Cold water swimmers including sea, lakes and rivers

[TriSkiRun99]

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.

I finally made it to the lake this week after a month's absence and had 45 blissful minutes. Still comfortable in a thin rash vest. I prefer it to skins as it's still the full freedom of movement, but means that you don't get disconcerting tickles from weeds 😂

@MermaidSwimming99 We did a lot of walking around the coastline of Devon and Cornwall, and loved it! I think our favourite spots were around Brixham. Beautiful bays and so quiet and peaceful. This is our favourite kind of holiday.
@LazyDoll Where is your lido? It looks lovely.

Glad you had a good hols it’s a beautiful coastline.
I’ve been lucky to sea swim 8d in a row now as conditions have been lovely clear and sunny after chilly starts though so air temp been cold. Actually got the woolly hat back out for post dip warm ups.

It’s turning chiller here I was borderline needing gloves this week again in the water as painful fingers starting to return. But also had some absolutely lovely early morning swims this week in the sea.

It was lovely this morning 13.75 degrees stayed in skins for nearly and hour, first after drop of the year.

14.2 in East anglia :)

Only grumble it was really busy this morning, everyone is supposed to have gone back to the gym by October I think they had a cold water induction thing going on as there were lots of people in wetsuits looking scared.

Pretty much perfect swimming conditions this morning. Water 13 degrees, clear blue sky and no noticeable wind. Meant it was cold enough for a bit of zing but pleasant enough to stay in for a decent swim.

You're making me jealous! I didn't make it swimming this week. Looks like the water's dropped a couple of degrees in the past week.

Last time I was in I wore the neoprene vest more for the wind above water, the water was fine. I might see if I can get more out of that combo before resorting to the wetsuit...

@PuddleglumtheMarshWiggle I grew up in Brixham. Did you make it to Fishcombe Bay or St Mary's Bay?

It's suddenly changing to cold water swimming!

My regular spot is now 14⁰C, and I'm glad I put the shortie wetsuit on.
I did 0.7mi, but found it rather tiring, partly from doing battle against the wind which I find frustrating to swim against.

I think 13⁰C is about my threshold for needing the wetsuit. I started in the shortie last year (didn't do skins) and it was about this point when I had a neoprene spending frenzy. At least I've got the gear now!

I did a pool swim on Tuesday, it was interesting I struggled to breath as iIt was too hot but my mile time had reduced by 2 minutes

It's definitely easier having a pool side to push off regularly!

My indoor options have improved this year, so I might pick up a bit more pool swimming over the winter, particularly when weighing up the weather opportunities gets harder and the swims/ changing time ratio gets less favourable.
Realistically, I'll prioritise the outdoor opportunities and I've got indoors as a back-up. It'll keep my swimming fitness up more as my outdoor time reduces closer to 20, 25 mins in the coldest months.

I too swam in the pool last week found it really hard work and so hot! I did find my groove after 20L but I’m not pool fit. Missed last couple of days in sea as too rough but may get in tonight after work before sunset hopefully as need my fix. It’s getting chilly though but a nice chill not too Arrhh yet..

Puddleglum it’s in Banbury. Was amazing. Back to the lake weekly now and after a fairly dramatic drop from 19.6° to 16.9° to 13.5° it seems to be sticking around 13.5°. Managed 1km today in a bikini. Neoprene free. Holding off on the gloves and bootees until 10° (or that’s the plan). And 3 more months until I’ve swam all year round!!! This was today.

This is awesome

Tickles from weeds would put me off. Does that happen in all open water swimming?

@christmas2022 i get seaweed in places I wish I didn’t when it’s bumpy seas 😃

@christmas2022 not where I swim, ones a quarry so nothing, ones a lake which you need a certain route to avoid them once the level drops and the other is a river where they are unavoidable.

we did a sea swim this year the Agatha Christie one from broadsands and the sea weed was so pretty it took me by surprise I wasn’t expecting it.

My lake's not very weedy, there was just a point over the summer when some patches had a bit of surface weed.

Now it's autumn, we're in to leaves on googles season 😂

TBH you get used to the odd stray sensation, but I keep my hands and feet covered all year anyway so that helps. Being able to tread water to sort any minor glitch out is important, but it's not a major issue and you quickly get used to the environment being natural and not controlled and it's part of the fun of it.

Aw thanks Christmas2022 I am a TRUE convert. Just love it. No eeed in our lake just lollies but I swim the deeper course so they never bother me and are only there in summer really. I’ve seen fish leap in front of me and swallows and dragonflies diving but it’s all part of the magic

weed lillies
must proof read!!

It’s getting colder 😊 I think one more week until wetsuit comes back out. My times have reduced from 50 minutes to 20 over the last 2 weeks.

My wetsuit came out this week. Looks like I'd also bought the bonnet and socks this time last year too. I might do that next time as the water is cooling rapidly. Still doing 45 minutes though.
I stripped my wetsuit in the water, partly because it's easier but partly for acclimatising.

It's definitely quietening down at the lake. It was just me and the swans this time.

Not sure how I did 5⁰C in January 😂

Not sure how I did 5⁰C in January

I was thinking that too, maybe it’s easier when the temperature is on the way up.