Cold water swimming gear: essential kit to keep you warm and safe

Unless you’re planning on swimming the Channel under traditional rules – which which only allow you a simple swimsuit or pair of trunks, a swim cap and a pair of goggles – then there’s no reason not to layer up come the colder months.

Thankfully, from thermal wetsuits to base layers and balaclavas, there’s now a huge range of accessories to keep you swimming outdoors once temperatures start to drop.

Because, frankly, from the sea to reclaimed quarries and mountainside lakes, cold water swimming provides an exhilarating surge of adrenaline, and much-needed variation to your training once the triathlon season has wrapped up.

What to wear open-water swimming: your essential kit guide to wild swimming

Plus, you’ll also emerge a stronger and mentally tougher open-water swimmer by the time the new season starts. Especially if you’re the kind of triathlete who worries about being chilly come the return of outdoor club sessions in April!

Tried and tested: Best cold water swimming gear at a glance

• Best thermal wetsuit for warmth: Orca Openwater RS1 Thermal wetsuit | Buy now from triharder.co.uk
• Highly rated neoprene socks: Blueseventy Thermal Swim Socks  | Buy now from Blueseventy
• Best neoprene gloves for cold water swimming: Zone3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Swimming Gloves | Buy now from Swim the Lakes
• Best swim hat overall: Zone3 Neoprene Swim Cap | Buy now from Zone3

Best cold water swimming gear in 2024

What is cold water swimming?

First up, what do we mean by ‘cold’ water swimming?

Well, the RLSS and RNLI tend to categorise water under 15°C as ‘cold’ and under 10°C as ‘very cold’. Brave waters under 5°C and you’ll be entering the world of ‘ice swimming’ which has its own special set of rules and regulations (and is, frankly, extremely difficult!).

By means of understanding how these temperatures might affect us, bear in mind the average indoor pool is heated to around 29°C and our core body temperature is 37°C. With that in mind, 15°C will feel quite fresh! Read on to learn how to acclimatise to cold water swimming throughout winter.

Warmth and visibility

As always, safety is a key consideration when it comes to open-water swimming, especially in the winter where visibility and staying warm are crucial. So take someone with you, don’t overdo it and ensure you kit out properly, both during the swim and afterwards.

For us, fit is key to limit water intrusion and for comfort, so aim to try before you buy or exhaustively analyse the sizing charts.

As it’s not used for extended periods of time, our cold water swimming gear has lasted multiple seasons, so try not to skimp on spending a quid or two here and there.

Fit and performance

Look to cover all of your extremities, but aim to find kit that keeps you as flexible as possible. And don’t care if the kit makes you look like a nutter; it’s normal to get some odd looks swimming in the sea in cold seasons anyway, so embrace it!

Here we’ve got all you need to keep toasty and safe during your cold water swimming jaunts, including thermal wetsuits, base layers, gloves, hats and extra layers. Here’s our top picks…

Best thermal wetsuits for cold water swimming

Below, you’ll find one of the best options for swimming in cold water, but you can also check out our list of the best thermal wetsuits for more choice.

Blueseventy Thermal Reaction Wetsuit

• £519 / $641

We’ve had a thermal version of the iconic Helix for a few winters now, but this year saw the launch of the Reaction model into the winter market.

Featuring a fuzzy orange zirconium thermal layer inside, the suit definitely felt warmer than our normal race wetsuit after a sudden drop in water temperature to 13°C during our test period.

The suit retains a lot of its flexibility and fit was superb, with no water ingress. It did feel a little ‘heavier’ overall, but the 4-5-4 buoyancy profile kept us high in the water and our swim times stayed much the same as usual.

• Best triathlon wetsuits for all budgets
• Best cheap triathlon wetsuits for men and women

Orca Openwater RS1 Thermal wetsuit

• £369 / $481

You’ll notice from the photos that the neckline sits a bit higher on the Orca.

That’s thanks to an inner ‘batwing’ layer of neoprene inside the suit that sits across the back and pulls over your head to add extra protection against trickles through the zip and provide a snug fit to stop water ingress down the neck.

