Start wild swimming | 7 tips and advice for beginners open water swimming
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- Опубліковано 28 чер 2024
- Seven tips and advice to help you start wild open water swimming. Check the Cold Water Wild Swimming video here: • Start Wild Swimming in...
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0:00 Chapters
0:40 The warmest wetsuit
1:31 Wetsuit fitting
3:54 Going in
5:54 When to swim
6:14 Warming up after
6:48 Never swim alone
7:31 Share your knowledge
More Wild Adventure Swimming Open Water in the Scottish Highlands
• Adventure Swimming
Equipment mentioned in video
BlueSeventy Thermal Reaction Wetsuit: amzn.to/2IISdUa (Amazon.co.uk)
Lomo swim gloves: www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/triat...
Lomo open water swim socks: www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Neopr...
BlueSeventy Thermal Cap: amzn.to/39SnnV5 (Amazon.co.uk)
Swimming ear plugs: amzn.to/2xwn5ES (Amazon.co.uk)
Lomo tow float bags: www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Swimm...
PLB: amzn.to/2WcsWtt (Amazon.co.uk)
Dryrobe: amzn.to/2IOnAg8 (Amazon.co.uk)
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Please share your experience in the comments - we can all learn from others.
Today I was in Hyde park London and saw people swimming in a the lake where the water didn't look clean to me .. I wondered why anyone one would do that. I came here to find an answer and I found it in the passion I heard in your voice and the love and care you put in the video so thank you Sir and I wish you all the best
I am now 64 and have been a year round open water swimmer for 42 years(ouch) we swim here even is there is ice in the sea Each time you get in Move and give your body a few minutes to let your body temp adjust to the sea wear a swim hat know the place for rocks etc know the tide get to know the winds as they all have different waves don’t go alone have a hot drink for after it’s good to time yourself in the water Everyday will be different Do all these things gradually. Good to start in summer and continue on I don’t wear wetsuit as just never got used to one so don’t know about them go slowly 😀
As a open water swimmer for a number of years in Port Elizabeth South Africa ,,your advise in this video is spot on ...we swim as many rivers as possible but mostly in the ocean...The only thing I can add is never swim alone in the ocean if at all possible . I have broken that rule a number of times , but believe me it's not the way to go . ...Be safe and enjoy the water
What about sharks?
@@soidog659 its more common to encounter jelly fishes than sharks
@@fernwehtwl jellyfish are everywhere, not the best comparison hahaha
Hi ! Is possible : stay in long beach ! No problèm
At 67 and not a strong swimmer I'm thinking about starting open water swimming. I thought this was a great video with very helpful advice, thanks.
Glad it was helpful Kim
What I do to protect the wetsuit while putting it on, is to use the flat of my hand and friction to pull up the sleeves and legs. I try my best not to grab/grip and pull the way you show in this video. Tip 2 was a good one that I never thought of. Tip 3, I've not yet tried, but I'm going to soon. Our sea temp will drop to a minimum of about 13 degrees c, so extreme cold is not really an issue. I do tow a float, but don't have a PLB. I also tend to swim with a group of between 3 and 7 people. If I swim alone, I tend to not go so far out to sea and will sometimes swim parallel to the beach but out in about 10 ft of water. I am a confident swimmer, but don't like taking too many chances. Anything can happen to anyone in the open ocean. In the mountains, I can be a loner, but in the water, I really like swimming with a group.
New subscriber here! Absolutely love your videos. You have a soothing voice.
Just starting to get into cold water sea swimming and the advice you give is really helpful thanks I will keep you posted how I get on
Thanks for the video...i hired a wetsuit for my first time, it arrived by post. Tip: wrap a hot water bottle in a towel for after the swim to cuddle and warm up...😊
It's an excellent tip and - quite frankly - one I should have included. Thanks for adding it here.
Super practical well edited and inspiring. Many thanks.
Glad you liked it Paul
Loved this. My Wife has just started sea swimming here on Anglesey. This was really helpful.
Glad it was helpful
I found this very useful. Thumb up and a sub!
Thank You and I did find these points very helpful.
Just started open water swimming this weekend, thanks for the advice
Hope you enjoy it Gerald
Thank you for some wonderful tips. I've been swimming openwater for the last 6 years and picked up some great tips from your video!
I’m pleased it helped
Great videos. The first breath situation can be crazy! Really good advice there. Blowing bubbles helps too. I'm just getting into sticking with it over the Winter. The float bag is great. I swim alone, but stay along a well populated beach area.Oh yeah ~ I always pack a couple pairs of the gardening gloves that have rubber fingers and palms. They are EXCELLENT for putting on Tri-Suits.
Thanks for reminding me about those gloves. Glad you like the videos.
Perfect Video! Thanks!
Just starting out at 60 yrs old, what a great informative vid, thank you so much liked and subscribed and look forward to watching the vid's.
