Essential Kit For Open Water Swimming
If you are thinking about starting open water swimming, then you’ll likely be asking yourself what you’ll need to get started. There is a lot of kit available, but in truth you really don’t need that much. So here is my advice on essential kit for open water swimming.
Open water swimming is very different from pool swimming. There are lots of factors to consider from access, weather conditions, temperature of the water, where you will be getting changed etc. However what you actually need to start swimming is very little, but that doesn’t mean you soon wont be wanting more and more kit!
To start with, before shelling out on expensive kit before you’ve even dipped your toe in the water, swim with what you already have or can obtain cheaply. Use your first few swims/dips to suss out if it’s something you plan to continue and to learn what would make your swimming experience more enjoyable. This is hugely individual. Some people swim for pleasure, others for fitness, some thrive in the cold yet for others it can make the whole experience unpleasant. For your first few times don’t worry about how long you are in or the distance you cover, and don’t compare yourself to others. Enjoy your first experiences without get weighed down by what kit you need. You’ll likely want to continue and when you do spend out on new kit, it will be an educated decision rather than just on a whim.
This post focuses on essential kit for open water swimming, but if you are serious about starting then you might also be interested in my post A Beginner’s Guide To Open Water Swimming, which covers a lot of other points.
Essential Kit For Open Water Swimming
Like I have already said you don’t actually need that much to start swimming, and hopefully you will already have a lot of what you need. However there are some bits of essential kit for open water swimming that are required.
A Swim Buddy
OK not a piece of kit as such, but when swimming in open water, especially as a beginner you should never swim alone. If you don’t know any like minded individuals then there are plenty of friendly Facebook groups that can help you out. Even better swim for the first time at an organised venue. Often they will have lifeguards, give you an induction and buddy you up with a more experienced swimmer for your first dip. This helps build confidence and will help make your first open water experience a pleasant and enjoyable one.
Swimsuit/Swim Trunks Vs Wetsuit
This one comes down to personal preference, and how you feel you will react to the cold. Plenty of people start open water swimming in skins (swimsuit or trunks), and plenty start in a wetsuit. Swim in what you have to start with, whether that be skins, surf wetsuit or even leggings and a T-shirt! Your first open water ‘swim’ may not even be a swim at all. It’s about experiencing it, to see if you like it and learning what would make you more comfortable.
If you don’t have a wetsuit, maybe try first in skins and see how you feel. Often people will start in skins and never transition to a wetsuit, but if it’s not for you then next time you know to try a wetsuit.
If you already have a wetsuit, even if it isn’t a swim specific wetsuit there is no harm in trying it out. Swim wetsuits even at entry level aren’t particularly cheap, so it’s pointless spending loads of money on something potentially you may not get the use out of.
There are also options to hire swim wetsuits if you feel that is the right path for you and you haven’t got anything suitable and the option of borrowing isn’t there. You can hire wetsuits for a day, month or even the whole season with the option to buy at the end of the hire period. The ultimate try before you buy, and for beginners convinced they need a wetsuit offers a good option. Take a look at My Wetsuit Hire for a good range of options.
Tow Float
A inexpensive piece of kit, but invaluable in my opinion. Tow floats have lots of uses, but their main one and probably the most important is it makes you visible in the water. This is particularly important in shared bodies of water, but also a lot of commercial venues insist on them so you can be seen by supervisors and lifeguards. If you don’t have one and you are planning to swim at a commercial venue you may be able to hire one at a small cost.
A Bright Coloured Hat
Again, a bright colour hat helps keep you visible to other water users so is an important safety essential. In the colder months they also help keep your head warm. If you plan on doing face down swimming then a normal silicone swim hat will do. If you are starting in the colder months then you may want to double up your hats or invest in a neoprene cap to keep your head nice and toasty. However, again I would suggest your first time use what you have to start with and later decide what else you might want. If you are planning on swimming head up breastroke then you may just opt for a brightly coloured bobble hat.
