Gear Advice
Discover our expert recommendations for outdoor swimming gear. Learn how to choose goggles, swimwear, wetsuits, and other accessories to suit your needs. Get advice on packing smarter for open water swims and races. Understand how equipment like pull buoys, shoes, and tow floats can enhance your swimming and safety. With trusted guidance on selecting the right gear for comfort, performance, and protection in cold water, this collection helps you prepare for a safer, more enjoyable outdoor swimming experience.
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Need a wetsuit repair? Meet Rooted Ocean
The longer we can keep our gear going, the less we need to produce, say Lee Newby who runs a…
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What’s the most eco-friendly wetsuit material?
Making ethical choices when it comes to wetsuit materials can be a minefield. It’s often a careful balance of weighing…
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How to pack for swim travel
Your swim travel essentials – and how to carry them – as recommended by the Outdoor Swimmer team
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NetPlus: How fishing nets are turned into swimming shorts
Not all recycling is equal, says Greg Swienton of Bureo, makers of this innovative material created from recycled fishing nets
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Yulex 2.0
A new iteration of the natural rubber alternative to neoprene, Yulex 2.0 has a superior degree of stretch and elasticity.…
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On the Wilda side: a Q&A with founder Caitlin Paton
While many open water wetsuits are muted blacks and greys, Wilda has created a suit that embraces the joy, vibrancy…
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How to care for your wetsuit
How to rinse, wash, repair and store your wetsuit so that it lasts for many seasons to come
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Sustainable swimming kit: Meet Corca Mar
Corca Mar makes sustainable kick floats and pull buoys from natural cork, a durable and functional alternative to EVA foam.…
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Power up: 9 reasons to train in fins
Outdoor swimming coach and endurance swimmer, Rowan Clarke, tests Speedo’s new swim fins.
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Spring into the season
Care is still needed for spring swimming as the water is still cold and the weather can be fickle at…
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Which swimming wetsuit should I go for?
To help you narrow down your choices, the Outdoor Swimmer team headed to Clevedon Marine Lake to put four Orca…
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Which goggle lens do I need for open water and pool swimming?
Swimming goggles come with a vast array of lens types, all suited to different light conditions. Gear Editor Jo Tinsley…
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Is all neoprene harmful?
Rowan Clarke explores how toxic neoprene is responsible for a health crisis, and why the appetite for truly sustainable wetsuits…
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Best jammers, briefs and shorts for outdoor swimmers
Whether you’re after a flexible fit for training, thermal fabric for core warmth or a lightweight hybrid short for impromptu…
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Men’s swimming costumes: what to wear, where and when
We polled our readers to find out what men prefer to wear in six scenarios ranging from wild swimming, open…
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How to choose a swimming cap
Durable silicone swimming caps, long hair swimming caps or thermal swimming caps: read our guide to choosing the right head…
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How to: Explore the open water in the UK this summer
With the right kit, planning and sense of exploration you can step out of your comfort zone, expand your swimming…
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Protection and connection in the water
Designed to keep water out while allowing sound in, SurfEars new ear plugs are built to last with minimal impact,…
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How to choose a swimming watch
What features should you look out for in a swimming watch? We polled our readers about what they found most…
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Goggles from the future
Rowan Clarke finds out how innovative goggles fit the face of future swimming.
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Power up: how to embrace technology for your swimming
A strictly analogue swimmer, Rowan Clarke discovers technology’s place in the water.
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How to layer up after a cold swim
With numb fingers, damp skin and scant shelter, it can be hard to get dressed and warm after a cold…
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The winter swimming gloves and booties debate
Outdoor Swimmer readers share their opinions and advice on the use of neoprene accessories for cold water swimming
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Should you winter swim in a wetsuit?
A wetsuit might keep you warmer but is it worth the additional hassle when the water is cold?
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Dryland training for swimmers
What is dryland training and why is it important?