I started aged 56 Ed and it's no barrier to enjoyment.
58 here want to start!!!
Thankyou mate. I am just getting into wild swimming a I am a wild camping person as well.
Thank you for such a great and informative video, I'm starting out on a plan to compete in a triathlon which involves an open water element. This is something I've never attempted before and I will use the advice you have shared to help me train over the coming months
I'm glad you found it helpful Darren.
{edit: completely misread your comment - sorry.}
Thank you all great tips
I am just starting open water swimming and sucking up as much advice as possible. I found this a great video for novices like me, thanks
I appreciate the comment Mark, thank you.
Hi ! No problème for wetsuit : one bottel of mix schampoo and water !
In wetsuit before ! After is verry kickly on you ! Try it
( Knowl in the diving world ! )
Great video, cool guy! Thank you 😁👍🏽 Definitely a 👍🏽👍🏽
Very good advice Simon.
Thanks John.
Nice tips! Thank you for sharing! I like your advise about using the first swims in cold water as a way to feel and acclimatized to these extremely cold temperatures rather than thinking about the fitness level that the swimming is bringing to you. I am a cross country skieur and for many years I would go skiing on the coldest days of our winter just to get use to colder temperature that I usely ski at and that would make such an amazing difference on how relaxed I was at slightly warmer temperatures. By the end of the winter I would consider -10C à swimming temperature. Our lakes here in Canada are so cold as the ice takes so long to melt after our winters.
Minus 10! Wow - impressive.
Glad i have found your channel for good advice tips...... Cheers
I'm pleased you've found us Ronaldo
thank you for the video! 10 days ago there was ice on our small lake, but the last sunday I went for the first time and tomorrow again...
That is awesome - regularity is the key and you'll soon acclimatise.
You inspire me. Thank you.
Have just subscribed & enjoyed a few of your videos already , I spoke to a couple of wild swimmers recently while having a wild camp at my local reservoir , came home & ordered myself a wet suit so I can join Lexi my dog for a swim , hopefully it arrives for this weekend .
Our dog is not at all sure about swimming with us. She'll fetch sticks close to the shore but otherwise sits and watches. Hope it goes well!
that advices helped me a lot, thanks
Glad to hear it!
Really helpful thank you.
You're welcome Yusra!
This is really useful, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, thank you
Glad you liked it Gerard
Great advice thank you
You are so welcome Jake
Great video very informative I have just started posting my dips in skins
Good advice, thanks.
Glad it was helpful Steve
Great video thanks
Thanks Susan. Please check out the other swimming videos for a few ideas.
Muy buenos consejos, muchas gracias!
de nada Eduardo
Brilliant, thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for your tips all excellent.
I'm pleased the videos are useful Mel, thank you
Thank you very informativ!!!
Glad it was helpful!
I ve never swim in an open water. And thanks for the good advise.
It’s best to start with others who already swim outdoors and can advise - most groups can be found on Facebook and are welcoming to people starting out. Have fun!
Loved the video, subscribed ! I’m just starting out, would love some one to train with in the midlands / Cheshire
Thanks William - loath as I am to recommend the platform, Facebook can be a great way to find local swimming groups. Also triathlon clubs, although most triathletes I know will be retiring to the pool about now.
@@alwaysanotheradventure thanks for the advice. Loving your content
This is an excellent video and really informative. I'm hoping to return to open water swimming again this year after 9 years away from it. A tip I picked up doing triathlon is when putting on the wetsuit, carrier bags over hands and feet to help it glide over feet and ankles, and calves and forearms.
I also found that allowing some water in the neck of the suit just before getting out makes removing it much easier.
Carrier bags would work - or a coupe of old socks over feet, then switch them to hands. Interesting the idea of adding water to remove - not heard that one.
@@alwaysanotheradventure try carrier bags and you'll be a convert! 😉
As for the water, it has to be a good amount that you let in, and I don't know how I'd feel about doing it if the water temp was really low, but basically as it's flowing through the wetsuit it lifts it off your skin which really helps it glide off. For me, the extra 30 seconds in the shallows saved 4 minutes of exhausted wrestling out of a wetsuit in transition!
Thanks
Thanks for the great tips, so helpful. I will start swimming with a wetsuit very soon😉 I promis to check your channel. fun swimming 🌡
Thank You so much, Im beginning swimming in Baltic sea, Denmark. gets 5 Celcius sometimes, now is 18. I did my first swim in years. Jellyfish are unfortunately everywhere, but mainly small once, although I met 80cm yellow one once.
We got down to 5c this winter but that was because of fresh water ontop of the loch. Do your jellies sting?
Merci mec😊
Just start cold water swimming...love your video! Thank you!🏊♀️💙🏊♀️
Thank you too. Hope you have some great swims Gabrielle.
I am preparing myself for a first time trip to Scotland. I am acclimated to tropical waters of the Caribbean where I learned to swim. I am looking for a proper body suit to begin swimming in cold waters. This is just the video I have been searching for.
