Warmest wetsuit for winter cold openwater wild swimming

How to pick the warmest wetsuit for cold open water wild swimming in winter. Great if you want to swim skins - we sometimes do that - but please don't say wetsuits are 'cheating'.
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[@campquestwest6462]

I bought a surf wetsuit second hand before the pandemic for lifeguard training (you spend a lot of time waiting in the water) but I discovered that the no zip entry suits are really good for shoulder mobility. They were designed for maximum movement for "paddling" - which is what we're doing without a board. Obviously - not good for a triathlon because they take some time to wiggle out of - but for comfort, I don’t think they can be beat. I kind of think the surf wetsuit designers have an additional 20 years on the swim wetsuit designers.

[@mattjoseph4428]

Thanks for this. I'm thinking of starting wild swimming this year as it's one of my 2022 goals. I've got an old surfing wetsuit that I've had for many years and so I've been looking at getting a new one. It sounds like the kind of thing you need to try before you buy.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Or get a few online with free returns and be ultra careful when you try them on - soft gloves so you don’t get a thumbnail tear.

[@Justyburger]

I started open water swimming in a cheap surfing wetsuit and was getting cold. I upgraded to an Arena Powerskin Thunder and I have not been cold once so far. That said, we are heading into winter here in NZ, so it remains to be seen, how it holds up as the winter months progress. My wetsuit is quite a tight fit and from this video, I gather that it's certainly one of the main reasons why I am finding it very warm. There's very little flush down the back of the neck.
At the moment, I am using a normal indoor swimming cap, but am looking to upgrade to a neoprene hood...but I am wondering whether to get the hood type, that covers the whole neck or whether just the neoprene cap is enough? I am also wondering what difference gloves and boots will make? Our coldest sea temperatures where I live, are about 13 degrees C. A really cold snap, might take it as low as 12. The seawater in Sydney actually gets that cold in the winter, as I found out once, while spearfishing in a really old crappy wetsuit. I was freezing that day.
My intention is to swim right through the winter, so I need to adapt to the conditions. New Subscriber, so this is the first video I came too. Will watch others...

[@pawshands9706]

I need to know. I am not fond of cold water swimming, but I am planning to move to Scotland. So best to find the best suits.

[@jeffarcher400]

I found the geoprene rubber used by Mateuse is less permeable to water flowing through the rubber. It is slightly less flexible.
Fleece liners add weight. Compare wet and dry weights and see how much. In the water it's neutral but it's still stuff you are dragging around.
I really enjoyed the electric vest. It's a game changer.
Some report good results with polypropylene long underwear and it's floaty.
Old timer Great Lake swimmers used oil or Vaseline on exposed skin.
I finally said enough and got an electric mountain bike.

[@Andrewmgeoghegan]

Deeply appreciate your videos … its a minefield for sure Sir ….. …

[@poppetrurazvan3900]

Hi. Thank you mister.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

You are welcome

[@MrThegamemasterlord]

i have a question since the rise of gas prices in uk if you wore a wet suit in the house in the winter would it keep you warm

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Try it and report back 😁

[@sporranheid]

🤣🤣🤣👍

[@RAFAELLO077]

Would you recomend mystic company suit ?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I’m pretty sure they’re kite surfing and windsurf suits. So really warm for Netherlands’ waters, but not great for a hands-over-the-head sport like swimming (which is what you do when swimming crawl). Swimming wetsuits have thinner neoprene on shoulders for this required flexibility. ‘Steamers’ and other surf-type suits tend to bunch-up or otherwise restrict this movement. So probably great for the sport they’re designed for but probably not for swimming.

[@JJ.ermenegildofregna]

What's the sea water temp in Scotland in this season?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

I'm not sure. I know down our end of the loch it's unusually cold this winter - 4c earlier this week - but that's because the rain from rivers puts a layer of cold, fresh water on the surface. Out in the sea with a greater water exchange might be warmer.

[@JJ.ermenegildofregna]

@@alwaysanotheradventure Thanks. Mmmmmh 4 degrees is quite something😨

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

@@JJ.ermenegildofregna A few days before that it was 11C! Amazing how quickly it changes with run off from the hill

[@inthehouse9062]

Jolly Good

[@sureshchinnappa2290]

Si can you show me how I can join your membership: interested in your support team.

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

Thanks Suresh. If available in your territory there should be a Join button under all videos, except on iPhone. It’s clearest on the big version of UA-cam.

[@sureshchinnappa2290]

@@alwaysanotheradventure got it! Have just joined😀

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

@@sureshchinnappa2290 thanks very much for the support Suresh

[@djsketch7208]

Whats the name of this suit?

[@alwaysanotheradventure]

This is a BlueSeventy Thermal Reaction.

[@djsketch7208]

@@alwaysanotheradventure thanks 👍

[@believe-in-righteousness]

I would never swim in cold water