Overall this suit became a fast favourite in testing, too. Warmth is provided by a soft-touch ‘X-thermal’ lining which, though warm, didn’t feel restrictive and was easy to pull on. Read the full review of the Orca Openwater RS1 Thermal wetsuit.

Best neoprene gloves for cold water swimming

See our full list of the best cold water swimming gloves to pick the best option for you, or take a look at a couple of our favourites below.

Zone3 Heat-Tech Warmth Gloves

• £39 / $59

Neoprene gloves can be hit and miss, with overly thin versions, bulky and cumbersome creations and some just brilliant.

Thankfully, the Heat-Tech mitts from Zone3 land in the latter hit category, proving some of the warmest we’ve worn and yet, crucially, still retaining a semblance of dexterity in the water. Highland water ingress was minimal, thanks to the Velcro closure system and a ‘liquid seal’ finish that beads liquid on the surface.

Further heat-enhancing properties include an internal titanium lining and a 3.5mm thickness that, although thicker than standard gloves, still felt stretchy during both the catch and pull.

Zone3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Swimming Gloves

• £39 / $59

Zone3 aren’t messing around with their Heat-Tech range, and in last year’s test we said these gloves were our new gold standard for cold swims.

The 3.5mm neoprene with titanium lining makes them very warm and, with a liquid seal finish, I got a really snug yet flexible fit with no water ingress.

My only note is that, like the brand’s swimming socks, they’re very tricky to get off, so if you aren’t comfortable asking for help or have any issues with mobility in your hands, these may not be for you. Read the full Zone3 Neoprene Heat-Tech Swimming Gloves review.

Best neoprene socks for cold water swimming

You’ll find two of our favourite picks below, but check out our full list of the best neoprene socks for swimming for more options.

Zone3 Heat-Tech Neoprene Socks

• £39 / $49.99

When the temperature drops, hands and feet are start to feel it the most, so covering them will definitely improve thermal comfort and help you enjoy your swim more.

These socks have a long length, close fit and Velcro strap aim to fit closely and avoid filling with water.

During our test swims they definitely did that and we liked the fit around the foot which was snug yet flexible, yet they are tough to get off given their tightness.

The warmth and resistance to water is impressive, though, while the grippy sole is also appreciated.

Blueseventy Thermal Swim Socks

• £38 (UK only)

The Thermal Swim Socks from Blueseventy use the same soft, water-preventing zirconium liner as their winning Thermal Helix wetsuit, and these socks are also hard to fault for warmth and comfort.

They include ankle grippers instead of a Velcro strap to stay in place (we’d prefer the latter), but the textured feet are a masterstroke for running on pebbles or rocks (or to transition if they’re legal in your race) and the multiple panels ensure they don’t feel cumbersome or bulky.

The longer ankle length is successful in preventing water intrusion, while the flat-locked internal seams prevented any rubbing. Still not convinced? See our round-up of the best swim socks around.

Best swim hats for cold water swimming

Swimming hats do a great job of helping you avoid loosing heat from the head. See our full list of the best cold water swimming hats for more, or find a couple of options below.

HUUB Varme Thermal Balaclava

• £34.99 / $45

Yes, your swim buddies will laugh – that is until you have a much toastier swim than they do. The genius of the Huub thermal balaclava is that not only does it tuck under your wetsuit to stop icy trickles down your neck, but it also covers up the sensitive blood vessels and arteries in your neck that are extremely sensitive to the cold.

We added a brightly-coloured swim hat on top for visibility and found once we got used to it, the balaclava worked superbly. It does make your head a little more buoyant though, so keep an eye on your overall position in the water.

Zone3 Neoprene Swim Cap

• £29 / $37

Zone3 have updated the classic chinstrap neoprene hat here with a Velcro strap to help find and secure the best possible fit – a simple but effective solution that reduces any tightness under the chin.

They’ve also added some hi-vis colour for more visibility, which was certainly welcome when we were sharing the southern tip of Loch Ness with a speedboat or two.

What the cap doesn’t do (and this is a criticism of 99% of neoprene hats, not just the Zone3 seen here) is warm the carotid arteries on the neck, which are a major source of heat loss when exposed to cold water.