Thanks!
The fluorescent bag you have with your safety gear in that follows you. Does that double as a floatation device should you get in trouble in the open water?
Plus, when I used to surf back in my 20/30s I used to wear a rash vest, which stopped the suit rubbing, plus added a bit of extra warmth. Is that something you would use or do you think that isn’t needed these days due to wet suit technology moving on since then?
Hi Gary - I have a rashy and used to put it under wetsuits in winter to add warmth but now I find a neoprene vest works better. I still use a regular rashy with my sleeveless wetsuit in tropical waters to protect my arms from the sun. Also if the sea is particularly salty (as in the Galapagos) I needed the neck protection as you'd use for surfing. But generally, the top neoprene is thinner and more flexible, so some anti-chaff glide is all that's needed, if at all.
As for the bag - these come with warnings that they are 'Not a lifesaving device'. It probably doesn't conform to some safety standard. But on the rare occasions when I've had a muscle cramp I've hung onto it and it worked well.
Gorgeus.
(Assuming you mean the scenery 😁)
Good video old timer, I wish I had a grandfather such as yourself
Oh dear, does Mummy know you're playing on her phone again.😁
It was a genuine complement lol
@@Paulie.k I'm sorry and I apologise. It shows a certain sensitivity to ageing on my part 😁
I'm 21 so unless u technically couldn't be old enought to be my grandad I apologize too sir, I will let u do the math I don't dare to ask your age lol
@@Paulie.k Oh I could! It was the "old timer" that did it for me!
Thank you for the video. You're wise, you definitely know what you're talking about. I'm going swimming in a wetsuit I've just bought soon. I've swam in a costume before. You look as though you enjoy it
💚💦🍀🌊
Learning to lift yor head between strokes to see what's ahead is an useful exercise. Also it's important to be aware of boats and jet skis by the sounds they make.
Both of those are great points Rodrigo and both come with practice. I feel the first of those is best taught by a swim coach, and that's not me, so I'll steer clear of any videos about sighting.
Thank you for the warm water tip! Very helpful! Could you tell us what is the name of the GPS device?
Good
I'm contemplating starting cold water swimming.... just need the balls....
Another few tips....
Wear a rash vest....
Put a plastic bag... or better still... garage gloves.... the plastic gloves at a filling station ..... it makes it much easier to put the wet suit on... do the same for your feet.... (Not gloves.... just plastic bag).
Good advice....
Never dive in.... you never know what is just below the surface.....
I know a guy.... from scuba diving.... he dive into what he thought was a deep pool..... in Australia..... his head hit a big rock... messed him up .... he's a paraplegic now.... can't do anything for himself..... not even feed himself.
That’s an awfully sad story. Heck of a warning too.
Is this the Simon Willis who was on North East regional TV in 80s ? Great information video for me , I am just coming out of a 30 year relation and looking to take up something new in the summer and might give this ago
That's me... Always good to start something new John.
Great video.
Where I live winter sea temperature rarely falls below 13 C.Having said that having completed a winter of swimming,I really absolutely enjoyed the experience of the cool water to the point of being addicted.I could easily spend an hour in 13-14 C water.I would start with a brisk swim with a couple of stops to get over icecream-head and then it was really pleasant and refreshing.I would stop a little lie on my back,then swim briskly for maybe 200-300 meters then rest a little,contemplate a little etc.Bliss!God I love it.Never felt the need to wear any kind of gear.Now being caught in a summer heat-wave I dream of my winter cool swims.My question is how much colder does lets say 7-8 degress water feel from 13-14 ?Thanks a lot.
Hi Dharma. Personally I prefer swimming in a wetsuit. It’s 17c here now and I can ‘dip’ without a wetsuit but a proper swim - for me - is better in neoprene. Liz and I agree that below 10C seems to be the temperature at which we notice the biggest change and we can spend less time in the water. Here it can get down to 5c because rivers pour cold snow-melt water ontop of the sea water.
@@alwaysanotheradventure Yes God willing this coming winter I plan to go swimming in a mountain lake or two.Hoping i will get to experience below 10 c water.If I visit the UK I will definitely do some swimming,maybe starting with the Ponds in Hampstead :)
Thank you so much for the informative and educative video!
What about crocodiles? How do we be sure the water is safe?
rarely find them in Scotland
RE: showering with cold water daily
5:11
Nowadays I shower with the tab set to maximal cold water since it's healthier.
The only one time in the week it's hot, is when I take my weekly relaxation bath.
Indeed, when you do the first spraying it feels cold ... that feeling never goes away ... but ... you get used to it and the effect subjectively feels less hard after less then a week until it no longer bothers you.
When one rinses for the second time after the soaping, that same cold water actually feels pleasantly warmer to the touche of the skin.
Especially in winter, coming out of the shower the air actually feels warm because of your contracted capillaries.
