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Original poster

Any winter outdoor swimmers?

27 replies

FreeButtonBee · 08/10/2021 20:51

I have rediscovered lido swimming this year. Started in late April and am still going. It was 15 degrees today and was still okay in my bikini with a rash vest on top.

I’d like to keep going so eas wondering if anyone had any tips? I have swimming wetsuit - orca brand - which I use for sea swimming in the North Atlantic. I have never bothered with swim hats or booties or gloves. What’s the verdict on those? I have a swim robe and lots of warm layers and a flask for after. (Plus I cycle there and back which good for a bit of active recovery). I am also a bit on the chunky side so have some in built Insulation

I’m not looking to be masochistic about it but I get such a rush from getting my head under that id like to keep it up for a bit longer. If I could do it every day I would!

OP posts:
iwantavuvezela · 08/10/2021 20:55

YES - I am - first time doing swimming through the winter - I have some of those booties and gloves and a cap which keep me warm - the coldest I've swam is around 11/12 I think .....

Looking enviously at those swim robes - I've made a pact with myself - if I make it through November - ill buy myself one!

I absolutely love the feeling afterwards - been doing it as needed a boost to my mental health, as well as thinking of all the other lovely benefits.

i'm aiming for once a week!

what rash vest do you have?

Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 08/10/2021 21:25

Welcome! I’ve just seen the sea swimmer thread so May decamp to that as it’s fairly similar in theme. I just love it and it’s probably the only good thing to come out of COVID in my life. I adore the lidos but I never had space amd time for them when working in the office.

I have a voited robe. A No zip one which is cheaper but for me it’s perfect as I am generally not trying to properly get dressed underneath.

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Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 08/10/2021 21:26

Oh amd my rash vest is a very nondescript one. No idea of the make. It’s normally for surfing (which I am crap at!) but it’s enough at the mo for an extra layer

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taczilla · 08/10/2021 21:43

I swim all through the winter in my cossie. Once it gets cold I think boots and gloves are essential, I can't be arsed with much else as it's a faff. I have a McLeod coat and I wear small boob tube to hold my hot water bottle once it get cold. I always bring a flask of tea through the winter and a pile of layers.
It really is an amazing thing to do, my usual arthritis in my wrists has gone and my mental health is so much better for it.
I love a full moon skinny dip, a Sunday morning dip followed by a chat and a bacon butty and a regular swim at lunchtime with my neighbour. You can't beat it with a big stick.

WhenZoomWasJustAnIceLolly · 08/10/2021 21:55

I swim in my cossie all year round but boots and gloves essential, by December it’s actually painful on the hands and feet without.

Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 08/10/2021 22:29

Are you all lido swimmers? I feel it’s a it takes compared to sea or lake swimming. But it’s a lovely vibe. So friendly. And the atmosphere is totally different in October to June (I like both - I am an equal ops swimmer!- but interesting to see the change)

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Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 08/10/2021 22:29

A bit tame, that should say!

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BogRollBOGOF · 09/10/2021 09:30

I've taken up swimming at a water sports centre at a lake. I'm going for all the warm stuff, but with 2x 30mins travel I want to be able to sustain more than a 10 min dip, plus need to feel confident that I've got enough in me to get to the entrance/ exit point rather than never being more than a few metres from the side.
The water's about 14⁰C now and there are still some in skins having brief swims, but more wetsuits are appearing.

Mooserp · 09/10/2021 09:40

I kept going through last winter so I'm hoping this year will be a bit easier. I swim in lakes and rivers.

Not sure what the coldest has been, definitely sub 5 degrees. I wore neoprene gloves and socks and compression top and tights over my cossie.

Mooserp · 09/10/2021 09:41

I always wear a swim cap too!

SummerInSun · 09/10/2021 12:57

Another vote for boots and gloves as absolutely vital. But I'm a wuss and wear a wetsuit in the lido too! Depends how long you want to stay in.

If you are cycling there and back you will need cycling gloves too, as your fingers will be freezing on the cycle home.

There is a lovely monthly magazine called Outdoor Swimmer which you might like. My husband bought me a subscription as a present and it's great.

Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 09/10/2021 17:11

More swimmers! Lovely. I managed 25 mins on Friday in my rashie and bikini and the temp was 15. So still a decent swim (and I do a very rubbish front crawl and proper face in breaststroke). My favourite bit is the first length with my head in the water. It is possibly the best feeling ever. Such an adrenaline rush

DH has also got into it but feels the cold more so he is ordering us both some socks and gloves. I will nick the kids swim hat the next time I go and see if that makes a difference and then consider a neoprene one.

I’ll hopefully get some sea swimming in Over half term at our holiday home. That will be wetsuits though - can’t wait.

I have all the gear for cycling as I do a fairly regular cycle commute to work.

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FrangipaniBlue · 13/10/2021 23:27

I'm a winter swimmer, coldest I did last year was 0 water temp -4 air temp!! There was a layer of slush on top of the water and my tow float froze!

