What to Wear for Wild Swimming in the UK: A Complete Guide

There is nothing quite like sliding into a Highland loch at seven in the morning, the water so cold it takes your breath clean away, and the hills reflected perfectly on the surface around you. Wild swimming in the UK is extraordinary. But if you turn up in the wrong kit, it can quickly go from extraordinary to dangerous — or at the very least, deeply uncomfortable.

This guide covers everything you need to wear for wild swimming in Britain, whether you are a complete beginner wading into a Cotswolds river for the first time, or a seasoned open water swimmer eyeing up a winter sea swim off the Pembrokeshire coast. We will look at wetsuits, swimwear, neoprene accessories, safety gear, and what to wear before and after your swim to keep you warm and well.

Understanding UK Water Temperatures

Before we get into specific kit recommendations, it helps to understand what you are actually dealing with. British water is cold. Even in the height of summer, most UK lakes, rivers, and coastal waters sit somewhere between 15°C and 20°C. In winter, Scottish lochs can drop to 3°C or 4°C, and the sea off the north of England is rarely above 7°C from December through to March.

The Outdoor Swimming Society — one of the UK’s most respected organisations for wild swimmers — regularly publishes water temperature data and guidance. They are well worth following if you want accurate, location-specific information before you head out.

Water temperature is the single biggest factor determining what you should wear. A good rule of thumb for most UK swimmers:

Above 18°C: A swimsuit or trunks is perfectly comfortable for shorter swims
15°C–18°C: Consider a wetsuit or at least neoprene gloves and a swim cap
10°C–15°C: A wetsuit is strongly advisable; neoprene accessories become important
Below 10°C: A thick wetsuit, neoprene gloves, boots, and a swim cap are essential; keep swims short
Below 5°C: Extreme caution required; this is experienced cold water swimmers territory only

The Core Decision: Wetsuit or Swimsuit?

Swimming Without a Wetsuit (Skin Swimming)

Plenty of dedicated wild swimmers in the UK choose to swim without a wetsuit year-round. Sometimes called “skins” swimmers, they argue that the full sensory experience of cold water — the sting, the rush, the post-swim glow — is lost inside neoprene. And they are not wrong. There is a reason the cold water swimming community in the UK has exploded in popularity, particularly since the pandemic, and a big part of it is the reported mental health benefits that come from regular cold water exposure.

If you are swimming without a wetsuit, you will still need a decent swimsuit or pair of trunks. For women, a well-fitting one-piece costume works best in open water — bikinis have a habit of requiring readjustment at the worst possible moments, particularly in rivers with any current. For men, well-fitted jammers (the knee-length swim shorts used in competitive swimming) are a popular choice over baggy board shorts, which create drag and can feel heavy when wet.

For skin swimmers, the key accessories — which we cover below — become even more important. A neoprene hat and gloves can make the difference between a manageable swim and a genuinely dangerous one when the water temperature drops.

Choosing a Wetsuit for Wild Swimming

If you are new to wild swimming in the UK, or if you plan to swim from October through to April, a wetsuit is a sensible investment. It allows you to stay in the water for longer, reduces the risk of cold water shock, and makes the whole experience considerably more comfortable.

Wild swimming wetsuits are different from surfing wetsuits, and it is worth knowing the distinction before you buy. Surfing wetsuits are designed for flexibility in the arms and shoulders but are often less buoyant and less thermally efficient than open water swimming wetsuits. Open water wetsuits prioritise buoyancy (they keep your hips and legs up, helping you swim more efficiently) and thermal protection.

