June 2020 RETURN TO OPEN WATER MAGAZINE · found that when he spends time with other people naked, he actually ends up feeling quite benign towards the human body. “It’s a very

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R A DV E N T U R O U S S W I M M E R S !

+ A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO WETSUITS

SKINNY DIPPING Swim wild and free!

RETURN TO OPEN WATERNo trainingrace plan

June 2020

MINI MAGAZINE

FOR OUTDOOR SWIMMER

FANS

Back tothe Wild!

Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020JUNE 2020 | Outdoor Swimmer2 3outdoorswimmer.com outdoorswimmer.com

IN THIS ISSUE DIVE IN

Excel56 COACH CASSIE How Cassie Patten went from

her first open water event to winning a World Championship

58 TRAINING How to race in open water with no training60 PILATES FOR SWIMMERS Increase efficiency, reduce

drag and increase speed62 GETTING BACK TO

SWIMMING Paul Fowler helps you back back into the water66 PSYCHOLOGY A 6-step exercise to help you thrive and survive86 A BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO WETSUITS

Explore70 TRAVEL ZONE74 STAY HOME AND SWIM! Some of our favourite UK swimming spots and their nearest European equivalents

Swimrunner80 RUNNING IN RUBBER82 TRANSITIONING TO SWIMRUN Top five tips for swimmers tempted to try swimrun84 MAKE DO & IMPROVISE Cheaper alternatives to swimrun kit

CONTENTS

52

Regulars6 PHOTO CONTEST12 OPEN WATER NEWS16 YOUR LETTERS18 #SWIMWILDANDFREE20 VIEW FROM THE WATER 22 WILDLIFE AND SWIMMING Cuttlefish24 SWIMMING DREAMS What the team misses about swimming40 SWIMTERVIEW Chatting to author Lenka Janiurek

about her new book, Watermarks: Life, Death and Swimming

98 A SWIMMING LESSON A swimming short story by Katharine Borczak100 TALES FROM UP NORTH The Hideaway

Features28 THE INNOCENT TRUTH OF SKINNY DIPPING Why now is the best time to bare all

and give skinny-dipping a try34 A DIFFERENT CHANNEL Kate Gillwood meets four women whose love of swimming shaped their careers44 ESCAPADES ACROSS THE ENGLISH CHANNEL The English Channel has long beckoned to swimmers and less aquatic adventurers alike50 SOURCE TO SEA Laura Sanderson is on a quest to tackle micro plastic pollution52 THE BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL What happens when the world’s biggest daily ocean swimming group comes to a sudden stop?

JUNE 2020

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Welcome to the Outdoor Swimmer

mini magazine for Outdoor Swimmer Fans. These are three of my favourite articles from the June issue of Outdoor Swimmer magazine– as you can see from the contents page it was quite hard to choose!

If you have been missing the outdoors now could be the perfect time to bare all and give skinny-dipping a try. Luke Chamberlain discovers the innocent truth of skinny-dipping. In Post-Lockdown Racing Simon Griffiths looks a how to race in open water with no training. And our Beginner’s Guide to Wetsuits answers all your neoprene-related questions. Plus, we review the best wetsuits for under £275.

Enjoy the mini magazine,

Jonathan CowieEditor

Editor’s letter

outdoorswimmer.com outdoorswimmer.com

SKINNY DIPPING

JUNE 2020 | Outdoor Swimmer4

SKINNY DIPPING

For outdoor swimmers stuck at home, returning to the open water is a wonder to contemplate. But will a routine

wild swim be enough to satisfy months of anticipation for your return to swimming? One subculture of wild swimmers believes there is only one thing for it – skinny-dipping.

MISCONCEPTIONSSkinny-dipping is an often-misunderstood activity. Despite it being lawful in the UK to be naked in public, the legality surrounding skinny-dipping has not always been clear.

In the early 2000s, British Naturism, the national representative body for naturism in the UK, supported the government as it looked to update legislation on public nudity. That process resulted in the 2003 Sexual Offences Act, in which naturism was specifically excluded.