That means we’ll be using this for early summer and autumn swimming, but sticking to our £35 Huub Varme balaclava (which covers the whole neck) for the truly- bracing stuff.

Best changing robes for cold water swimming

For cosy post-swim warmth, there are few better options than a changing robe.

You’ll find two top options below, but for more take a look at our lists of the best Dryrobe alternatives and the best swim robes.

Zone3 Polar Fleece Parka Jacket

• £70 / $91

Comfy, warm and practical, the original Dryrobe was launched in 2010 and quickly became an essential garment for open-water swimmers around the UK, including the Brownlee brothers. We’ve reviewed the Dryrobe glowingly in the past, so how does this similar product from Zone3 fare?

For a start, it’s £40 cheaper and, due to a thinner fleece lining, packs smaller than a Dryrobe (our only complaints of the original).

Yet there are plenty of great features, with two internal pockets (one zipped and with a MP3-entry) and two outer for keeping the hands warm.

We had a little trouble with the double zip with shivery hands but the five sizes (compared to Dryrobe’s three) is a massive plus and we love the long sleeves.

Dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve

• £140 / $182

Hoover, Play-Doh, Pot Noodle… Not just some of our fun weekend picks but brands which, like Dryrobe, dominate a sector so much they become a generic term for a product. And, as the much-imitated, never-bettered originator of the swim robe, Dryrobe deserve the honour.

The Advance LS comes in 11 colour variations, the light blue one of our last picks due to the chances of it showing mud or bike grease stains from the car boot.

Features include three zippy pockets for valuables, headphone guides and the plush liner for keeping you dry and warm. And, of course, the ability to pull your hands inside to get changed.

Worth noting is that your core temp can continue to drop for 30-45mins after exiting cold water, so keep your Dryrobe on for a decent period after swimming.

Read more:

• Best swim robes reviewed
• Best Dryrobe alternatives

Best base layers for cold water swimming

Adding a base layer under your wetsuit can help keep you warm while swimming in cold water.

You can view our full list of the best base layers for cold water swimming for more, but in the meantime, here’s a very affordable option you may want to consider…

Lomo Neoprene Swim Vest

• £25 / $32

If you’re looking to add warmth to your wetsuit in the off-season, a neoprene base layer is a good option.

At just £25, this swim vest from Lomo represents fantastic value. It’s made from a mix of 3mm neoprene (90%) and nylon (10%), offering a noticeable boost in warmth without being too restrictive.

The sleeveless cut helps ensure a good range of movement, but the seams around the shoulder cut in a little, causing some minor discomfort.

Flatlock seams provided comfort elsewhere, though, and overall was a very cost-effective and safe way to extend your open-water season.

Best accessories for open water swimming

Restube Tow Float

• £79.95 / $104

You can see our list of the best tow floats for a more comprehensive list of options to help keep you safe in the water, but here’s one you might want to consider…

Working on a 16g C02 cartridge, the Restube works by inflating a long inner yellow tube after you pull the ‘trigger’.

Working in mere seconds (handily!) it gives you a buoyancy aid to hold on to, pass to a friend in trouble or wave to attract attention.

Although you don’t get the constant visibility a traditional tow float offers, we liked how unobtrusive this was and, especially in winter, we can sometimes find that in windy or choppy water a tow float that floats behind you can bob around too much and impede your swim.

Which type you choose is down to your personal preference, but if you want an inflate-if-you-need-to option, then this is recommended. A whistle adds an extra safety feature in an emergency.

Submerged Waterproof Wallet

• £40 / $52

Finding a place to keep car keys, cash or a credit card while swimming outdoors isn’t always easy, but the Submerged Waterproof Wallet aims to change that. It’s made from a waterproof TPU, uses an airtight YKK zip and is said to be submersible to three metres.

We didn’t test it that deep, but we had no issues using it while swimming or submersing it fully. The double Velcro strap was secure and the pouch offered plenty of space.

A tow float with a dry bag compartment is a cheaper option, but if you don’t like using one then this is a great alternative.

• Our top tow floats for open water swimming
• How to warm your cold body up after open-water swimming