---
Nowadays when I step into the warm bath it feels scorchingly hot because my body simply isn't used to warm water anymore.
---
I would assume that showering this way would make your body more resistant to the cold of swimming ;-)
All very Wim Hoff 😁 Would you have a cold shower after a cold swim? Doesn't sound like a great plan...
@@alwaysanotheradventure
You're right ... that wouldn't be the most optimal thing to do 😀
What I ment was on days I'm not swimming.
Currently I mostly work out in my gym instead of going swiming and at the end of the daily workout I take my cold shower.
My hypothesis is simply that 'showering with cold water and also rinsing your face with it on a daily basis would train your body to be more resisting to cold when actually going out to swim'.
And since hot water is actually bad for the heart and blood vessels ... transitioning to cold water seems to me a great option to anyone.
This is all just my assumption ... it would be an interesting study to perform scientifically unless it has already been done
I always swim with fins in open water
I think you would benefit from more diverse exercises and heavier weight. I really like Caroline Girvans Epic series. Granted i can go heavier if i slow doen and set my own pace.
I like the bag you also use as a changing mat. Can you tell me which bag this is?
There are quite a few versions of similar bags - search for changing bag mats - but this one is from Lomo www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/changing-mat-bag-drysuit.html
Feet warmth: Swim socks vs booties? It seems like many booties are made with grip bottoms for surfing, kiteboarding, etc. Are there particular you like that allow good ankle mobility for swimming?
(conditions: fresh water Minnesota. 13C yesterday, and I would like to keep swimming until it gets to "Baltic" cold, if I can!)
Hi Gregg - I might have called them booties, but they're definitely swim socks. The ones for surfing etc. don't work for me because they're not tight enough, either on the foot or around the ankle. Consequently they can fill with water and either pull off or drag down. I've seen someone loose a bootie while swimming.
The swim socks with no gasket cuff can do the same, even when tucked under the leg of a wetsuit. That's why my outer pair of swim socks has a tight, stretchy seal. The water gets in obviously, but doesn't seem to slosh around.
The cold just seems to reduce the amount of time for which I can keep swimming, but then I'm not as dedicated as some who make a point of swimming every day regardless.
Love your video. I'm curious that how to check if the water temperature is too cold to swim? And how you can check that the flowing speed of water is safe? Thank you.
Hi Minh - if you swim regularly your body adjusts to the lower temperature and seasonally you're aware of how the temp changes. Here it's colder after rain which runs off the mountains and sits ontop of the salt in the loch.
If you want to monitor that, you just get a thermometer. I've found 10C and below significantly shortens the length of time I can swim.
Speed of flowing water is more complex. In a river, you can always throw in a stick and see how fast it travels, understanding deep water will have much more effect on your body. If you feel it's safe, then initially always swim into the flow to test whether you can swim against it. If you can't, get out. Or you can plan a drift-swim where you get out at a different point further downstream where you have kit (and possibly a vehicle) waiting.
Flowing sea water - a tidal stream - is governed by a lot of factors. Later today we're releasing the first of two videos about Tides for Openwater Swimming which covers the basic of tides. Next Sunday we'll have part two and that covers an understanding of tidal streams and flowing water.
So look out for those please!
@@alwaysanotheradventure Thanks for your reply. Looking forward to see your new vids soon!
Hi, Thanks for a really great video - I am really interested in starting Wild Swimming but am slightly put off by possibly catching something nasty from the water - what chance is there of that and what precautions can you take - could be a good video in its own right :-)
Thanks for the comments on the video. I'm cautious about answering this in detail (although the reply is quite long) because I'm no expert in water quality.
We swim in a sea loch or a very large fresh water loch, so there's a regular exchange of water with no chance of build-up of effluent or natural nasties like some algae. We swim well away from outflows of septic tanks, water treatment works (we checked with Scottish Water) and in particular around here, no where near fish farms.
I realise not everyone is lucky enough to have such bodies of water close to home and swim in smaller lakes and rivers. I believe the Outdoor Swimming Society has advice on avoiding contaminated water, but this tends to revolve around common sense, such as not swimming after heavy rain / flooding when there might be field run-off of agricultural chemicals.
All of the above is using common sense and knowledge to avoid the worst, but comes with no guarantees. If you need greater certainty, there are services which sell water quality test kits and they might interest you. In fact, it might make an interesting video for me. Scroll to the bottom of this page where they're listed. I hope this has been useful.
www.simplexhealth.co.uk/how-to-test-the-quality-of-open-water-for-bathing-or-swimmingis-cms-104.html
@@alwaysanotheradventure I wouldn't bother with one of those kits just assume it falls below the safety standards required for human consumption because when I've tested my local tap water it falls below that standard in North Lincolnshire lol. I was curious as I bought a kit for cycling an aquarium, so tested our tap water... Exceeds minimum safety standards or rather doesn't reach... Its slurry, still drink it though been drinking it 40 years bit pointless stopping now haha. Probably due to farms around the area spraying shit on fields and it getting into the local supply
@@1invag Worth knowing (if slightly worrying!) thanks.