Despite this, there have still been incidents and arrests for people partaking in public nudity, including skinny-dipping.

In 2014, two men were threatened with a criminal record and being put on the sex offenders register for swimming naked on a beach in Northern Ireland. Both were later

Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 5

Missed the outdoors? Now could be the perfect time to bare all and give skinny-dipping a try. By Luke Chamberlain

YOU FEEL RAWAND EXPOSED AND

KIND OF PART OF THE LANDSCAPE

WHEN YOU SWIM WITH NOTHING ON – A SORT OF

PARTICIPANT IN A WAY. WHEN

YOU TAKE YOUR CLOTHES OFF YOU

ARE STEPPING OUT FROM THE

COMFORTS AND CONSTRAINTS OF

CIVILIZATION

➜

The innocenttruth of skinny-dipping

released without charge once the innocence of their actions became clear, yet it said a great deal about society’s attitudes towards public nudity.

Andrew Welch, a spokesperson for British Naturism and editor of the British Naturism magazine, believes that the police and authorities are beginning to understand the rules regarding public nudity, but have often “pandered to what they believe the culture is.” He suggests that the non-acceptance in society of nudity stems from the Victorian era and the height of the British Empire.

“At that time, people would dress for dinner and make themselves as uncomfortable as possible to make the right impression. As the British Empire, we wanted to be seen to be doing the right things” he says. “But the more we covered ourselves up, it opened up that other desire, the want to know what is covered away. It promoted that mystery and curiosity; which can unfortunately completely go the wrong way.”

Andrew believes that as a society we are gradually moving away from these Victorian attitudes. “What we are finding now in the third decade of the 21st century, is that we are a bit more Ph

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SKINNY DIPPING


SKINNY DIPPING

➜grown up, and that there are more wild and wacky things for people to do.

“The idea of people sitting on a beach naked just isn’t the eyebrow raising, dinner party subject that it might have been twenty years ago. In fact, most people have probably skinny-dipped. It does not have the shock that it perhaps used to.”

Nick Mayhew-Smith is a naturist, journalist and author of books on wild swimming.

He believes that the most transgressive thing about skinny-dipping isn’t the being naked part at all – it’s the swimming. “People do come up to me when I’m skinny-dipping, but they almost always just ask about the swimming,” he says. “It’s the thing people are really curious to when they see someone in a river.

“I get the impression that for a lot of people, they are actually quite sympathetic to skinny-dipping. I think it’s almost a universal human instinct to get into the water. I know anecdotally if I mention naturism to people, they almost always have a skinny-dipping story.”

Nick has extensively studied and authored books on wild swimming and skinny-dipping, as well as compiling a PhD on sacred bathing traditions in medieval Britain. Through this research, he has found that swimming in bathing costumes is actually a relatively new concept.

“Since antiquity, since the earliest portrayals of people swimming, people have done it with nothing on,” he says. “It is only in the last maybe 140 years that swimming was hoovered up from the landscape and kind of institutionalised and put into a building. I think that’s gone hand-in-hand with the sudden appearance of swimming costumes as a thing.”

As one of an estimated four million naturists living in the UK, Nick says he has no particular reason or need to get dressed, having hardly ever worn a swimming costume in his life.

“I think that justifying swimming with nothing on, if you look at it over a very long period of human history, it doesn’t need to be explained,” he says. “It’s there, it’s how everybody always swam. It is the only communal human activity that’s unchanged in every detail since the dawn of history. It’s primal.”

NATURE-AFFIRMINGIt is this idea that skinny-dipping is the

most natural way for humans to swim, that for many people, swimming naked brings them much closer to the natural world than when they swim clothed.

“There is a kind of innocence and vulnerability to it,” Nick says. “You feel raw and exposed and kind of part of the landscape when you swim with nothing on – a sort of participant in it in a way. I think it shows a certain kind of sympathy with the wilderness. The lack of civilisation and human constraints and restrictions.”

This philosophy is echoed by Kate Uwins, skinny-dipper and co-author of Newd Zealand, a skinny-dipping guide to New Zealand’s South Island, which is set to be released later on this year.

