Wild Swimming Essentials

Wild swimming is becoming more and more popular, especially with the warmer weather. I thought I’d share some of my wild swimming essentials and top tips on staying safe when in the water!

What do I need?

Tow Float – These are a key piece of kit for safety, especially if you are doing longer distances and in deeper water. They help keep you visible when in open water and also can be used as a buoyancy aid if you come into any difficulty or get tired. They also double up as a dry bag to store your keys, phone and any other essentials!

Water Shoes – These are a must for me, they help protect your feet from sharp rocks/rubbish under the water, are great for grip and also good for if you’re a bit squeamish feeling soil or dirt under your feet. These vary in price massively. I have a cheap old pair I use for protection/grip that a friend gave me, but then have my Zone3 wetsuit boots that also keep me warm during colder swims.

Hot Drinks – More for colder weather, but it always help to have a hot drink on hand to help you warm up after a swim.

Dry Layers – Same as above. Warm, dry layers will help you to warm up quickly and avoid any kinds of after chill. I suffered really badly with this when I first started, but the more I do it, the more I get used to it.

A Changing Robe – This is more of a luxury item, but something I absolutely love. They are perfect for helping you warm up after a swim and are big enough to change under. Mine also doubles up as a ‘dressing gown’ when I’m out and about in Sheddy.

Wetsuit – Not essential, but some people prefer it when in cold water, especially when staying in longer. I used mine quite a bit during the colder months when doing long distances, but now I’ve built up more of a tolerance (and the water is warmer) so I don’t really need it at the moment. Zone3 have a great range of wetsuits especially for swimming.

Staying Safe

Try not to go alone – There are a lot of risks associated with cold water swimming, especially for newbies. Therefore, I would always recommend going with someone else, or going to a spot where there will be others. It’s recommended that you take it in turns to get in and get used to the water to help ensure you don’t both get into difficulty. If you do go alone, make sure you let someone know where you’re going, just in case.

Check the water – There are a lot of places people swim that are not really safe to swim in. Things like algae levels, deepness, chemical run off, items at the bottom of the water can all effect how safe somewhere is. Always check before entering the water. There are a lot of groups on Facebook where you can find up to date information and safe spots. Also be really careful when jumping in, it can be so easy to underestimate how deep you’ll go and you have no idea sometimes what’s under the water.

Getting warm – It’s really important to get warm quickly after a swim, especially when the weather is a little colder. Dry clothes, layers and hot drinks.. Also try to get your socks and shoes back on quick.

Know your limits – Don’t try push yourself, especially when just starting out. If can be so easy to get into difficulty, even if you’re a strong swimmer. A may be repeating myself.. But don’t go alone, rake a tow float and check the water! It’s so important.

Got any other tips? Let me know below! I am still fairly new to all this and learning as I go.

I am an open water swimming ambassador for Zone3, so nearly all of my kit is theirs. You can get 15% off any purchase from Zone3 by using this link.