Cool video, Colin. And to everybody: winter swimming is a very good investment. I started winter swimming last October (2019) and I swam all winter long, once every week. Of course, it was pretty cold from time to time, but it gave me a lot of energy too. When the Covid-19 crises emerged, all swimming pools closed down obviously. Me and my mates could continue to swim on a daily basis in open water - because we were prepared for the cold. Despite the crisis, we had a great spring. How cool is that!
Thanks for that. I swam for an hour is 7 degrees , with 7mm socks (ali eexpress 13 euro) 5mm suit (ali 110 euro) 2 3mm orca hats and a 3mm tribord gloves from decathalon) i have done it the other way but i prefer the gear. i get a great free style stroke going and love it.ps +65 years young.
Cool video, thanks! I go in river all year round (living in west of Ireland) and has never bothered with any gear - wetsuit, socks or even hat. Feeling the cold water brushing against my skin is a great pleasure to me. Whenever possible, I go skinny dipping (wearing nothing). 😀
Really considering doing this. I found spending time outside in shorts and a tank top in the snow really beneficial for my SAD. I think swimming would do the same if not more.
I started daily cold water swimming 4 days ago, in t shirt and bathing bottom, wool hat under my cap I am 74 years old, run six miles a day, and felt euphoric after my 25 minute swim. maybe its not cold enough to be considered cold, 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the water, 50- 60 degrees on deck. i am excited about using my pool through the winter, and I am hoping there are some anti-aging health benefits to cold water swimming.thank you for your clear instruction on breathing and relaxation,
Im starting this. Hopefully my first swim at the end of this week. I'm loving your vids and advice. New subscriber. Hope to come and swim at your place some day soon 😊
I did the winter mile in Brighton (Melbourne) one year. It was an awesome experience. Except that I swam an extra leg of the course and came last. It was probably more like 2km 😅. They even made an announcement of who came last in the presentation, which was embarrassing but I kind of deserved it. But yeah swimming in the cold water is a feeling unmatched by any other sport. It's hard to explain it to people who don't do it.
Great video Colin. Me and my friend have started ( dipping ) a week ago and it really does give us an amazing buzz. The only problem here in midlands is access to clean open water.
Colin thanks for all this advice it has set me off on the path of cold water winter swimming. immersing. I am using my little pool at home. the emotional benefits are really beginnig to express. I lost my identical twin brother died in May last year of Pancreatic cancer. i began cold water swimming in the summer as a tribute to Geoffs timnacity and couage at the end of his life as he passed through from this Earth. The yoga ahs really helped me with the control of my breathing. I am swimming the lenght of a small mountain lake in the summer with a friend. I thank you again. It was 4 degrees in the pool this morning with snow on the ground and i enjoyed it. Rob.
Thanks for your comment Rob and I wish you the best of luck with all of your endeavours. You have some strong motivation to keep you going on your mountain lake swim.
Thanks for the video. Motivating. I do winter swimming, started in summer, regularly until now. The water temperature is now 6°C and I feel comfortable and it is nice. The only problem that has started now is when I come out of the water since the air temperature has gone below 0°C into minus degrees, cold wind etc. I experience that 'after swimming' when I change my clothes and try to get dry as a problem, not the swimming itself. Last week I got so stiff frozen hands that I almost thought about quitting. Any tips what I can do... ? Don't want to quit..
Hi Colin . I am portuguese and starting this activity. I been swimming for several years in swimming pools but ... Man , that chlorine is just killing me ... So , let's do this.