Growing up in the countryside in Surrey, Kate always loved nature, but admits she felt more of an observer to it than a participator. It was only when she ditched her swimming costume and took away the man-made thing that was standing between her and the water, that she felt part of the natural world around her.

“For me, skinny-dipping has been such a huge way to connect with nature,” she says. “When you skinny-dip, you are completely immersed in nature. You are in your most natural form, completely as you were made.

“I believe it is really important that we go back a little bit to our almost primal roots, and remember where we

Leaping from cliffs

Swimming wild & free

Scott and Kate leap

into a glacial-fed pool

Photo credit: Newd Zealand


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came from, and realise what is natural for humans and not push ourselves to always be so busy with technology and being indoors.”

Kate’s love for skinny-dipping and social nudity grew when she moved to New Zealand four years ago. After a chance meeting with Scott Cook, author of the travel-guide she was following, in a remote cave on the country’s South Island, they immediately hit it off and have since teamed-up to write their upcoming skinny-dipping guides.

The pair have spent the past summer in New Zealand travelling the South

Island in search of remote and awe-inspiring places to skinny-dip.

Kate believes that skinny-dipping is “the perfect remedy” to being stuck indoors for all this time during lockdown and something that people need in their lives now more than ever.

“What could be more liberating post-lockdown than taking all your clothes off and jumping in a river! I think it is what people need for sure,” she says.

BODY CONFIDENCEDespite the anecdotal evidence that skinny-dipping brings you closer to ➜

WHAT COULD BE MORE

LIBERATING POST-LOCKDOWN

THAN TAKING ALL YOUR

CLOTHES OFF AND JUMPING IN

A RIVER!

Kate will be researching the

North Island this winter for

her second book


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SKINNY DIPPING


nature, being naked in public, for many people, is still a frightening idea.

According to a study undertaken last year by the Mental Health Association, over a third of UK adults said they have felt anxious or depressed because of concerns about their body image.

They also found that one of the key causes of body image concerns is the pressure to look a certain way and to match an ideal body type.

Kate feels strongly that social and individual nudity in nature can help with people’s body confidence. “We all try to look good, to do our hair

and makeup and clothes to keep up appearances,” she says. “But once you’re naked, you can strip all that away and just be yourself. And when you do it with a group of people, you realise that it doesn’t really matter what you look like.”

As a naturist, Nick has similar thoughts on group nudity. He has found that when he spends time with other people naked, he actually ends up feeling quite benign towards the human body. “It’s a very equal, egalitarian, accepting, tolerant, open thing to do,” he says. “You see people without that kind of facade and persona that we put on around us when we build an image of ourselves.

“You are able talk to people without any trappings, without any need to holdback or be constrained by the usual concerns we have about a body. I think on a deep level, it just shows a kind of acceptance, tolerance and common humanity, if you like.”

The positive impact that social nudity has on the way people perceive their own bodies has been well documented.

A 2017 study undertaken by Goldsmiths, University of London, in 2017, found that out of 850 British people surveyed – of a variety of ages, ethnicities and religions – those who spent time naked or partially naked around others also liked their own bodies more, thought better of themselves, and were more satisfied with their lives overall.

There is now a movement in the UK to introduce more people to the benefits of skinny-dipping and social nudity.

HOW TO GET INTO SKINNY-DIPPINGBritish Naturism host the Great British Skinny Dip every year to try and introduce more people to the benefits of nudity, whether that is with a group of others or a skinny-dip by yourself. The event is held all across the country and more information can be found on their website: www.bn.org.uk.

Outside of specific skinny-dipping events, it is easier to get into it than you may think – particularly if you are already an outdoor swimmer. Anywhere that you can legally swim, you can skinny-dip. It really is as simple as it sounds.

So next time you go for a wild swim, why not leave your swimming costume behind?

OUT OF 850 PEOPLE SURVEYED, THOSE WHO SPENT TIME NAKED AROUND OTHERS ALSO LIKED THEIR BODIES MORE, THOUGHT BETTER OF THEMSELVES, AND WERE MORE SATISFIED WITH THEIR LIVES OVERALL.