Wetsuit Thickness

Wetsuit thickness is measured in millimetres, and you will typically see two figures — for example, 3/2 or 5/4/3. The first number is the thickness across the torso; the second (and sometimes third) figure refers to the arms and legs. For UK wild swimming:

2mm or 3/2mm: Suitable for summer swimming in warmer UK waters, roughly 16°C and above
4/3mm: A great all-rounder for spring and autumn, and mild winters in the south
5/4/3mm or 6/5/4mm: Best for cold winter swims, particularly in northern England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland

What to Look for in a Wild Swimming Wetsuit

Look for a wetsuit with good flexibility across the shoulder panels — you are doing a lot of arm rotation in front crawl, and a stiff suit will tire you out quickly. Smooth-skin neoprene on the chest and back will retain more warmth than the textured exterior found on many surf suits. Taped and glued seams (rather than just stitched) are worth seeking out, as they keep cold water from flushing through.

Brands popular with UK wild swimmers include Orca, Zone3, Huub, and Blueseventy. Most of these companies produce suits specifically designed for open water and triathlon swimming, which suits wild swimming well. You can find decent entry-level suits from around £80 to £120, while premium suits run to £300 or more.

Essential Accessories for UK Wild Swimming

Swim Caps

A swim cap is non-negotiable in cold UK waters. Your head loses heat rapidly — estimates suggest that somewhere between 40% and 50% of body heat can be lost through the head in cold water — and wearing a cap significantly slows this process.

For wild swimming, you have two main options:

Latex or silicone caps: These are the standard swimming pool caps and are fine for warmer summer swims. They keep your hair out of your face and provide a small amount of thermal protection. Bright colours are excellent for visibility.
Neoprene caps: For anything under 15°C, a neoprene cap is much more effective at retaining heat. Some wild swimmers wear a silicone cap over a neoprene one for extra warmth in very cold conditions.

Visibility matters greatly in open water. Choose a brightly coloured cap — neon yellow, orange, or red — so that other water users, kayakers, and anyone onshore can see you clearly. This is particularly important on busy stretches of water and in coastal areas where boat traffic may be present.

Neoprene Gloves

Cold hands are one of the first things that will cut a wild swim short. Once your fingers stop working properly, it becomes difficult to grip things, to fasten dry bag zips, and to get changed efficiently afterwards — which is itself a safety concern.

Neoprene swim gloves, typically 2mm or 3mm thick, make a substantial difference. Some swimmers find that their stroke feels slightly awkward at first with gloves on, but you adapt quickly. Look for gloves with a textured palm for grip, and make sure the wrist seal is snug so cold water does not flush straight through.

Neoprene Socks and Boots

Your feet take a real battering in wild swimming — not just from the cold, but from the rocks, shingle, gravel, and mud that cover the beds of most British rivers, lakes, and beaches. A pair of 3mm neoprene socks or wetsuit boots serve two purposes: they keep your feet warm, and they protect your soles from sharp or slippery surfaces.

If you are swimming somewhere with a particularly rough or stony bed — Dartmoor’s rivers, for instance, or many Scottish sea lochs — wetsuit boots with a rubber sole are a worthwhile addition to your kit bag.

Tow Floats and Dry Bags

A tow float is not clothing, strictly speaking, but it is as essential as anything you wear. A brightly coloured inflatable float worn around your waist on a short leash does several important things. It makes you visible to other water users, it gives you something to rest on if you need a breather, and if you get into difficulty, it provides buoyancy support until help arrives.

Many tow floats also double as dry bags, allowing you to keep your phone, car keys, and a small towel inside while you swim. Brands like Dryrobe, Swim Secure, and Zone3 all make good options. Tow floats are recommended by the RNLI, the Royal Lifesaving Society UK, and the Outdoor Swimming Society for any open water swim.

What to Wear Before and After Your Swim

Getting into the water is only half the story. What you wear before and after a wild swim in the UK is just as important as what you swim in. The post-swim window — the 30 to 60 minutes after you get out — is when hypothermia risk is at its highest, because your core body temperature continues to drop even after you have left the water. This is known as the afterdrop.

Moving Forward

Once you have the fundamentals in place, the possibilities open up considerably. The UK offers fantastic opportunities for anyone interested in this hobby, and with the right foundation you will be well placed to make the most of them.