Hi Colin, thank you for your advice. If I want to swim I have to drive for 15 minutes for the nearest sea. Do you reccomend doing this during the winter? I am worried that I get too cold when I'm in the car.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS I wonder if my thermometer is a little out. But I’m getting a Apple Ultra Watch for Christmas and that has a temp gauge on it so maybe more accurate. I like what you say about the ice by the way. I always say, ‘ice is for the ego’. You know the photos… lol
I guess it's kinda the wrong time of the season to get started, but I'll give it a shot anyway. I will at least try to go for a dip and see how it feels. Having to admit that I was just about to buy a bunch of gear before I looked into swimming without the neoprene. Now I will first try to go without, because as I understand, the suit will just enable you to swim longer - it's probably not going to take away the feeling of cold. If it turns out I don't like it I have not spent any money on some expensive gear. Plus I don't really want to put on and off all of that suits while standing there like an idiot. Anyways, I'm kind of curious how it goes when doing it regularly because even in the summer, I always feel cold when swimming (stereotypical warm showering... ). Looking forward to be going for a dip every day. XD
It's been going suprisingly well. The first time I was hyperventillating extremely, so I just focused on keeping my head above the water and dipped myself in briefly. Yesterday, it already went a lot better, I had my breathing more under control and managed to swim maybe 5 to 6 strokes. Today was very good, did not hyperventillate very much at all, so I managed to swim a proper "circle", maybe about 30s going in, swimming 30s and then 30s going out of the water. All in all, I'm feeling great and will try to continue to go every day. The next times, I'll maybe try dipping my face under water and exhaling - not sure about that yet.
Hey Collin! I recently started cold water swimming (October with around 12 degree C lake water temperature). The lake is a 10 min walk from my place. How efficient do you thinking walking back home is for keeping the body warm after the swim? I ask this because the temperature is only going to go down now, and I know it is very important to start warming up quickly and if walking fast or running back is not going to help my body when it gets colder, then I would not be able to continue swimming.
Hi Pallavi, thank you for the message. A lot of swimmers prefer to walk up by putting on dry clothes and then going for a brisk walk or jog. I swam with a winter swim club in Latvia and a group would jog through the town to a lake, have a swim then run back. They had been doing that for many years.
Hi Colin, I wore boots/gloves and an open water swim cap last winter with a rashie on top as I’d encountered a jelly fish earlier in the year. The water at Portobello dropped to 2.7 degrees last year so reluctant to give them up. I swam into January without kit but after that the pain was too great. I had an issue with the water being too cold for my ears and went for ear plugs but now find the open water cap perfect. My question is, will the painful hands/feet and face be better this winter? As I write this I’m laughing at the painful memories.
Great tips Im on my second season of winter swimming in skins, do you recommend wearing gloves to keep you in longer once temperature gets to 5 degrees
jack bearfox - Hi Jack, it’s really up to what feels better for you. The only ‘rules’ are in ice/winter swimming races where no neoprene is allowed. But if you have to get out and drive a car, wearing wetsuit gloves is probably a good idea and sometimes walking into the water can be rocky, so again boots can be ideal. I do like my body to regulate itself without neoprene gloves, so I know how my body is coping in the cold. But as I said there’s no rules and whatever works.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Amazing. I left the UK in April because of the lockdown. I started swimming in the Black Sea and was doing it daily till yesterday. Yesterday the outside temperature dropped to -3°C, I didn't want to risk. Plus there was a storm. Feels dreadful going back to the pool, small and warmish, feels like piss...
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Well... This covid political thing was a stimulus to swim at the edge of human potential, I didn't want to be dependent on lockdowns. It was still OK with the water +9 and the outside temperature +4. When it started snowing I've stopped. Almost three months ago a bloke drowned. His girlfriend was trying to save him but she failed... The ambulance people did a shitty work, the didn't even defibrillate him. That made me more cautious, I didn't want my heart to stop far from the land as I like to swim far... I still swim in the sea after the pool, but only 5 minutes or less.
Hi Colin - great videos - just found you... is there any guidance you can give around how long its safe to spend in the water without a wetsuit depending on temperature if you are a newbie? i swim in a cozzie now in approx 18 degrees - quite comfortable for at least 40 mins plus ( probably could go longer but I do worry in case I get too cold without realising) - I would like to continue to swim through the seasons but not sure how to decide how long is safe to stay in as the water temp drops? I have a wetsuit but deffo prefer swimming without - Be grateful for any advice. thanks
Hi Claire, in the winter when the water is under 10 degrees C. A simple guide for beginners is a minute per degree. It’s good to keep a diary where you write down date, water temp, air temp, weather, swim length and how your recovery was. It’s the recovery that is the key thing to note. This way as the temp starts to drop you build up some data on how you feel in the cold water.