Hi, loved the video, super informative. Quick question...is there an alternative to the tow float to store car keys if swimming alone? Looking to start triathlon training but heard from yourself in a video that the float can become a hindrance in choppy conditions. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hi - a couple of options. You can put the key in a dry pouch, inside a small dry bag, and down the front or back of your wetsuit, sitting in the small of your back. Might need help getting it there! The other thing we do is carry a small dog-poop bag and leave the key in it behind a rock. Few people are going to open that!
@@alwaysanotheradventure great ideas! Much appreciated and keep up the good work👍🏻
@@ewhite5158 Hi there. Another option is to get a lockbox - they are large enough to hold your car keys, can be shackled underneath your car and opened using a combination. They are about £15 from surf shops (or Amazon); I use one when surfing and it's a lifesaver.
So I have been doing it over 4 years now
I was watching a diver use a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water, which he poured everywhere on the inside of his wetsuit. Then he just slipped into it. Seemed very easy for him to put it on. And also easy to take off as well.
I am going to try that for sure, thanks for the tip (Hot water at this time of year)
@@alwaysanotheradventure 👍
@@alwaysanotheradventure As an ex surfer we wouldn't use dishwashing liquid but a low Ph shampoo or conditioner (baby shampoo will not irritate the skin which I fear dishwashing liquid might eventually do but can't say for sure) Lubricating the wetsuit works best for open cell wetsuits. Open cell wetsuits stick to your skin because the open cells work like suction cups. They are warmer than comparable closed cell wetsuits but much harder to get on and unless they are a so called smooth skin outer or a lined outer, do not handle abrasions well .
@@blackduck7851 I THINK swimming wetsuits are closed cell but stand to be corrected. We were talking about his before a recent swim and I felt I wouldn't want to take any additional chemical into the sea. Partly for environmental reasons but also because washing up liquid might froth up like an out-of-control washing machine!
Just booked my first open water swim (manned loch in Glasgow). No wetsuit, so I'll be small steps, get out and not try to spend ages in the water
Excellent David - I hope you enjoy it.
Do not swim open Water Alone. That is an amazing advice.
What are your thoughts on the Patagonia Yulex range of wetsuits? and which of their R ratings would be appropriate for Scottish seas, rivers or lochs? (Probably for use in summer months)
Hi Iain - I hadn't heard of them (although rate Patagpnia kit highly). Looking at the R3 online, it's clearly a wetsuit for surfing not swimming. While any wetsuit would be great to start, I suspect they wouldn't be ideal.
My main concern would be freedom of shoulder movement. Swimming crawl is a hands-above-the-head stroke, albeit lying face down, in a way surfing is not. You need complete freedom of movement, so swimming specific wetsuits use thinner neoprene in the shoulder panels. They also place thicker neoprene in places (chest, thighs) to hold your body buoyant in an optimum swim position, something I suspect surf wetsuits don't need to do.
The front zip will interrupt the flow of water when you're face down - not a big deal (some swim-run suits have this) but it's also a consideration. So if you have one, then it's worth trying it. Particularly if it's one of the thinner suits like the R1. However, I wouldn't buy one for swimming.
@@alwaysanotheradventure thank you for replying! I didn’t realise they were for surfing, do you have any suggestions for kind of “beginners” wetsuits or any brands that do wetsuits intended more for swimming?
@@iainturpie4269 Hi Iain - I'm cautious about this because 'beginners' usually means 'inexpensive-in-case-I-don't-like-it'. The flip side of this is that inexpensive wetsuits usually have fewer panels, so are less likely to fit you tightly, more likely to flush with water as you swim, so you'll get cold.
You see the issue.
That said the two brands I'd start with are Alpkit: alpkit.com/collections/mens-wetsuits
and Lomo - Mark and Bruce support our charity swims.
www.lomo.co.uk/acatalog/Triathlon-and-Swimming-Wetsuits.html
I'd also not discount some of the cheaper models from established makers like BlueSeventy - their Reaction wetsuit is superb (I use the thermal version).
If you can try on a wetsuit first it's enormously helpful to make sure it fits your body shape. Zone3 gapes around my neck, BlueSeventy fits tight. A swim coach near me can't stand BlueSeventy and finds Orca is perfect for her.
Occasionally it's possible to buy some online from companies with free returns. In which case, I'd suggest trying a few then send back the ones your don't want before the credit card bill falls due 😁
Can you advice me I have a similar wetsuit but in winter swim breaststroke and find my legs too high in water. Is there a way to counteract this.
Hi Anne - I know exactly what you means but I have never found a solution to this. I think it’s the thick neoprene on the thighs. The very thing which helps people swim crawl by lifting their hips and legs makes it hard to swim breaststroke.
