9 Essentials for Open Water Swimming

Supported by Orca.

Open water swimming has increased in popularity in recent years, with more people than ever heading out to local lakes, rivers, and beaches. We can see why - It’s accessible, cheap, healthy for mind and body, and requires little to no gear to get started.

But if you’re thinking of taking it a little more seriously, it’s well worth investing in the right gear to get you there.

To keep things simple, we’ve put together a list of 9 open water swimming essentials with our good friends over at Orca. There’s a mix of beginner gear and pro-level equipment to suit everyone’s needs, no matter where you are on your swim journey.

Open Water Swimming Essentials:

Wetsuit

When you are open water swimming, you may want to wear a wetsuit, especially if you’re swimming in water temperatures under 16°C or looking to extend your time in the water. Some lakes don’t let you swim unless you have a wetsuit, so it’s also well worth checking their website before booking a spot.

Open water swimming wetsuits feature greater upper-body flexibility and added lower-leg buoyancy to suit your swim technique. If you already own a surf wetsuit but are looking to transition over to a swim-specific suit, we answer all the questions you may have in our guide: What’s the Difference Between a Swim Wetsuit and a Surf Wetsuit?.

As a rule of thumb, we say it’s best to invest in a swim wetsuit when you begin to graduate from a casual dipper into a more serious open water swimmer. The Orca Vitalis Hi-Vis Open Water Swim Wetsuit is a great option here. It will keep you warm and allow you to swim faster, more freely, and in greater comfort. Simple.

To learn more on this, read our articles entitled Should I Buy a Specialist Open Water Swimming Wetsuit? and Wetsuit Guide: Choosing a Wetsuit for Open Water Swimming. Orca’s range of wetsuits feature full suits, shorties and sleeveless wetsuits, as well as a specialist range of triathlon wetsuits that have quick exit features. If a triathlon is the end goal, read our 9 Training Tips for your First Triathlon and Beginner’s Guide to Competitive Open Water Swimming.

Goggles

Goggles are essential for when you begin to up your open water swim game. They will improve your vision, stroke cadence, and overall confidence in larger (or unruly) bodies of water.

Considerations include fit, lens colour and lens shape. Other handy features to look out for when buying goggles are prescription, anti-fog and wide-angle lenses, which all help to improve your vision while swimming.

Swimming cap

In warmer waters, a regular silicone cap (the classic look) will do the job. When swimming in colder waters, Orca have got you covered with their nifty neoprene cap. Now they might not look the coolest, but they do retain a lot more heat and keep your ears nice and toasty. As mentioned in our 11 Safety Tips for Open Water Swimming, brightly coloured swim caps are preferable as they’re much easier to spot from shore if someone is in trouble. We also recommend the Orca Thermal Neoprene Swim Cap for winter swims.

Neoprene socks
First in and last out, your feet may be the ones to suffer the most when open water swimming. Wetsuit socks play a huge part in keeping you warm and making the commute to and from the water that bit easier.

We recommend a 2mm sock for spring/autumn swims, and a 3.5/4mm thickness if you’re looking to prolong your time in the water over winter. The Orca 2.5mm Neoprene Swim Socks are a good choice here, providing enough warmth to see you through the full season.

Wetsuit Gloves

Numb fingers aren’t much better… Especially at the end of your swim when you're trying to change, find your car keys, and send a text to a friend. It’s never fun! A simple solution for these colder dips is to wear thermal wetsuit gloves, which will provide an added layer of warmth to proceedings.

Now, it can be tricky to tell the difference between surf wetsuit gloves and ones specific to swimming. We think it’s best to always search for a well known swim brand such as Orca to guarantee you’re on the right track.

Tow float

Brightly coloured tow floats (or swim buoys) are an essential bit of kit for outdoor swimmers and, for some races, they are mandatory. They attach to your waist and trail behind you without increasing drag, with some even having space for personal belongings. Another great tip is to make use of your tow float when feeling fatigued, as it can be used as a makeshift buoyancy aid.

But their main objective is to simply increase visibility when out in the water. They can easily be spotted from the shore, by boats also in the water, and can be used to identify your position when racing - Massively reducing the risk of danger in deeper waters.

Changing robe

A changing robe is a must-have piece of kit for any outdoor pursuit. It's the perfect choice whether you're looking for an effortless wetsuit change, instant warmth after a swim, or weatherproof protection at your swim meet.

The Orca Thermal Parka Changing Robe is a staff favourite here at WSO HQ. It has a windproof outer fabric, as well as an interior fleece lining to keep the cold at bay. A roomy fit means no restriction so you can change easily in all conditions.

Additional small items

Whilst we have ticked off the most important gear to wear for open water swimming, it’s also worth thinking about the smaller accessories that can make a big difference to your time in the water. If you are more susceptible to water up your nose and in your ears (never nice), why not try a nose clip or earplugs? For summer dips and longer swims in exposed sunlight, don’t forget to take waterproof sunscreen for your face and neck. You can thank us later…

Need some more info about open water swimming?

Check out our other posts in collaboration with Orca…

A Guide to Choosing a Wetsuit for Open Water Swimming

How to Care for your Swim Wetsuit

What’s the Difference Between a Swim Wetsuit and a Surf Wetsuit?

A Beginner’s Guide to Competitive Open Water Swimming

Should I Buy a Specialist Open Water Swimming Wetsuit?

9 Training Tips for your First Triathlon

Orca wetsuit guide

Shop the full Orca range - HERE
Shop the full Orca wetsuit range - HERE
Explore our recent collaboration with Katie Maggs - HERE

Updated on 22nd May 2024

Originally published on 27th February 2024 in Guides