I spend longer in the changing room than water (plus there's the drive).

Surely the temperature should plateau out soonish as average air temperatures won't drop much lower and the stored heat seems to have mainly gone?
I'm assuming in the spring, it will heat sooner than the sea and has a temperature closer connected to air temperatures rather than its own season driven by currents and mass.

Billybagpuss · 12/12/2021 07:02

Surely the temperature should plateau out soonish as average air temperatures won't drop much lower and the stored heat seems to have mainly gone?

That’s what we thought but it had dropped again to 4.1 I’m struggling to get my face but still did 10 lengths (50m pool)

I must admit I’m happy in the lido at the moment from a safety point of view.

Barmbraic · 13/12/2021 21:43

Ooft, 4 degrees? The sea was 8 today and I just about managed 10 mins. I was very glad of my hot water bottle when I got out.

SkiRun0077 · 15/12/2021 19:45

Typical after rough conditions it’s perfect today and tomorrow but I’ve had my covid booster with sore arm and not feeling it. Unsettled conditions back for weekend 🙄

Billybagpuss · 15/12/2021 19:48

@SkiRun0077

Typical after rough conditions it’s perfect today and tomorrow but I’ve had my covid booster with sore arm and not feeling it. Unsettled conditions back for weekend 🙄
Me too, I’m feeling very sorry for myself today and just can’t get warm.
Barmbraic · 24/12/2021 09:49

I got my Christmas swim today. It was gorgeous, the sea was reasonably still and I found a quiet cove without many other swimmers.

Happy Christmas everyone Xmas Smile

Billybagpuss · 24/12/2021 10:34

Merry Christmas

I’ve had a warm gym swim this morning but had a lovely 5 degree lake swim on Wednesday

BogRollBOGOF · 24/12/2021 13:41

I've not fitted in my lake since the start of the month. It's now in its 3s...
I was chilly at 6.3⁰C!

I think I'll give it a rest for now and review in the later stages of January. It's a lot of effort for a dip rather than a swim.

BogRollBOGOF · 24/12/2021 13:42

School holidays will mean no sensible chance befire 10th Jan anyway.

SkiRun0077 · 24/12/2021 13:54

I swam last Sunday and dipped Tuesday but now waiting for PCR test results after eldest DD had positive LF last night Sad so no Xmas swim at the moment planned.
Hope you all have a restful Christmas

Barmbraic · 29/12/2021 00:49

Unfortunately I tested positive for covid so I've a few days to go before I can dip again. I'm glad I got in Christmas eve as it will be around 7th before I can again Sad

BogRollBOGOF · 29/12/2021 01:30

I'm on an enforced restful Christmas too. Although I didn't have plans to swim to disrupt at present. Not the worst timing.

Startagaintoday · 29/12/2021 06:40

Hi just found this. I swim in a marine lake. 5 degrees now🌊🌊🌊