I am a beginner at cold water swimming. To be able to swim in water temperatures around 4 or 5 degrees C, how many days in a week would you recommend me to swim so that my body gets fairly accustomed to the cold? given that I started swimming in October with 12 degrees water temp?
Hi Pallavi, if you can going in for a short dip every day if possible. Your body gets used to the cold feeling so much quicker than just going in once a week. But keep the swims nice and short and just enjoy the feeling of a quick dip and after a while you'll start to spend a little longer in each time. So short and often, ideally with other people so you can help support each other and look out for each other.
Hi Margaret, that is hard to answer as each person is different and it depends on your experience and how long you have spent winter swimming, if you are in a wetsuit or just swimming costume, body size and speed of swimming and the location and conditions of the air temp . I have done an ice mile for example (one mile in under 5 degrees), but that was after years of cold water swimming and I trained really hard to complete that. Most people would only spend a couple of minutes in 4 degrees in just a swim costume, but possibly wetsuit gloves, boots and a warm hat. At the international winter swimming races 450 meters is the longest race, which is a tough swim for most people.
Colin, Thanks for the cool video! We love it. The tips are really good and keeping calm is the key I guess?:D It would be a crazy challenge for me to swim in cold water. Christina, THEMAGIC5.
unanimous !! It will make some difference over a long cold swim with some extra ‘bio-prene’ (like me). 😊 But I know plenty of ‘skinny’/lean winter swimmers as well. It’s just a case of going in regularly and understanding your limits
@@COLINHILLSWIMS okay. I used to do triathlons and wearing wetsuits (which i hated) thats why im so slim from all the running i used to do. I havent been swimming since June. I want to one day do a race where its just swimming. Im not a fast swimmer though. The longest swim i ever did was 1.2 miles but that was 3 years ago. Yes i know i got alot of work to do.
Hi...which water is coldest in winter swimming...sea river or lake or are they all the same? And also...when is the point you should get out? For example...this is my first year and I swim in the sea only. I reach a point where I feel no pain and can stay in for twenty minutes but then start to shiver in the water. Should I get out while I still feel comfortable? If stay in to long when I start to shiver in the water I get really bad shivers for half of an hour after no matter how quick I get dressed. But at the same time I want to build up tolerance.
Gregm55 Mullen I heard that as soon as you start shivering in the water, you need to get out. You were experiencing afterdrop which is worst the longer you stay in, in my experience
it's just a matter of conditioning, but you might have less time in the water than someone built like a walrus. You're still healthier though, so no reason to try and put on weight^^
When you first start out it is a concern, as you aren’t used to how long you should spend in the water. The more experienced you become the mire you understand how long you can stay in the cold water. But you should never get complacent as hypothermia is a serious condition.
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Cool video, Colin.
And to everybody: winter swimming is a very good investment.
I started winter swimming last October (2019) and I swam all winter long, once every week. Of course, it was pretty cold from time to time, but it gave me a lot of energy too.
When the Covid-19 crises emerged, all swimming pools closed down obviously.
Me and my mates could continue to swim on a daily basis in open water - because we were prepared for the cold.
Despite the crisis, we had a great spring. How cool is that!
Thanks! Going to check the channel but this looks inspiring so far!
Lots of love from Germany!
Thanks for that. I swam for an hour is 7 degrees , with 7mm socks (ali eexpress 13 euro) 5mm suit (ali 110 euro) 2 3mm orca hats and a 3mm tribord gloves from decathalon) i have done it the other way but i prefer the gear. i get a great free style stroke going and love it.ps +65 years young.
Cool video, thanks! I go in river all year round (living in west of Ireland) and has never bothered with any gear - wetsuit, socks or even hat. Feeling the cold water brushing against my skin is a great pleasure to me. Whenever possible, I go skinny dipping (wearing nothing). 😀
Really considering doing this. I found spending time outside in shorts and a tank top in the snow really beneficial for my SAD. I think swimming would do the same if not more.
Great tips and advice :) I hope to get into wild swimming this autumn/ winter :)
Did you manage it??
thanks for the advice man , a random google search , and you showed up ! gread advice ! , you got a new subscriber much love from greece
Thanks for subscribing to my channel. Hope you enjoy the videos.