My top tips are:

  1. make sure you are well fuelled and well hydrated, I definitely feel my body getting colder faster if I'm not
  2. wrap your towel and dry clothes around a hot water bottle and put it a cool bag, this was a revelation, it's like putting clothes on straight out of the tumble dryer!
  3. don't bother with a dry robe jacket they are warm but don't dry you. Get the dry robe poncho towel and a big size so that you can get dried and dressed inside it
  4. dry socks, gloves & hat on first
  5. hand warmers inside your swimming gloves!
Ridiculousradish · 13/10/2021 23:35

Last Winter was my first swimming all the way through. I absolutely loved it! I just wear a cossie, but did end up getting gloves and boots because it got a bit painful without. I went for a dip today and was so happy it felt chillier!
I don't have a dry robe, but think I might get a massive hooded towel to change under. I always have a flask of tea afterwards to warm me up. Bobble hat comes in handy too.

Ridiculousradish · 13/10/2021 23:37

Meant to say, I swim in the sea.

Keladrythesaviour · 13/10/2021 23:39

Another one here though this is my first full winter - I started in April last year. I was in a wetsuit then but in my Cossie now. I'm holding out as long as I can! I wear boots and gloves. Boots all year round as I don't like pond weed on my toes Blush but the gloves just now the water temp is dropping.
It's so addictive!

Time40 · 13/10/2021 23:46

wrap your towel and dry clothes around a hot water bottle and put it a cool bag, this was a revelation, it's like putting clothes on straight out of the tumble dryer!

Genius! Thank you. I'll be doing that!

I'm lido swimming at the moment - although mine is a tiny bit colder than yours, OP. I've just bought some swimming leggings, but I haven't tried them yet - I've been waiting for it to get really, really seriously cold before I do.

I can't get my head in below about 17 degrees, so at the moment I'm a breastroke-only, head-out person ... so I suppose a tip is to start swimming with your head out when it becomes unbearable.

I find it helps to get out when I start to feel cold, and go in the shower for about a minute, then walk about on the poolside for a bit. After that I can get back in for another 15 mins or so.

I think a woolly hat is the most useful item of clothing to put on afterwards, and I try to get it on asap.

For sea swimming in the winter, I always take a couple of bottles of hot water to get the sand off my feet afterwards. It's very comforting.

Keladrythesaviour · 14/10/2021 06:19

@Time40 I was told that going in twice wasnt good for you - the lake I swim at has lifeguards and if you get out of the lake (even to go to the car to get something) you aren't allowed back in. Something to do with temperature regulation? But I just tried to Google it and couldn't see anything so maybe it isn't a thing!

HeronLanyon · 14/10/2021 06:30

I’m a year round sea swimmer - swim suit. As sea keeps its warmth through autumn it’s ok but by Feb/March my swim turns into ‘dip’. Usually 9-11 where I swim. Thinking hard about some kind of wet suit but never have and swim on beaches requiring pretty long sometimes difficult climbs and I’ve never wanted to lug ‘clutter’.

Time40 · 14/10/2021 09:43

@Keladrythesaviour Oh, that's strange and interesting. I've never heard that before. Warming up a little bit and then getting back in has never done me any harm, as far as I can tell.

@HeronLanyon Maybe you could compromise and get a rash vest? And perhaps some other lightweight things, like swimming gloves?

HeronLanyon · 14/10/2021 10:27

I do use rash vests when snorkelling in hot sunny places. Have never thought of them as warming more avoiding sun burn but you’re right - shall give one a go.

Original poster
FreeButtonBee · 14/10/2021 19:33

15’ today and just lovely. I wore a swim cap for the first time. It kept me a bit warmer but I must admit I missed the rush of getting my head totally wet. It’s my favourite bit. Might do a final length or two at the end with no cap. DH got me gloves but I don’t feel I need them yet. Was a bit chilly when I got out as the wind was up but being a lido I was in a warm shower in 3 mins so all good.

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CMOTDibbler · 14/10/2021 19:41

Me too! Lake and river here and I swam through the winter for the first time last year though I've been outdoor swimming for years. I'm seeing how long I can hold out in a cossie, but will go into a wetsuit soon. I do love the cold water, and the coldest I did was 2' water, -2 air with the top of the lake iced over.
Top tip, if you wear neoprene socks/booties, put some pop socks on and they will slide off easily

Keladrythesaviour · 14/10/2021 20:35

@FreeButtonBee I usually do a big dunk at the end without my hat and gloves! If I'm in a wetsuit I strip to my waist and drop under. That thrill of submerging in the cold is stupendous.

It was 13.5 in the lake today, felt wonderful once I was in Grin

FrangipaniBlue · 14/10/2021 21:30

It's down to 12 in my nearest lake so I'm in my wetsuit, socks and thin gloves (I'm in for about 45 minutes though because I do around 2k front crawl).

Once it drops below 10 I'll switch to thicker gloves and as it gets to 5 I'll put a rash vest on as well 😂

I find I get colder breast stroking with my had out, once I get past the brain freeze I'm warming front crawling I think because I'm working harder?