Open Water Swimming

135 watchers

Jambomo Aug 2018 9:02am, 17 Aug 2018 6,656 posts	0 Jambomo I think general purpose wetsuits are fine to get you started, until you know if you like it or not. The main reason I had for getting a wetsuit was so I could stay in longer, I was only getting 15mins or so without it, so wasn’t getting a proper swim done. I do swim in the sea though, so it is colder all the time!
beebop Aug 2018 1:47pm, 18 Aug 2018 1,155 posts	0 beebop Thanks - I should probably try one. However, Wiggle sent me offers on wetsuits today and I might have bought one if they had had the cheapest in my size. Even the cheapest isn’t cheap, though. Better make sure the open water hobby sticks first!
LazyDaisy Aug 2018 8:14am, 19 Aug 2018 23,591 posts	0 LazyDaisy I start using boots, and then gloves, from the end of October-ish. I also in the past have changed from goggles to more of a mask-type set of eyewear as it covers more of my face. And double swimcaps of course. In fact in the cold months the less of my skin in immediate contact with the water the better:-)
LindsD Aug 2018 11:03am, 19 Aug 2018 24,182 posts	0 LindsD Still skins in the lake this morning 21 deg water/18 deg air. Cold on getting out and car heater on full blast
LindsD Aug 2018 11:03am, 19 Aug 2018 24,183 posts	0 LindsD (although, to be fair, I was swimming with a fairly slow friend who was wearing a wetsuit)
Little Nemo Aug 2018 3:42pm, 19 Aug 2018 8,729 posts	0 Little Nemo If it's really cold I use a neoprene hat.
Oranj Aug 2018 7:19pm, 19 Aug 2018 1,023 posts	0 Oranj If it's really cold I go swimming in a pool!
LazyDaisy Aug 2018 7:14am, 23 Aug 2018 23,637 posts	0 LazyDaisy Ferret do you know the lady from Wey Bay Swimmers who's just become the oldest woman to complete a Channel swim? Annoyingly I only saw it as a link from another page on FB and my phone won't link to it here. I don't actually know how old she is
Oranj Aug 2018 7:59am, 23 Aug 2018 1,041 posts	0 Oranj She was 70, I saw it on Twitter: twitter.com
LindsD Aug 2018 8:04am, 23 Aug 2018 24,246 posts	0 LindsD Wow!