Is skinny dipping legal?The Sexual Offences Act of 2003 specifically excludes Naturism – meaning that it is perfectly legal to take your clothes off in public. This is on the basis, though, that it is not done with the intent of causing “alarm or distress” to others. If you do, then it could be a criminal offence.

Where can I skinny dip in the UK?The UK is blessed with spots for wild swimming. Anywhere that you can legally swim, where you are not trespassing and adhere to laws on public nudity, technically you can skinny dip there.

Bare Britain written by Nick Mayhew-Smith and Mike Charles offers an insight into the world of skinny dipping and features 50 beaches to visit in the UK.

Or search for wild swimming and skinny-dipping groups on social media for suggestions on some of the best spots to go swimming in your local area.

Visit bn.org.uk too for more information on skinny-dipping and naturism groups and events.

The Great British Skinny Dip has been running every year since 2016

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INITIALLY, IT MIGHT FEEL AMAZING. BUT YOU WILL TIRE FAST.

FORGET RACING

TRAINING

The pathway out of lockdown is still unclear. What will be allowed and when, is unknown. But, at some point,

we will be able to race again. Now commercially open water swimming venues are able to offer socially-distanced swimming, small events, possibly with adaptations such as using time-trial formats, may be next. Big, mass start events will be further down the line. There may also be options, perhaps soon, to organise solo open water swimming challenges.

However things work out, if we do get the opportunity to do any open water races or long distances swimming challenges in 2020, most of us will be ill-prepared for them. And

this raises the question of how we should tackle them, and even if we should race at all.

I know, from social media, this is a topic bothering some swimmers. I’ve even seen some commentary that it’s irresponsible of race organisers to press ahead with events when they know many people will be underprepared. However, while organisers frequently recommend participants prepare for their events, they don’t normally insist on it or ask for proof. That’s the participant’s responsibility, and I don’t see why that should change now. Nevertheless, I expect organisers to plan for swimmers

being less prepared than usual, and

make provisions to provide additional

support.Let’s indulge the hope

that the event you want to do gets the green light to go ahead. You decide to take part, despite a complete lack of training, acclimatisation or open water practice. What do you do?

How to race in open water with no training. By Simon Griffiths

https://www.vertex42.com/ExcelTemplates/graph-paper.html © 2010 Vertex42 LLC

EXCEL

outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 11

The no-training swim challenge plan

1. Do your best to stay healthyFollow the basics. Eat well, have a good sleep routine, manage and mitigate stress, wash your hands frequently, try to get some fresh

air every day.

2. Do your best to stay fitTry to cover the bases you need for a good return to swimming:

aerobic fitness, muscular endurance, core strength, healthy shoulders, mobility and flexibility.

3. Make an event day planInclude a list of everything you will need on the day (it’s easy to

forget stuff after a long break). Picture yourself going to the event, registering, getting changed, doing the swim, drying off etc and make a note of what you need for each step. Plan what you will

eat and drink before, during (if relevant) and after the swim. You should do this for every race, but it’s even more important now.

4. Check your kitI recently discovered a damp costume and a pair of mouldy

goggles in my swimming bag that I’d forgotten to hang up to dry when pools closed. Don’t make that discovery on race day! Inspect

your wetsuit, if you use one, and repair any nicks. Check the zip. Order spares (swim retailers would love your custom right now).

5. Read and follow the event organiser’s guidance

There may be special Covid-19 rules around registration, distancing, overtaking, wearing face masks while at the event site

(I hope we’re not required to wear them while swimming!).

6. Be confident but prudentHaving not swum for potentially many months, your swimming

fitness and feel for the water will be below par, to say the least, but you won’t have forgotten how to swim. Initially, it might even feel amazing. But you will tire fast. Forget racing. Make this swim one where you slow down and savour the experience and joy of being

back in the water. Make it a Zen experience. Focus on one thing at a time. How does the water feel? How does your breath sound?

Stay relaxed.

