Wild Swimming Kit List

What do you need for wild swimming?

Wild swimming is a fantastic way to immerse yourself in nature, exercise your body and mind, and explore new areas.

There are some key pieces of equipment to ensure you stay safe, visible and warm when swimming in open water.

Whilst this list is not exhaustive, there may also be occasions when you can swim with less equipment. The following items are what we consider essential for people new to wild swimming.

Equipment

Wild Swimming Equipment

Wild swimming equipment

Wetsuit

Whilst cold water swimming in skins (usually done in a standard swimsuit) has grown in popularity, a swimming wetsuit can be key to safe and comfortable wild swimming year-round in the UK. Swimming wetsuits provide additional warmth, buoyancy, efficiency and also offer a certain degree of protection. Whilst both wild swimming with or without a wetsuit requires some degree of acclimatisation, there are a number of additional safety precautions to take when swimming without a wetsuit. We therefore recommend a wetsuit for anyone new to the sport, wanting to swim year-round, or if you are looking for extra comfort and efficiency.

Goggles

Unlike swimming in a pool, when you are outdoors you have to deal with murky waters and changing light conditions. The importance of your vision is also enhanced, as when swimming in open water, you have to orientate and navigate yourself. UV protection is an important consideration you wouldn't usually have to think about when swimming indoors. With the reflection of light off the water on sunny days, it's really important to protect your eyes. Polarised lenses help to cut out certain light, usually glare on sunny days, allowing you to see with more clarity. Photochromatic lenses adjust lens tint depending on how bright the conditions are. So when indoors the lenses will be their natural clear colour, but if you head into bright sunshine (as you may encounter with wild swimming) the lenses will tint accordingly. Due to their adaptability in changing conditions, photochromatic lenses are a great option for wild swimming in the UK.

Swimming cap

Having a swim cap not only helps to keep your hair out of the way but is also important for making yourself visible. Choosing a brightly coloured cap is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out from the water, a crucial safety element if swimming around boats. The brighter the better! For cold weather, you can also purchase neoprene swim caps which help add warmth and avoid dreaded brain freeze. For added visibility you can layer the neoprene cap with a brightly coloured standard swim cap.

Buoy / tow floats

A buoy/tow float is another crucial piece of wild swimming safety equipment. They are high visibility, helping to make you stand out to other water users. Also, if you ever need to take a break then you can hold onto the inflated buoy/float to give yourself a quick rest. Some buoys also feature dry bag storage, so you can carry essentials within the float. This can be especially useful for car keys and nutrition on longer swims.

Wetsuit

Whilst cold water swimming in skins (usually done in a standard swimsuit) has grown in popularity, a swimming wetsuit can be key to safe and comfortable wild swimming year-round in the UK. Swimming wetsuits provide additional warmth, buoyancy, efficiency and also offer a certain degree of protection. Whilst both wild swimming with or without a wetsuit requires some degree of acclimatisation, there are a number of additional safety precautions to take when swimming without a wetsuit. We therefore recommend a wetsuit for anyone new to the sport, wanting to swim year-round, or if you are looking for extra comfort and efficiency.

Goggles

Unlike swimming in a pool, when you are outdoors you have to deal with murky waters and changing light conditions. The importance of your vision is also enhanced, as when swimming in open water, you have to orientate and navigate yourself. UV protection is an important consideration you wouldn't usually have to think about when swimming indoors. With the reflection of light off the water on sunny days, it's really important to protect your eyes. Polarised lenses help to cut out certain light, usually glare on sunny days, allowing you to see with more clarity. Photochromatic lenses adjust lens tint depending on how bright the conditions are. So when indoors the lenses will be their natural clear colour, but if you head into bright sunshine (as you may encounter with wild swimming) the lenses will tint accordingly. Due to their adaptability in changing conditions, photochromatic lenses are a great option for wild swimming in the UK.

Swimming cap

Having a swim cap not only helps to keep your hair out of the way but is also important for making yourself visible. Choosing a brightly coloured cap is one of the best ways to make yourself stand out from the water, a crucial safety element if swimming around boats. The brighter the better! For cold weather, you can also purchase neoprene swim caps which help add warmth and avoid dreaded brain freeze. For added visibility you can layer the neoprene cap with a brightly coloured standard swim cap.

Buoy / tow floats

A buoy/tow float is another crucial piece of wild swimming safety equipment. They are high visibility, helping to make you stand out to other water users. Also, if you ever need to take a break then you can hold onto the inflated buoy/float to give yourself a quick rest. Some buoys also feature dry bag storage, so you can carry essentials within the float. This can be especially useful for car keys and nutrition on longer swims.

Changing robes

Having a changing/drying robe can help with both convenience and warmth. It makes getting in and out of your swim gear a breeze wherever you are. Importantly, as soon as you finish your swim a warm changing robe is a really good way to help bring your body temperature back up, helping to avoid the drop-off.

Gloves & boots

When swimming in the winter and early spring months, water temperatures in the UK can really plummet. Neoprene boots and gloves can provide all-important extra warmth to keep your extremities warm in colder temperatures. Swimmers that feel the cold more than others may choose to swim in boots, gloves or both, year-round for extra comfort.

Wild swimming in the Lake District

The Lake District is a beautiful part of the UK to wild swim in. However, there is a threat posed by invasive, non-native species of weed which can make the lakes unswimmable. The #spreadthewordnottheweed campaign aims to raise awareness of this issue and protect the last few pristine lakes.

Whether you are swimming, paddleboarding or kayaking, it is advised that every time you leave a body of water and every time you go from one body of water to another, to:

Check your equipment and clothing for living organisms
Clean and wash all equipment, footwear and clothes thoroughly
Dry all equipment and clothing
If you're planning on going in multiple lakes in a day, consider the order in which you travel. Go from the cleanest lakes, rivers and tarns first.

Final thoughts

"Having the right kit can make wild swimming far more enjoyable, especially when it comes to staying warm before and after you get in the water. Warm clothes for after can be just as important as the kit you wear in the water. I've learnt the best kit is the gear that helps you stay safe, warm and gives you confidence to be out there doing it in the first place." - Abby, Supervisor and Events Lead

About the contributor

Supervisor and Events Lead

Abby

Being based in the Lake District, I'm no stranger to all things outdoorsy, however, wild swimming is what I’m passionate about and cold water is now part of my daily routine. I also enjoy walking, drinking copious amounts of coffee, artwork, gym and cycling. I’m dedicated to helping others and aiding them to discover the physical and mental benefits of being outdoors. I have grown up amongst the Cumbrian mountains and I’m super lucky to have my own family now that I can do the same for.