· Kit · Cold water
What we pack for a winter swim
A bright cap, a flask and socks you can pull on with numb fingers. The bag that lives by our door from October to April.
After a few winters, the bag packs itself. This is ours, in the order we reach for it.
In the water
- A bright cap. Orange or pink, so the shore and the boats can see you. Two caps on very cold days.
- Neoprene socks. For the shingle and for toes that stop working below 10 °C.
- A tow float. Visible, somewhere to rest, and a dry pocket for the key.
Out of the water
- A changing robe you can get dressed under without an audience.
- Loose, warm layers. Nothing with small buttons; your fingers won’t manage them for a while.
- A flask of something warm. Sip it slowly; don’t stand under a hot shower straight away.
On the phone
A check-in started on the shingle, so someone knows when you went in. The phone stays in the bag; the watch comes with you.