Three other things to take into account1. Water temperature

In a normal season, your training will also help you

adapt to the cold as well as give you a better appreciation

of what your body can and cannot cope with. If you have not been able to acclimatise, then approach long swims,

especially non-wetsuit ones, with more caution than usual.

2. Your swimming history

What you did before lockdown will affect how well

you can swim immediately after. A long swimming history

should allow you step back into action relatively smoothly.

Your swim fitness will be diminished but your swimming technique should have held up.

Conversely, if you’re newer to swimming, it may feel like you’re starting again. Choose your challenge appropriately.

3. Your health

If you’ve been ill during the lockdown, especially with Covid-19, please be especially cautious about your return to swimming and perhaps

consider waiting until 2021 and having the chance to do some

training before racing.

POST-LOCKDOWN RACING

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GEAR TRIED & TESTED



outdoorswimmer.com Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 13outdoorswimmer.com

THE BEGINNERS’ GUIDE TO WETSUITS

➜

TRIED & TESTED GEARGEAR TRIED & TESTED

Everything you ever wanted to know about wetsuits, from choosing the right size to putting one on while remaining socially distanced. Plus, we review the best wetsuits for under £275

The sudden re-opening of many swimming venues in May took us (and many others, we suspect)

by surprise. With swimming pools still closed, it’s likely that some regular pool swimmers will be tempted to try open water. One of the most common questions we hear from beginners is, “do I need a wetsuit, and if so, which one?”

To be clear, you don’t need a wetsuit to swim outdoors. Many committed ‘skins’ swimmers would argue that swimming in open water without a wetsuit is a more natural experience. In fact, some groups, such as Channel swimming and marathon

swimming, actively discourage them. Some swimmers simply don’t find them necessary, or they don’t want the additional faff involved in putting on and taking care of a wetsuit.

On the other hand, there are also reasons why you might want to wear a wetsuit. Their primary purpose is to keep you warmer, which can help you stay comfortable in the water for longer and reduces your risk of hypothermia. Wetsuits are also buoyant and will stop you from sinking. If you need a rest when wearing a wetsuit, just roll onto your back and relax. Moreover, a wetsuit gives you some physical

All your wetsuit questions answeredBy Outdoor Swimmer founder, wetsuit swimmer and neoprene expert Simon Griffiths

How do I choose the right size of wetsuit?Check the size guides of the brands you’re looking at as there is some variation between them. We’d usually recommend trying before buying at a specialised retailer who can give you expert individual advice. As that’s not possible, follow the size guides. If in doubt, contact the brand directly.

Why does my wetsuit feel so tight?If you’ve got the right size wetsuit, it will feel tight. It needs to be a snug fit to work properly. If it’s loose, water will pool inside. Make sure you put it on properly. Gently pull the neoprene up on your legs, arms and around your middle to give maximum freedom around your chest, upper back and shoulders. Take some deep breaths on land to reassure yourself you can breathe. Once in the water, it should feel more comfortable.

How do I stop chafing?Chafing usually happens around your neck because of frequently turning your head to breathe, but it can happen anywhere your wetsuit rubs. It’s worse in salt water. Liberal use of wetsuit lube usually does the trick. For severe cases, you could try wearing a rash vest underneath, a silicon collar or that tape physiotherapists sometimes use. Pay attention to the Velcro fastening at the top of your zip to make sure it doesn’t rub, including when lifting your head to breathe.

Can I swim breaststroke in a wetsuit?Wetsuits are primarily designed to give you an optimal body position for front crawl. As a result, many people find it brings their legs too high in the water for comfortable breaststroke, although it can still be done. If you primarily want to swim breaststroke, consider a breaststroke specific wetsuit or a shortie wetsuit, which has less buoyancy in the legs.

Why do I feel like I can’t breathe when I get in the water?If you could breathe in your wetsuit on land, it’s unlikely that the wetsuit is causing you breathing difficulties in the water. It’s more likely to be caused by cold water shock (yes, this can still happen when wearing a wetsuit) or anxiety or nerves about open water. Your breathing should return to normal within one to two minutes. Stay within your depth, float on your back, relax and wait until you feel better before attempting to swim.