Some swimming wetsuits designed for top swimmers, who don’t need such lift, have less neoprene, so it’s possible these might work (I think Orca do one like this) but naturally they are the most expensive in the range and wouldn’t be certain to do the trick. Sorry not to be more helpful.
I never wear a wetsuit whenever I swim because I don’t have one and didn’t have a place to buy. Yes, I always swim with someone. I do follow that one rule.
Hi, thank you for tips. I've myopy. Your swimming goggles have prescription lenses? If so wich model/ brand ? Thank you.
Mine don't have prescription lenses, they're regular BllueSeventy goggles. However, my wife does use prescription lenses in her goggles and buys them from this company - goggleyed.co.uk/product-category/adults/
@@alwaysanotheradventure thank you for kind reply
Thanks for tips sir. How much should I look to spend on a wetsuit for summer seas and occasional colder wild swim inland? They are so expensive for cold water that outdoor swimming is distant memory I long for 😥
Hi - I can't give you a figure of how much to spend, because a really cheap one might fit your body better than a more expensive one. It's about achieving a tight, all over fit, not budget.
Firstly, when you're looking at wetsuits, make sure they're swimming wetsuits, often called Triathlon wetsuits. Wetsuits for windsurfing or diving are very hard to swim in due to the buoyancy distribution and thickness around shoulders.
In the UK I'd look at brands like Lomo and Alpkit for budget versions, and the introductory models of well established brands like Zone 3, Orca, Roka and my favourite, BlueSeventy. If you can get to try them in a shop, so much the better. If it has to be online, try to buy them from a company like Sigma Sports which offers free returns (check their Neoprene policy first).
I hope you manage to get swimming.
@@alwaysanotheradventure thank you so much for the help, I will take a look at those and hopefully find something suitable. Would've opted for one of the surf suits from decathlon had I not seen your video so very grateful
If you haven't already got one, the Zone 3 suits made by Wiggle (mainly an online cycling store I believe but they've branched out) are good. I've got the advanced 3 which was £198, but they do a similar version for about £130, Triathlon magazine put them top of the tests and highly rated them. I have an Iron Man brand suit, and an Orca, the Zone 3 really is better. Good luck.....
@@julesnfriends While Zone 3 are great, they're not for everyone. I had a top-of-range Aspire suit, but I sold it because it did not fit me as well as the BlueSeventy. As a result, the Zone 3 flushed with cold water. Likewise, a good friend and neighbour finds BlueSeventy is an awful fit on her and she prefers Orca. Since we're all individual shapes and sizes it really is worth trying a few to find which fits you best. (Incidentally, Wiggle's own brand is dHb 😁)
I have a question as a beginner. Why do fingers on my hands feel numb after a swimm? I am swimming 45 min at 19 °C and have a 1,5mm neoprene shirt on. Not so cold for you maybe, but I'm so proud of myself and hope to keep it up through the coming autumn. Thank you
That's great! Your hands feel particularly cold because they have a lot of nerve endings to give you the sense of touch. So as you cool, and your blood withdraws from the peripheries (feet and hands) your hands tingle and then start to hurt - simply due to those nerve endings. They'll then start to claw. When this happens it's usually the little and second fingers which go first - they're served by the Ulna nerve and it's a warning to head for the shore. If the index and middle fingers start to claw, it's a big warning sign to get out because that's a different nerve (I forget which). Keep up the good work!
@@alwaysanotheradventure thank you so much for this information. And yes I will keep it up😁💪 think I'm addicted 😆😎
But don't persevere your first time, right? Shouldn't we actually be quite wary of the moment when we start to feel warm/comfy again? I'm new! Just checking 😊👍🏻
I'd try to get past that feeling of cold striking your chest with some breast stroke, but do it in shallow water so you can stand and get out in a hurry. Your body will tell you when it has had enough.
Not too long for the first go, then build it up. That said, some people just adapt fast and swim happily.
If you really feel WARM in 12C water then it would be a first for me, so I'd say something is wrong, or you're a very unusual person.
I would love to start wild swimming for reg
Healthas I have had heart failure what safety precautions could I take so I don't drown.
Hi Mel - I'd suggest a long chat with a doctor you trust in case there are specific medical issues associated with what has happened. If you get the all clear, then I'd suggest using Facebook to find some swimmers near where you live who can encourage you slowly and carefully. It's all about gradual, short steps at first.
@@alwaysanotheradventure Thank you so much for your reply ,I was second in north America in my division in taekwondo I know what it takes for perfection and I know I would greatly benefit from this I can feel it not doing it.
That’s very impressive! However, as an athlete you might drive and push yourself faster than your body can adjust to cold water. Being aware of this will reduce your risk considerably, provided there are no other underlying health issues.
@@alwaysanotheradventure Thank you so much for getting back to me so quickly 😉 I will certainly take your advice ,I am thinking about a vest or towing a perserver behind me just in case my heart 💜 decides to take over.
