15 must-have items for cold water swimming

Or at least, a few essentials and a bunch of nice-to-haves

A few weeks ago I was visiting Brisbane and popped into GOMA, which had an exhibition about identity as expressed through cultural artefacts – for example, contemporary photos projected onto traditional clothing and embroidered designs on 1950s’ kitchen utensils. I sort of understood it. My friend and I started half-seriously, half-jokingly discussing what an exhibition of sea-swimming ‘artefacts’ would look like: lopsided goggles dangling on the wall, for example, or a humble hot-water bottle perched on a plinth. What would we display and how would we explain?

As swimming grew from something I dabbled in to something much more significant (and I’m still grappling with how to describe its magnitude in my life; it’s much more than a hobby, but ‘lifestyle’ and ‘passion’ feel too grandiose), the number of items I’ve acquired has grown too.

What do we need for swimming in colder water? What if it’s pouring down or blowing a gale? What if we’re swimming further offshore, or going out before sunrise? What if we encounter jellyfish? As we swim through the seasons these questions emerge, and often word-of-mouth tips and trial/error bring about the solutions. So without further ado, here is my ‘gallery’ of swim items, from the most obvious to the more obscure. I’ve linked to products I like but they’re not ads; I’m not a swimfluencer!

(Privilege alert: all of these items cost money but many are available second-hand or sometimes people give them away for free when they’re decluttering. Keep an eye on local online swimming groups.)

Togs/cossie/swimsuit/bathers

Whatever you like to call them, they stop you from swimming naked. Before becoming a swimmer my togs were always poolside friendly and more decorative than functional, designed to cover the bits of my body I didn’t want to show. But from my first swim lesson in 2021 it was obvious that I needed something more streamlined that wouldn’t interfere with my movements. I’m a fan of Speedos and have a few pairs for the pool and sea. They’re classic, don’t get in the way and cover the ‘essentials’.

Hooded towel

While I just use a standard towel at the pool, by the ocean I swear by my Stoked towelie. It’s a wide, hooded towel that I put straight over me after swimming and then wriggle out of my wet togs immediately and get dressed. I call it my portable changing room. It may have resulted in the odd flash of boob/bum to start with as I figured out the logistics, but I have quick-fire changing down to a fine art now.

Goggles

I used to find goggles leaky and fiddly, so it was a revelation to invest in a better quality pair and learn that you don’t need to press down whenever you put them on – they should form a seal automatically. I use Predator Flex: they have a nice wide lens. I have a tinted pair for outdoors and regular pair for the pool. I’ve used the same ones for years and never had an issue with leaking. They may look pretty innocuous here, but my googles are a window to the underwater world and I have seen all sorts of beautiful marine life through them.

Swim cap

I have too many of these and most have come from branded swim events where you get a ‘free’ cap. I don’t have a favourite, but as I have long hair the bigger the better. They don’t keep my hair dry but they keep it out of my face and help keep my head warm(er), even in summer. I remember buying this lemon one pretty early on, from Etsy, when I realised no cap = cold head.

Skull cap

A skull cap is like a swim cap but it’s made of neoprene (like a wetsuit) and has a chin strap. These are great for the colder months – I find adding a swim cap underneath adds extra warmth. Mine is a bright orange Orca cap and isn’t the most attractive accessory but it’s good for visibility and reduces brain freeze, aka ice cream headache, once the sea dips below 12°C.

Tow float

Sometimes called a swim buoy, these are incredibly useful for visibility in the water when you’re swimming offshore (to boats and other people) and also for storage – you can pop keys inside them in a dry bag. On darker days or before sunrise/after sunset you can also stick a light inside them. The float attaches around your waist and you blow to inflate it. It’s not a lifesaving device per se, but if you’re taking a breather you can lean on it for a few minutes. Mine is a Zone 3, bright and sturdy. A good tip I learned recently is to add a little (250ml) bottle of water to weigh them down enough that they won’t fly about and bop you on the head when it’s windy! This is its non-inflated state, away from its natural home.

Neoprene gloves and socks/boots

To protect your extremities and prevent ‘claw hands’ or numb feet from the cold, these thermal items are very useful. I wear them every winter. I recently invested in some 3mm dive booties as I feet the cold most in my feet and the socks weren’t cutting it (I think our puppy may have chewed a few holes in them!).

Glove and sock drying rack

I’m quite proud of this one. I got the idea from a swim friend, who got the idea from a Facebook group. All you do is drill four holes in a plank of wood and stick in some wooden spoons. Then dry your gear in the sun or in front of a heater. As I pulled on my gloves for the first time after using the spoon system, I realised they’d never been completely dry before.

Wetsuit

When people learn that I sea-swim in Wellington, their next question is usually: ‘Do you wear a wetsuit?’ There’s a feeling among some swimmers and non-swimmers that wearing one is somehow cheating, but there’s no dress code for the sea. Having said that, I do have mixed feelings about my wetsuit. It means I can stay in the water for longer and feel the ‘afterdrop’ less (your body continues to drop in temperature for another 30-40 mins after getting out). It can also offer protection from jellyfish/sea lice stings. But it also reduces my contact with the ocean, not to mention my cold-water bragging rights. Oddly, I wear mine in summer for longer (1km+) swims and just do cold-water dips in my togs in winter. Mine is a Blue Seventy 1.5mm similar to this one. You can buy a full wetsuit, or short-sleeved, or even just a neoprene vest to protect your core. You’ll also want some kind of anti-chafe balm (lanolin is a good one) to apply around your neck, armpits and anywhere else that gets red marks from friction.

Pet bed warmer

What’s this doing on the list, you may ask? Well, it may be intended for pets but it works for people too. It’s not as soft as cuddling a hot-water bottle but you heat it in the microwave for 5 mins and it stays warm for several hours. Mine is a Snugglesafe warmer. This has been a godsend for clutching after winter swims when I’m shivering over coffee. I left on the funky animal-print cover.

Swim robe

Also known as a dry robe, this is a nice-to-have but it’s super-helpful on a windy or rainy day, both before and after a swim. Mine is a Passenger robe. I’ve never managed to dress under one but it’s my outer layer after I get dressed and it’s like being cuddled by a big teddy bear! I use it most of the year. Pair with a knitted hat and/or Ugg boots for the full ‘cold-water chic’ look.

Swim lights

This is new for me as I’ve only just started swimming in the dark. I’ve got an LED dive light (pictured) which I clip to the back of my goggles and a $5 Bunnings torch that I stick inside my tow float.

Not pictured: a hot drink and cake

Hot drink is a must-have, cake is … also a must-have! Right?

And finally, a large bucket to carry everything

$10 from Bunnings. I use this most of the year to cart around the above items, shoving it into my car boot. My car is perpetually filled with sand and random swim items, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Have I missed anything? What are your must-have cold water items?