How do I put my wetsuit on without help?There’s no doubt it’s easier to put on a wetsuit if you’ve got someone to help, but that may not be an option in these times of physical distancing. The easiest ones to do up on your own are those with a basic bottom to top zip. Those with a breakaway zip at the top or a reverse (top to bottom) are trickier and require more flexibility and dexterity. See overleaf for our step-by-step guide to how to put on a wetsuit.

protection against cuts and scratches when swimming in natural water environments, where you might bump into sticks or stones, which can be reassuring. Finally, some venues and events insist that you wear a wetsuit.

SNUG AND SECUREWhile a wetsuit might feel tight and uncomfortable when you first put it on, once you get used to swimming in one, it’s snug and secure. The buoyancy makes swimming easier and faster. Sometimes it feels like you’re skating across the water while swimming in one as they tend to lift your body into a more streamlined position. The majority of people swim front crawl significantly faster in a wetsuit than without.

OPEN WATER SWIMMING SPECIFIC WETSUITSWhile any wetsuit will keep you warmer, we recommend an open water swimming or triathlon specific wetsuit if your primary activity in it is swimming. Swimming wetsuits are designed to be flexible around the shoulders, soft on the neck (to reduce chafing from turning your head to breathe) and buoyant in the right places to optimise body position in the water.

GOOD VALUE OPTIONSPrices for a new swimming wetsuit range from less than £200 to more than £500. As you move through the price range, the design changes are primarily intended to improve speed through, for example, more flexibility around the shoulders. However, this flexibility is achieved with thinner and lighter materials and so may be a little less warm and robust. For the recreational swimmer, there are plenty of good value options at the lower end of the market. We take a look at some of these overleaf. Before that, we look at some common wetsuit questions.

Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 15outdoorswimmer.com

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“Can you zip me up please?” A familiar call often heard at our favourite swim

spots, but with strict social distancing measures now in place swimmers are going to have to become self sufficient. And one of the hardest tasks will be putting on your wetsuit and (the big one!) zipping it up.

In times past many swimmers had help zipping the suit up. You may have been asked by a total stranger for assistance. This can’t be done any more so could pose an issue, unless you have an easy way to put your suit on.

Well this is where we come in! Follow our simple instructions to put on a suit and zip it up independently. The result: one socially distanced, self sufficient wetsuit fitting with no third party interaction

1 Slide the suit onto one leg up to knee level, then do the same on the other leg. The wetsuit should be

sitting just over the knee. 2Carefully grab the inner material

that is folded and pull the suit over the hips, you may find a hip

wiggle helps.

PreparationBefore you put a wetsuit on – remember:

l Sharp fingernails will go straight though a suit – keep them trimmed and use glovesl Keep toes hidden inside socks to avoid getting caught in the leg materiall Remove all jewelleryl Lubricate shins and calves, forearms and especially your neck – helps put suit on and reduces chafing.

SWIM!A properly sized, well-fitted wetsuit will almost certainly

enhance your swim, whatever your ability. However, putting on a wetsuit for optimum performance

does require some thought, patience and practice. And don’t forget, you also need to practise

swimming in your perfectly fitted suit.

Putting it onGentle tugging motions are preferable to rough

yanking when putting on your wetsuit. Slowly roll it on, one inch at a time.

Taking time and care will preserve the suit.

HOW TO PUT ON A WETSUITSocially distanced, self sufficient wetsuit fitting.By Jason Tait, South West Swim


GEAR

3Fit the suit to the legs, ensuring it is hitched up

between the legs so there is no air gap.

4Pull the suit a little high over the waist.

5Arms. With a straight arm drive it through one

sleeve and lift the arm up, carefully fit the suit on this arm down to the armpit.

6Now perform the same on the other arm.

7Pull the suit away from you at the stomach and chest

and pull up, ensuring a good fit.

And there we are, your suit is on and you just need to do the zip. This is where you usually hear the calls of “can you do me up please?” But now we need to zip ourselves up. It’s simple when you know how:

Post SwimTry to take your wetsuit off promptly after swimming as it comes off more easily when wet. Ease your wetsuit off gently by turning it inside out.

