What to Take Wild Swimming: The Ultimate Wild Swimming Kit List
There's nothing worse than getting all the way to your favourite swimming spot and realising you've forgotten your towel. Or your dry clothes. Or, somehow, your actual swimming costume … don’t worry we've all been there.
So whether you're heading out for your first wild swim or you're building your perfect open water swimming kit, here's our wild swimming checklist.
The essential wild swimming kit list
Let's start with the basics.
1. Swimwear
Obviously - Choose whatever you're comfortable swimming in, whether that's a swimsuit, trunks, bikini or wetsuit.
2. Swim hat
A bright swim hat is a simple addition to your kit that can help you stand out in the water.
However, if you don’t plan on putting your head under, a winter bobble hat is a great option for keeping your head warmer in colder conditions. Even better, Swimming Wild makes a waterproof woolly hat, so you can keep your head warm and dry even when the British weather inevitably gets involved.
SHOP OUR WATERPROOF WOOLLY HAT
3. Tow float
A tow float is one of the most useful pieces of wild swimming safety equipment you can carry. It can help make you more visible and can provide something buoyant to hold onto if you need to rest.
Swimming Wild's tow floats also come with a thermometer, so you can keep an eye on the water temperature.
SHOP OUR TOW FLOAT WITH THERMOMETER
4. Wild swimming socks
Wild swimming socks can help protect your feet and keep them warmer when you're swimming in cold water. They're especially useful when you're getting in and out over stones, pebbles or rocky ground.
Swimming Wild's socks use flexible neoprene with reinforced soles designed for open-water swimming.
5. Swimming gloves
If your hands get cold, swimming gloves can be a great addition.
They're particularly useful as the seasons change and water temperatures drop.
6. Changing robe or poncho
This might be the piece of kit you appreciate most once you're out of the water.
A changing robe gives you somewhere warm to hide while you get changed and can make the whole post-swim experience considerably less chaotic. Our changing robes are fleece-lined to keep you warm, with plenty of room to make getting changed underneath them easy … even when you're cold, wet and trying to wrestle your clothes on.
7. Towel
Yes, we nearly forgot it too.
A large towel is ideal.
8. Warm clothes
Think layers.
After a cold swim, you want to be able to get dry and warm quickly.
It’s a good idea to pack:
- Thick jumper
- Coat
- Dry trousers
- Warm socks (not leggings! They are a bugger to get on when cold!)
- Hat
- Gloves
9. Warm drink
Not essential … but extremely good.
A flask of tea after a cold swim is practically part of the sport.
10. Waterproof phone storage
It's worth having a way to keep your phone protected, particularly if you're swimming somewhere remote.
And always make sure you can access emergency help if you need it.
11. Water
Swimming is exercise, even when it doesn't feel like it.
Take drinking water with you, particularly if you're heading out for a longer adventure.
What to pack for a summer wild swim
For a warm-weather swim, your bag might be pretty simple:
☐ Swimwear
☐ Swim hat
☐ Tow float
☐ Towel
☐ Water
☐ Dry clothes
☐ Wild swimming socks
What to pack for winter wild swimming
Your winter bag is likely to be much bigger.
☐ Swimwear/wetsuit
☐ Swim hat
☐ Swimming socks
☐ Swimming gloves
☐ Tow float
☐ Towel
☐ Changing robe
☐ Several warm layers
☐ Warm socks
☐ Hat and gloves
☐ Hot drink
☐ Waterproof phone
What you don't need
You don't need to buy every piece of wild swimming equipment going.
Start with the basics and add things as you discover what makes your swims better.
The perfect kit isn't the biggest kit bag.
It's the kit that means you can spend less time worrying about being cold, wet, uncomfortable or underprepared, and more time actually enjoying the water.
