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.

Ooh do share a link mother if you find it.

I’m missing a longer swim frangi alas sea looks stormy all week here 😞not sure when will be able to get back in yet. I’m watching the wind forecast like a hawk and may see if there’s a calm lull at low tide tomorrow.

Ooh yes please share the onesie link @MotherForkinShirtBalls

Off to swim aftee school run tomorrow. Hope it shifts my endless headaches!

I have a Charlie McLeod onesie which is absolutely lovely, but I've seen a few people in Swimzis

I'm permanently watching the forecast @TriSeaSwim99 for all available weather windows

Got a quick dip in today at lunchtime but felt colder with windchill

Swam this morning and even though the water wasn't colder the wind chill was starting to bite.
Was still very busy though. Will be interesting to see how many people continue after lockdown ends.

www.optimumsport.com/products/sub-suits-black it's not exactly what I saw on the woman the other day, but this is what I've ordered! I can't wait to try it.

I'm forecast stalking too. Weather was awful today so I didn't risk a swim. Tomorrow morning is due to be a smidge better so I'm hoping to go after school drop off.

Oh my word! That is AWESOME! I must purchase one immediately.

Hi I’ve come across this thread as I’ve recently moved to the coast and I’m looking to buy a wetsuit for sea swimming, but really struggling to find one in my size in stock. I’m a confident but unfit swimmer, it would mostly be for leisure and going in with my son, but I’d like to get better. Would anyone be able to tell me, what is the thinnest wetsuit you think would be alright? I can find a triathlon one (zone 3 valour) or another cheap 3.2mm neoprene. Would I freeze in that!?!?

It depends on you, what you want to do and how acclimatised you are. I’m still in cossie only but with booties & gloves & hat for a 10-15min swim. My wetsuit is a 3-4mm one for swim/Tri but I’ve only worn that in August doing swim lessons where we stayed out for 45/60mins and I was fine temp wise.

Gorgeous dip today. It was very choppy so I didn't do any actual swimming but I was treading water and doing a hybrid breast stroke/doggy paddle. I had a lovely chat with another woman who was there by herself. The colours in the sky were absolutely beautiful. With a bit of luck I'll get down again tomorrow or Thursday than again at the weekend.

Delivery tracker tells me my walking sleeping bag should be here tomorrow

Sophagain I'm in two minds about getting a wetsuit so was researching them at the weekend. The advice I saw on a couple of sites was that 2mm is fine in winter if you're swimming. My friend is in a shorty from mountain warehouse (2mm I think) and finds it fine. She isn't a triathlete level swimmer, more a bobbing about/head up breast stroker (like me).

I think I might get some gloves. Any recommendations?

Quick unplanned lunchtime dip today as the sun came out and my meeting finished early. But boy the windchill made it colder 10mins was my max I’d had enough then and felt cold!

Short dip today, only 15 mins but I really needed it. I didn't realise how therapeutic this is until I had a bad week.

I had a lovely evening swim. The sky was gorgeous as it was darkening. And a very kind woman came across from the car park to check on me as I was bobbing around for a minute at the end as I was the last person in the water.

Looks lovely mother, I had a brief dip this morning but it was too wavy & big swell for any proper swimming. Hoping to go at sunrise tomorrow as winds are forecast very light and tide is perfect.

Did you get in this morning, Tri? I managed to and it was gorgeous. Cold though. Air temperature is about 7c and Google tells me the water was 12c although it seemed colder than that. It was my third day in a row which I really liked too, I must make more effort to get in more often.

Yes had a lovely swim stayed in half hour as I put my wetsuit on and got a good swim in with a couple of ladies. Swell started to pick up a-bit but it was good swim conditions. Super pleased I’ve done 11 swims in 22days in November, hoping I can keep going. May try tomorrow skins dip again as conditions look calm at lunchtime.

Eleven is great, Tri. I hit ten today which I'm delighted by. The swell was big and it was very windy so I only stayed in ten minutes. I have caved and bought myself some gloves and a 2mm neoprene jacket to help me keep up a few weeks more. Hopefully they will arrive for the start of my December swims .

Lovely swim yesterday morning. Still lots of people at the lake. Thermometer says it's 9 but I'm sure it's colder now, definitely felt chillier than last week. I felt very calm afterwards and slept like a babe!

Oranges what thermometer do you use? Google hasn't been very helpful in finding one for myself.

Absolutely gorgeous swim today. The sun was shining and the sky clear blue. It was 5c when I left the house so I very nearly bailed out but I'm so glad I didn't. Lots of people were in the water and having socially distant chats.

Beautiful cold blue sky sunny calm day perfect for a lunchtime.

Glorious day here for a swim. Even though the air was cold, the sun was beaming and actually quite warm on my back when I was getting dried off. The water is definitely too cold for putting my face in, my nose was painful after about a minute. I'll have to look for a neoprene balaclava

Yes I’ve backed off putting face fully in now until the last 5mins then have a quick crawl. I wear a neoprene beanie hat with a normal swim hat over the top which has been working ok. But a it’s been numbing on the exposed bits plan to swim Sunday morn as conditions look better than today here. Went for a run instead this morning.

It was a grey and damp morning here when we deeply amused the fishermen by getting in the river! 7.9', and silky in the water.
Back to the lake on Thursday, which I am looking forward to, if only for not having to haul myself onto the bank like a beached whale