Maintenance Improper handling of a wetsuit can easily damage it.

l If available, rinse your wetsuit immediately after use in clean, fresh water. If not, wash your wetsuit at the first opportunity.l Take care when removing your wetsuit on stony ground as you can easily cause damage if you stand on it.l Store and transport your wetsuit inside out to protect the outer skin.l Air dry your wetsuit as soon as you can but keep it out of direct sunlight.l Wash your wetsuit occasionally with specialist wetsuit shampoo.l Dry your suit fully to reduce the risk of transferring aquatic alien species to a new location.l If you make a small snag or tear in the wetsuit, use a neoprene glue, like Black Witch, to seal it.

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1With your right hand reach behind you and grab the top of the suit on the left side

2Carefully pull the suit to the right, at the same time leaning over to that side (as if you are doing a side bend)

3Perform the same process on the other side

4You May need to do this 2-3 times. What we are doing is moving the suit to fit properly around the

shoulder, chest and side of the body

5Once done, drop down into a squat

6Grab the zipper cord and bring this over your head

7With knees bent go into a half squat position, with a slight arch in your back

8Bring your shoulder blades together and back. This makes the body narrower

9Pull the zip cord

10 The zip should slide up without any issues

See how it’s done!

Watch the video of this article at

youtu.be/sFhDFOie2ps

outdoorswimmer.com

GEAR TRIED & TESTED

JUNE 2020 | Outdoor Swimmer16 Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 17outdoorswimmer.com

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➜

WETSUITS UNDER £275➜

Orca TRN £135

Twenty-five years of experience in triathlon and open water swimming have enabled Orca to create a high performance entry-level wetsuit at a competitive price. The TRN, with

5mm thick panels around the hips and legs is warm and buoyant, making it ideal for swimmers who need some help keeping their legs close to the surface. We also liked the soft neck

lining, which reduces the risk of chafing.

orca.com

Yonda Spook £199

Yonda’s entry level suit is designed to be robust for recreational and wild swimmers and incorporates the same

new material (59:59) that Yonda has rolled out. A nice feature in the Spook is the zipped pocket on one leg, which

you could use to carry your bike or locker key, or even a snack, for longer

wild swims.yondasports.com

Orca Equip £249

Orca’s Equip wetsuits are targeted at people with a strong swimming background and good technique,

making these a good choice if you’re an experienced pool swimmer moving

to open water for the first time. The suit is designed to maintain your

natural body position while the 1.5mm neoprene on the arms causes minimal interference to your normal swimming stroke. We’d also recommend this suit

to female swimmers who may find that suits with more buoyancy around

the hips and legs lift their feet too high in the water.

orca.com

ORCA EQUIP“WE’D RECOMMEND THIS SUIT TO FEMALE SWIMMERS WHO MAY FIND THAT SUITS WITH MORE BUOYANCY AROUND THE HIPS AND LEGS LIFT THEIR FEET TOO HIGH IN THE WATER”

outdoorswimmer.com

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TRIED & TESTED GEAR

Alpkit Lotic £149.99

Designed to withstand the rigours of adventure swimming, the Lotic offers

a good balance between flexibility, warmth and toughness. It uses

Glideskin neoprene varying between 1.5mm thick across the shoulders

to 4mm across the chest and back to protect your core. The abrasion

resistant nylon-faced neoprene on the lower leg protects against damage

when scrambling in or out of the water.

alpkit.com

Alpkit Silvertip £199.99

Designed for swimmers wanting to spend longer in cold water, the

thermal Silvertip from Alpkit has a “thermo stretch lining” throughout,

except for the lower leg panels (which makes the suit easier to get in and

out of). Some suits compromise flexibility for warmth. This doesn’t. It

glides through the water and I kept toasty warm in the snow melt of Loch Morlich. Other useful features include abrasion resistant nylon on high-wear

points and an internal pouch for valuables.