I started daily cold water swimming 4 days ago, in t shirt and bathing bottom, wool hat under my cap I am 74 years old, run six miles a day, and felt euphoric after my 25 minute swim. maybe its not cold enough to be considered cold, 45 degrees Fahrenheit in the water, 50- 60 degrees on deck. i am excited about using my pool through the winter, and I am hoping there are some anti-aging health benefits to cold water swimming.thank you for your clear instruction on breathing and relaxation,
Sound advice 👍🏻
great introductory videos
Great video! Keep up the good work!
Thank you. happy swimming!
Im starting this. Hopefully my first swim at the end of this week. I'm loving your vids and advice. New subscriber. Hope to come and swim at your place some day soon 😊
thanks for taking the time to comment, good luck with your swimming and hope to see you in the water sometime soon.
I did the winter mile in Brighton (Melbourne) one year. It was an awesome experience. Except that I swam an extra leg of the course and came last. It was probably more like 2km 😅. They even made an announcement of who came last in the presentation, which was embarrassing but I kind of deserved it.
But yeah swimming in the cold water is a feeling unmatched by any other sport. It's hard to explain it to people who don't do it.
Been prepping in the last two week's. Heading into autumn with winter in mind. Great video.
Hi Jane, that is really nice to hear. good luck with your Winter Swimming.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS thank you 😊
Thanks for upload
Great video Colin.
Me and my friend have started ( dipping )
a week ago and it really does give us an amazing buzz.
The only problem here in midlands is access to clean open water.
Sound advice Colin
Great tips man. Just started winter swimming myself 🙏🏼
Well done Nick, I hope its going well?
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Yeah I'm really liking it!
Nice video 👍🏻
The best thing is cold swim or even snow jump after the sauna... and before ) I'm doing this on my channel too)
Colin thanks for all this advice it has set me off on the path of cold water winter swimming. immersing. I am using my little pool at home. the emotional benefits are really beginnig to express. I lost my identical twin brother died in May last year of Pancreatic cancer. i began cold water swimming in the summer as a tribute to Geoffs timnacity and couage at the end of his life as he passed through from this Earth. The yoga ahs really helped me with the control of my breathing. I am swimming the lenght of a small mountain lake in the summer with a friend. I thank you again. It was 4 degrees in the pool this morning with snow on the ground and i enjoyed it. Rob.
Thanks for your comment Rob and I wish you the best of luck with all of your endeavours. You have some strong motivation to keep you going on your mountain lake swim.
Thank You Colin.
Thanks for the video. Motivating. I do winter swimming, started in summer, regularly until now.
The water temperature is now 6°C and I feel comfortable and it is nice. The only problem that has started now is when I come out of the water since the air temperature has gone below 0°C into minus degrees, cold wind etc. I experience that 'after swimming' when I change my clothes and try to get dry as a problem, not the swimming itself. Last week I got so stiff frozen hands that I almost thought about quitting. Any tips what I can do... ? Don't want to quit..
Lightweight you had trunks on :-)
Hello friend. How are you...I remember you used to hit local gym first and then dive into the water...
Hi Colin . I am portuguese and starting this activity. I been swimming for several years in swimming pools but ... Man , that chlorine is just killing me ... So , let's do this.
Chlorine is toxic in large quantities, enough said
Hi Colin, thank you for your advice. If I want to swim I have to drive for 15 minutes for the nearest sea. Do you reccomend doing this during the winter? I am worried that I get too cold when I'm in the car.
Hey Colin! Please can u share to us what is the name of this swimglasses? I like it
Went in today. A mild day in October. The water temp in the river was 7c!
Nice one. yes the water temp is starting to fall rapidly around the UK. The lake is 11 degrees and falling fast.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS I wonder if my thermometer is a little out. But I’m getting a Apple Ultra Watch for Christmas and that has a temp gauge on it so maybe more accurate.
I like what you say about the ice by the way. I always say, ‘ice is for the ego’. You know the photos… lol
I guess it's kinda the wrong time of the season to get started, but I'll give it a shot anyway. I will at least try to go for a dip and see how it feels. Having to admit that I was just about to buy a bunch of gear before I looked into swimming without the neoprene. Now I will first try to go without, because as I understand, the suit will just enable you to swim longer - it's probably not going to take away the feeling of cold. If it turns out I don't like it I have not spent any money on some expensive gear. Plus I don't really want to put on and off all of that suits while standing there like an idiot.