Hi there, I'm going to be holidaying near Gairloch soon, can you recommend any swimming spots in the area?
Hi Rachel - I haven’t done much swimming up there but there are loads of lovely beaches from Red Point up to Big Sand - it gets a bit rocky after that until past the lighthouse. You won’t have any problems finding places to swim. I have a video in the playlist of a swim we did just before lockdown from Little Gruinard Bay which might give you an idea of the scenery.
How about fish nets? I have been chased by angry swan.
Never come across fishing nets where I swim. Lots of fish farm debris, a few abandoned creels, but thankfully no nets. Oh, and swans can be scary!
I hate swimming in the eighth in the sea or ocean because of the salty water. Swimming in the Black Sea for 2500 m I was vomiting so much because of the sea water and the wave moving. any tips for that?
Ear plugs help with the movement; occasional sips of water with flavoured electrolyte helps with the salt (a little); the GPS I use now is a Garmin 745 - there are newer models now.
How long after heavy rain shoukd we wait b4 swimming.?
There's not a simple answer to that Rachel. It's about knowing the various factors which could affect where you swim. For example, if you're sea swimming, are there any sewage outfalls nearby - these sometimes have overflow permissions to discharge direct. In a river or inland body of water, is there run-off from forestry or farming? And of course, a river flow can significantly speed-up after heavy rain. You'd need to assess each individual case, and the best way to do that is to talk to local swimmers who do it regularly.
Ok, thank you for your reply
How long would you stay in the water first time if you are not wearing a wet suit ??
If we're talking about me, then it's minutes! I really don't like it because I end up 'dipping' rather than 'swimming'. If you persevere you will acclimatise, but I don't really want to. I like wetsuit swimming.
I agree. And it depends on water temp.
As mentioned in the video it’s really important to let your body get used to the cold water first. That means relaxing and catching your breath before you start swimming.
Regardless, always build up.
As with any exercise routine overload is key. In this case it’s more staying in longer each time rather than exercising more.
@@nigelgoldsworthy354 You're right. I had a couple of injuries this winter that kept me out of the water. I'm still trying to get my body used to the water temp (9c) and not swimming more than 1km. Hope to build distance when either I acclimatise and/or water warms a little
I want to give this swimming a go.. However I am un sure about swilling the water.. Its the only thing that's putting me off.. I love to swim breast stroke..
Hi Mary. A couple of things. Breast stroke is not so easy in a wetsuit (for many people) because your legs float too high and you don't get that push through the water. Crawl works well because you see, and therefore appreciate, the underwater environment though which you're swimming. I always feel it's like flying.
On your point about water - it's almost inevitable that some water will get in your mouth, which is why it's important to know the conditions where you're swimming and, as I mentioned in the video, immediately after heavy rain is not great.
That said, you quickly learn to not swallow. In fact, your body is really good at this, especially in crawl, because it learns that when your face is out of the water, it's inhaling air. But yes - if you had any immune issues, then getting untreated water in your mouth would probably be an unhealthy risk.
i use the breast stroke exclusively..and wet suits aren't made for that stroke.. unless someone can direct me to something that might work?
BlueSeventy have been asking people via their Instagram whether there’s any demand for a breaststroke wetsuit.
Don't raise your head up high to take the breath cos it slows you down and makes your lower body sink
Good advice but not always possible in open water
Hi, thanks for the great vid! I would love to try wild swimming at some point but I'm too sacred to go on my own but I don't know anyone who I can go wild swimming with. I would appreciate any advice on where/how to start wild swimming or where to find a community that I can join as a beginner. (I'm in the UK) Thank you!
Hi Ella, thanks for the kind comments n the video. You're right not to just dash in and try it yourself. The Outdoor Swimming Society keeps a list of UK swim groups www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com/uk-wild-swimming-groups/ which might be helpful. Although I'm no fan of it, Facebook is also a pretty good place to look for local swim groups too. I hope you find somewhere local and take the plunge.
@@alwaysanotheradventure This is very helpful! Thank you so much :)
@@ellak3276 You're most welcome.
I am in the same boat! Really want to try wild swimming but have no one to do it with! Will definitely be checking out the link above thank you 😊
@@alwaysanotheradventure this is how I found a local group (via OSS) and have had a couple of swims with them and found swim buddies. Local groups know the rivers, lakes etc and can advise. Loving it.
I spent most of my life in Maine, swimming in the west side of the Atlantic, never with a wetsuit and often wearing only as much as the dolphins-so I initially felt right at home jumping into the water between the Inner Hebrides islands. What I did not count on was the incredible overpopulation of jellyfish in Scotland's end of the Atlantic! I narrowly avoided an encounter with what looked like a red man-o-war with a hood the size of a 18 wheel lorry tire! I've never used a wetsuit, because I relish the bracing cold of a good scrotum-tightening swim-but if wetsuits protect you from the tendrils of Scotland's Scyphozoans, I may have to get one.
