Written by Luke Green /
With the weather falling on the colder side this spring, many of us are left with no choice but to consider undertaking the daunting activity of cold water swimming! While it’s fair to say that swimming in more temperate conditions can be preferable, you don’t need to put your hobby on hold while waiting for more amicable weather; with the right gear ready, cold water swimming can be an exciting and rewarding experience. In this handy blog guide, we’ll show you exactly what to wear after cold water swimming to warm back up as efficiently as possible and maximise the benefits of the activity.
One of the best pieces of kit you can get for warming up after cold water swimming is a waterproof changing robe. In fact, if you spend a lot of time in the water, one of these is probably the best investment you can make. A swimmer looking for a changing robe with top performance will want to check out our Pro Change Robe EVO range. The cutting-edge design and advanced technology of its fabric make for a waterproof and breathable robe suitable for any weather conditions.
If you’re familiar with how the body handles heat, you’ll know that a significant percentage of your body heat is lost through your head. Because of this, one of our top recommendations for what to wear after cold water swimming is a beanie-style hat such as a Voyager Beanie or a Roam Beanie. Covering the top of your head with a snug beanie will help to insulate your body and speed up the warming-up process after getting out of the water. It’s also great for protecting yourself from the wind while you dry off.
New to our range of incredible changing products is the Kids Dry Poncho. This fantastic bit of kit has been designed from the ground up with protecting children from the elements in mind - featuring our breathable and 100% waterproof PFC-free DWR fabric, hi-vis detailing and pocket space aplenty.
There is a long list of other potentially helpful bits of kit that you could invest in to help you with warming up after cold water swimming. Some of the highlights include:
A Waterproof Kit Bag to store your dry gear in one secure container to speed up the changing and warming up process.
An Insulated Bottle to keep a nice warm drink on hand to help you warm up after your swimming session.
Warm Socks are another top recommendation for what to wear after cold water swimming, performing a similar insulating role to a beanie.
Many swimmers head straight to the car or another dry place and turn up the heaters in an effort to warm themselves up quite quickly after a cold water swim. In actuality, you are far better off engaging in a quarter of an hour or so of walking to slowly but surely bring your body closer to a normal temperature. Following this up with some hot food and drink will have you thoroughly warmed up. As tempting as it may be, do not head straight into a hot bath or shower - some swimmers have even fainted from the afterdrop. Instead, take one after you have properly warmed yourself up.
We hope this guide on what to wear after cold water swimming has been helpful to you. If you’re in need of any assistance or have any questions about the incredible selection of equipment we have available at Red, feel free to get in contact with the Red team for help today.
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