Anyways, I'm kind of curious how it goes when doing it regularly because even in the summer, I always feel cold when swimming (stereotypical warm showering... ). Looking forward to be going for a dip every day. XD
It's been going suprisingly well. The first time I was hyperventillating extremely, so I just focused on keeping my head above the water and dipped myself in briefly. Yesterday, it already went a lot better, I had my breathing more under control and managed to swim maybe 5 to 6 strokes. Today was very good, did not hyperventillate very much at all, so I managed to swim a proper "circle", maybe about 30s going in, swimming 30s and then 30s going out of the water. All in all, I'm feeling great and will try to continue to go every day. The next times, I'll maybe try dipping my face under water and exhaling - not sure about that yet.
Beautiful scenery! Where are you in this video?
Jacob Sheppard in Ullswater, Lake District (UK), it was filmed at Another Place Hotel The Lake. Not to far from my house.
My name's Col too
Hey Collin! I recently started cold water swimming (October with around 12 degree C lake water temperature). The lake is a 10 min walk from my place. How efficient do you thinking walking back home is for keeping the body warm after the swim? I ask this because the temperature is only going to go down now, and I know it is very important to start warming up quickly and if walking fast or running back is not going to help my body when it gets colder, then I would not be able to continue swimming.
Hi Pallavi, thank you for the message. A lot of swimmers prefer to walk up by putting on dry clothes and then going for a brisk walk or jog. I swam with a winter swim club in Latvia and a group would jog through the town to a lake, have a swim then run back. They had been doing that for many years.
Hi Colin, I wore boots/gloves and an open water swim cap last winter with a rashie on top as I’d encountered a jelly fish earlier in the year. The water at Portobello dropped to 2.7 degrees last year so reluctant to give them up. I swam into January without kit but after that the pain was too great. I had an issue with the water being too cold for my ears and went for ear plugs but now find the open water cap perfect.
My question is, will the painful hands/feet and face be better this winter? As I write this I’m laughing at the painful memories.
Great tips Im on my second season of winter swimming in skins, do you recommend wearing gloves to keep you in longer once temperature gets to 5 degrees
jack bearfox - Hi Jack, it’s really up to what feels better for you. The only ‘rules’ are in ice/winter swimming races where no neoprene is allowed. But if you have to get out and drive a car, wearing wetsuit gloves is probably a good idea and sometimes walking into the water can be rocky, so again boots can be ideal. I do like my body to regulate itself without neoprene gloves, so I know how my body is coping in the cold. But as I said there’s no rules and whatever works.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS thanks Colin much respect to you
Very positive video, love it. The views are fascinating. Where's that?
It's at Ullswater in the Lake District (northern England).
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Amazing.
I left the UK in April because of the lockdown. I started swimming in the Black Sea and was doing it daily till yesterday. Yesterday the outside temperature dropped to -3°C, I didn't want to risk. Plus there was a storm.
Feels dreadful going back to the pool, small and warmish, feels like piss...
@@user-sx2yy6ll1m your comment made me laugh at the end. good luck with e the swimming.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Well... This covid political thing was a stimulus to swim at the edge of human potential, I didn't want to be dependent on lockdowns. It was still OK with the water +9 and the outside temperature +4. When it started snowing I've stopped. Almost three months ago a bloke drowned. His girlfriend was trying to save him but she failed... The ambulance people did a shitty work, the didn't even defibrillate him.
That made me more cautious, I didn't want my heart to stop far from the land as I like to swim far...
I still swim in the sea after the pool, but only 5 minutes or less.