alpkit.com

Yonda Spectre £249

One step above the Spook, the Spectre is targeted at the more

competitive swimmer who plans to race or do a triathlon. The new version

features a standard, rather than a reverse zip, so easier to do up on

your own. Excellent flexibility due to incorporation of 59:59 in key places..

yondasports.comYONDA SPECTRE“THE SPECTRA IS TARGETED AT THE MORE COMPETITIVE SWIMMER WHO PLANS TO RACE. THE NEW VERSION FEATURES A STANDARD, RATHER THAN A REVERSE ZIP, SO EASIER TO DO UP ON YOUR OWN”

WETSUITS UNDER £275


GEAR TRIED & TESTED

JUNE 2020 | Outdoor Swimmer20 Outdoor Swimmer | JUNE 2020 21

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GEAR TRIED & TESTED

Nabaiji OWS 500 2/2mm Sleeveless

£89.99 Sleeveless wetsuits are best suited

to warmer conditions for obvious reasons. We loved the freedom of movement around the shoulders

along with the feeling of water against our arms. A good compromise, and

a great price.decathlon.co.uk

Zone3 Advance £179

The Advance is Zone 3’s cheapest wetsuit and a great entry level suit

for the price. In the water, it feels balanced with the right levels of

buoyancy in the right places, it copes well in cooler water, is well made

and should last you several seasons. Perfect for training and recreational swimming.

zone3.com

Swim~Research C-Skins £185

Comfortable with easy arm movement. The pull cord for the zip

was incredibly useful (and a nice touch in orange). We were impressed at how

protective it was against the cold, which no doubt is a result of C-Skins

surfing heritage. Bright orange panels across the calves and wrists aid

visibility in the water.swim-research.com

Selkie Spirit £125

A versatile suit made with super stretch and mesh Glideskin neoprene

for a second skin feel and neutral buoyancy. The asymmetric lime green and black design is great for visibility.

Good suppleness in the arm and shoulder area. End-of-line price gets you a high-spec suit for your money.

selkieswim.com

AquaSphere Pursuit £249.99

Although priced at £249.99, can be found online (e.g. at Wiggle) for

considerably less, making this a good choice for a practical, well-made

wetsuit. Ticks all the right boxes for warmth and mobility and is relatively easy to put on by yourself. Also worth a look if you’re interested in triathlon as the horse-shoe cut design around

the ankles aids rapid removal.aquasphereswim.com

Zone3 Vision £275

Based on the top-of-the-range Vanquish, the Vision packs a lot of punch for its price. The one-piece

2mm neoprene across shoulders and down the sides of the chest makes

swimming in the Vision comparable to more expensive suits. We loved its

flexibility and fit. The signature silicon speed cuffs make putting the suit on

and off quick and easy. 5mm neoprene from hips to the knees helps maintain

buoyancy and warmth.zone3.com


outdoorswimmer.com

GEAR TRIED & TESTED


Blueseventy Sprint £209

Although at the pricier end of “entry level”, the Sprint from Blueseventy is

worth a look if you want something that will serve you well in a race, as well as be a comfortable, all-round

suit. We liked the stretchy under-arm panels for good shoulder mobility and

the collar, which felt secure without excess pressure on the throat.

blueseventy.co.uk

Head Explorer 3.2.2 £138.99

The Head Explorer is a good option for recreational and wild swimmers.

While it lacks the smooth coating found on many swimming wetsuits,

it still feels and swims like a swimming wetsuit in the water, and is both comfortable and warm. The brightly colour back and arms also help visibility in the water. Ideal for

adventure swimming that may include scrambling over rocks.

head.com

Huub Alpha £129.99

As one of the cheapest entry level wetsuits on the market, Huub’s Alpha

is worth a look. Although it lacks some of the features found on Huub’s

high-end suits, the Alpha does well on flexibility, with its 1.5mm thick

neoprene under the arms, and body position in the water feels good..

huubdesign.com

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GEAR TRIED & TESTED


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June 2020 RETURN TO OPEN WATER MAGAZINE · found that when he spends time with other people naked, he actually ends up feeling quite benign towards the human body. “It’s a very