BTW, two of my favorite swims ever were on Skye. I swam in some waterfall faerie pools in the foothills of the Cuillins which were fed by recent snowmelt. Proper chilly, but heavenly. My all-time favorite dip was in Loch Coruisk, where I might have been perfectly content to transform into a waterhorse and make my home there among the kelpies. to go from the salt harbor into the fresh loch was transcendent. The lure of that spot haunts me.
Thanks for that story Jon. Jellyfish - the moons are harmless (as in this video ua-cam.com/video/XyUFQDZ8K5g/v-deo.html) and I’ve seen few Lion’s Mane this year. There are worse ones out there.
The Skye Faerie Pools have become an Instagram hot spot - not a place to head in summer but good out of season. Loch Coruisk must have been wonderful as it’s such an out-there place, linked to the sea by Scotland’s shortest river.
Please check back on Friday morning - I have a SwimPacking video and podcast coming which I think you’ll enjoy.
Only reason id wear a wetsuit os because I'm afraid of what I can't see lol, there aren't even dangerous animals in my local waters :b
A huge amount of people share your concern, even some great swimmers. My friend has been scared off swimming skins at her usual spot because there's a local seal colony. They've never bothered us (and vice versa) but still...
@@alwaysanotheradventure There aren't even seals! It's a very calm lake in the Netherlands, yet I still feel anxious about not being able to see what's beneath me, even though literally every fish is scared of me.. haha
What's the name of that Loch?
It's Loch Sunart
@@alwaysanotheradventure LOL did it taste salty?
Is it safe to go swimming in the sea? I'm scared of getting eaten by sharks.
If you swim where the big sharks are then no it’s not safe.
If you swim where the big sharks are then no it’s not safe.
Gonna treat my fringe to another dip in the lake 😤😤😤
Get that fringe under!
Hi. Je pense que votre façon de tirer le néoprene peut être dangereuse . Je m'explique : même avec les gants de cotons je ne tire jamais avec les doigts comme des crochets . Mais toujours en pinçant entre l'index et le pouce ( cette facon prend plus de matière entre les doigts et est moins agressive pour le fragile néoprene actuel )
Voilà c'est une recommandation de chez orca .... keep swimming into the beautiful lanscap !
C’est un très bon point et j’aurais pu mieux le démontrer. Merci pour le conseil.
Il est évidemment possible de nager seul ! ( A condition de ne pas nager au large à un endroit où il n'y a personne ) vous pouvez longer la plage ou il y a 1,50 m d'eau . .faire des aller retour . La il n'y a aucun risque !
The spirit of wild swiming .... is it be alone with nature , in harmony with it ...
( that is my opinion ! )
@@breizizel3256 I agree. However, for new swimmers - the people who are most likely to watch these videos - that’s not the best initial advice.
When making this video, was you swimming alone?
Are you looking to criticise me?
Did my question come across as being critical?
So you did take it as criticism. Well, I liked your video because it was very informative, in fact, I thumbs up. So I'm finding it very strange amd parciliuor that your questioning me about my question.
@@lizoyako6414 Sorry Liz’s - sometimes life gets in the way ad I’m on my way to an emergency dentist. There’s quite a controversy about swimming solo. It’s a no no for many people. And yet there are ways to accept and mitigate risk. It’s not something that’s easy to capture in a few words on UA-cam or even a video.
Okay. The reason why I looked into open water swimming was because I wanted to swim alone as compared to going to a swimming pool filled with other people.
What makes it "wild" ? Down here is Australia we just call that swimming...
Yeah I hear this observation quite a lot Darren usually from people who don’t do it and feel ‘wild’ swimming is a fad or fashion. I’m not saying that’s you, just that’s the direction from which it usually comes.
‘Wild’ simply distinguishes this swimming from that done within the confines of a pool. Nothing more or less.
Try typing ‘swimming video’ into UA-cam and see how many outdoor swimming videos you get compared to pool swimming. When I tried it, there was one outdoor, the rest were pool.
‘Outdoor’ swimming is arguably the better prefix, except we have Lidos - outdoor pools.
‘Open water’ swimming is the prefix used by the charity of which I’m a trustee because all our swims are in the sea. But could this apply to river swims? To inland Loch swims? Loch Ness is fresh water and certainly Openwater!
The pastime / sport is still just swimming. The Wild is merely a location differentiator.
I think you’ve given me an idea for another video 😁
@@alwaysanotheradventure
What’s your Charity?
@@nigelgoldsworthy354 Sadly not running any this year www.highlandopenwaterswim.com/
Use "whole"hand when put wetsuit on. Not your fingers as this gentleman.
It's a nice idea but doesn't work. Check the official BlueSeventy guides to putting on their wetsuits. The soft gloves allow the use of fingers without tearing.