Hi Colin - great videos - just found you... is there any guidance you can give around how long its safe to spend in the water without a wetsuit depending on temperature if you are a newbie? i swim in a cozzie now in approx 18 degrees - quite comfortable for at least 40 mins plus ( probably could go longer but I do worry in case I get too cold without realising) - I would like to continue to swim through the seasons but not sure how to decide how long is safe to stay in as the water temp drops? I have a wetsuit but deffo prefer swimming without - Be grateful for any advice. thanks
Hi Claire, in the winter when the water is under 10 degrees C. A simple guide for beginners is a minute per degree. It’s good to keep a diary where you write down date, water temp, air temp, weather, swim length and how your recovery was. It’s the recovery that is the key thing to note. This way as the temp starts to drop you build up some data on how you feel in the cold water.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS many thanks for the advice Colin... Much appreciated. 👍 X
I'm gonna keep watching these videos until my body acclimatises. Then I'm gonna head straight to the res and wuss out as soon as my toe hits.
Hi, what is the name of towel jacket you are wearing? Thanks so much
Hi Viktor, I’m wearing a Dryrobe (long sleeved version). Lovely bit of kit.
I am a beginner at cold water swimming. To be able to swim in water temperatures around 4 or 5 degrees C, how many days in a week would you recommend me to swim so that my body gets fairly accustomed to the cold? given that I started swimming in October with 12 degrees water temp?
Hi Pallavi, if you can going in for a short dip every day if possible. Your body gets used to the cold feeling so much quicker than just going in once a week. But keep the swims nice and short and just enjoy the feeling of a quick dip and after a while you'll start to spend a little longer in each time. So short and often, ideally with other people so you can help support each other and look out for each other.
Remember to use your common sense
Common sense : Don't go into ice cold water
😂😂
Great video though!
Your great. I cant swim there the water so cold.😂🤮🤧
I'm here in North Carolina swimming but our lakes are still 70 degrees...
How long can someone swim in 4 degrees if he/she is trained? Please let me know
Hi Margaret, that is hard to answer as each person is different and it depends on your experience and how long you have spent winter swimming, if you are in a wetsuit or just swimming costume, body size and speed of swimming and the location and conditions of the air temp . I have done an ice mile for example (one mile in under 5 degrees), but that was after years of cold water swimming and I trained really hard to complete that. Most people would only spend a couple of minutes in 4 degrees in just a swim costume, but possibly wetsuit gloves, boots and a warm hat. At the international winter swimming races 450 meters is the longest race, which is a tough swim for most people.
@@COLINHILLSWIMS Thank you Colin, that was very informative. How long can you personally swim in 4 degrees? I mean minutes, not metres
Colin, Thanks for the cool video! We love it. The tips are really good and keeping calm is the key I guess?:D It would be a crazy challenge for me to swim in cold water.
Christina, THEMAGIC5.
Does body weight matter?? Im 130 lbs. I notice most swimmers that go without wetsuits have more bodyfat.
unanimous !! It will make some difference over a long cold swim with some extra ‘bio-prene’ (like me). 😊 But I know plenty of ‘skinny’/lean winter swimmers as well. It’s just a case of going in regularly and understanding your limits
@@COLINHILLSWIMS okay. I used to do triathlons and wearing wetsuits (which i hated) thats why im so slim from all the running i used to do. I havent been swimming since June. I want to one day do a race where its just swimming. Im not a fast swimmer though. The longest swim i ever did was 1.2 miles but that was 3 years ago. Yes i know i got alot of work to do.
Hi...which water is coldest in winter swimming...sea river or lake or are they all the same? And also...when is the point you should get out? For example...this is my first year and I swim in the sea only. I reach a point where I feel no pain and can stay in for twenty minutes but then start to shiver in the water. Should I get out while I still feel comfortable? If stay in to long when I start to shiver in the water I get really bad shivers for half of an hour after no matter how quick I get dressed. But at the same time I want to build up tolerance.
Gregm55 Mullen I heard that as soon as you start shivering in the water, you need to get out. You were experiencing afterdrop which is worst the longer you stay in, in my experience
it's just a matter of conditioning, but you might have less time in the water than someone built like a walrus. You're still healthier though, so no reason to try and put on weight^^
My father is a winter swimmer like the half of his life
Amazing, it is a wonderful thing to do.
Not worried about hypothermia?
When you first start out it is a concern, as you aren’t used to how long you should spend in the water. The more experienced you become the mire you understand how long you can stay in the cold water. But you should never get complacent as hypothermia is a serious condition.
Tyson fury’s cousin?
I cannot even swim...
Well it's never too late!