What does ‘skins’ mean in open water swimming?
Those new to open-water swimming may hear the term ‘skins’ being batted about. Don’t worry. You haven’t stumbled across a conversation about where the nearest nudist beach is. ‘Skins’ is the term used in the open-water swimming community to refer to those who swim in normal swimming costumes. These swimmers go without wearing wetsuits. People have various reasons for this. For myself, it was mobility. I found fighting with the wetsuit at the start and end of a swim very exhausting and basically I didn’t have the patience or skill to preserve with it. So I acclimated to cold water swimming in just my bathing suit and found it to be much more freeing, and less exhausting due to the fact I wasn’t fighting with getting my wetsuit off. I just had to manage a swimming costume which meant that I was able to get dressed quicker with my Changing Tube, which helped to reduce the threat of after-drop/ hypothermia.
What is the best season to start open-water swimming?
Summer is a great time to start training your body to become acclimatised to year-round open-water swimming.
Even though it is summer, the water can still be cold. Caution must be given, even then. Do not jump into your nearest body of water and aim to swim across it on your first go. Research your swimming location. Are there river tributaries to the body of water? Where is that water from? Meres and waters in Cumbria, for example, could have water tributaries that come from the top of nearby fells. This can make the water colder than anticipated and if you set off on a distance swim you could get cold mid-swim which makes the swim back to shore hard and the risk of hypothermia in summer becomes a reality. Make sure you have the correct kit and support with you. For example, maybe have a friend with you who is on their paddle board with an emergency kit if required. For more help and advice read our Ultimate Guide to Open Water Swimming.
How to acclimatise to cold water swimming
The way to acclimatise to all-year cold water swimming in skins is
- As the summer melts into Autumn, do not put your wetsuit back on.
- Keep up the regularity of your swims. This will help with the acclimatisation.
- Make sure you have the correct kit with you so you can get dry and warm quickly. Might I suggest a Changing Tube?
Why is cold water swimming in skins good?
From my experience, cold water swimming in skins is good because
- It gives me mobility and freedom in the water.
- Getting out of the wet kit is quicker and easier with just a swimming costume.
- I find that the sensory experience is more intense and pleasurable.
Please let us know via email or the Warmcor Instagram why you enjoy skins swimming all year round 🙂
Goal setting with cold water acclimatisation
The biggest goal to set when working on cold water acclimatisation is to learn how to listen to your body. If your body is not ready for it, stick with the wetsuit! And if you are in your swimming costume, don’t get taken along by the fact that the other people you are with, in costume, are staying in the water longer than you. Cold water acclimatisation isn’t a competition. Listen to your body. It will tell you when you need to get out.
But really, it honestly doesn’t matter what you wear, wetsuit or swimsuit, just as long as when you go into the water you are safe, listen to your body and have an amazing time.