Optional Extras
There are of course optional extras, which depends on your swim style and what you have already. Not necessarily essential but may improve your open water swim experience.
Goggles– if you plan to do head down swimming then goggles are essential. Normal pool swimming goggles are absolutely fine if they are a good fit.
Neoprene Socks and Gloves– comes down to personal preference and what time of year you plan on swimming. Again if you don’t have them, see how you feel after your first swim. Personally I swim in gloves and socks during the colder months as it allows me to be able to stay in the water longer, however even in the Summer I tend to still wear socks as it helps protect my feet getting in and out of the lakes, rivers and sea.
Ear plugs– For some, ear plugs can help with dizziness in cold water, and protect you from Swimmer’s Ear which is an infection of the outer ear canal. My personal preference is to swim without. I have tried them, but I suffer with claustrophobia and didn’t get on with them. If you aren’t planning on putting your head in the water then they are not essential.
Essential Kit For After Your Swim
That covers essential kit for actually swimming, but you need to think about a few things you will need post swim. When open water swimming you have to take into account that you will likely be changing at the side of a river, on a beach or by the boot of your car in all weathers.
Most of these you will already have, but for those that you don’t I have a few cheap hacks that will see you through.
Like most things though, if you get into Open Water Swimming you will be likely coveting other’s change robes, kit bags and elaborate change mats. However, whilst they are nice to have, they are luxury items and not essential when you are first starting out.
Shoes
I would advise 2 pairs of shoes. First something to walk to and from your swim spot that you can slip on and off easily, that can cope with getting wet and you’re not to precious about leaving them unattended. Good options are Crocs or clogs (yes I know not the most fashionable but serve the purpose), sliders or even flip flops if you’re bare feet.
Second pair of shoes is for you post swim when your feet are nice and dry. In the winter you want them warm and easy to slip on, in it the Summer it’s entirely up to you.
Change Of Clothes
You’ll need a set of warm dry clothes to get into after your swim. Again if your cold water swimming then this might include lots of layers and a wooly hat. In the Summer months it’s more weather dependent and up to you. If you are going to swim in the colder months then check out my guide to planning your warm up post cold water swim for more hints and tips.
Something to get Changed Under
As you will be effectively getting dry and dressed out in the open, having something to get changed under can be extremely useful at hiding your modesty. This doesn’t have to be an expensive DryRobe or other equivalent (although I love mine!), there are plenty of other alternatives to make do with until you feel like you want to make an investment. When I first started I used my Dad’s oversized fluffy dressing gown and a towel which did the job just fine. You can also use toweling ponchos which are relatively inexpensive, or if your handy with a needle and thread then you can sew two large towels together and make your own poncho.
Something To Put Wet Kit In
Lots of options here, you really don’t need an expensive kit bag (although you may, like me, find you want one!). My personal recommendation is an Ikea bag, I still use it now. I literally stand in it to strip off my wet kit, then step onto my change mat. Other cheap options are plastic storage boxes or basic garden trugs in the boot of your car.
Change Mat
As you will be outside it is nice to stand on something warm and dry whilst you’re getting dressed. Again you can buy specific change mats, but there are loads of alternatives. I have a small pool change mat that was really cheap from Decathlon. It’s not very thick so not great on stony ground, but does the job. Other options include bath mats, an old towel, an old car mat, foam tiles or even a piece of an old yoga mat.
Post Swim Drink And Snack
Possibly the most important post swim essential. If you’re cold water swimming then make sure your chosen beverage is nice and warm.
Open water swimming is also the perfect excuse to indulge in a lovely sugary treat to replace all that energy you’ve exerted and help you warm up from the inside. Cookies, cake or chocolate are my personal recommendations!
So that’s it. My opinion on the essential kit for open water swimming you’ll need to get you started. If you’ve found the post useful at all, then I’d love to hear about it in the comments. As always constructive feedback always welcome.
Happy Swimming!
Kerry x
