Wild swimming can be as simple as taking a dip in a body of water while out in the countryside (think of it as an immersive experience in nature, rather than fitness training!), in which case you can just wear a normal swimsuit (women) or pair of trunks or jammers (men). The benefit here is they are light to carry for impromptu swims in lakes or rivers!

We like Zoggs swimsuits for value, style and longevity – plus their new Ecolast fabric is made from recycled ocean waste, so has good eco-credentials.

For men, jammers offer a halfway-house between baggy shorts (which can be impractical for swimming) and trunks (which are a bit skimpy for some!). dHB offer good value with a striking design.

Men’s swim jammers: 4 of the best reviewed

Swimming wetsuit

If you’re more serious about swimming outdoors, then a wetsuit will give you warmth and buoyancy, allowing you to stay in the water for longer.

Ideally you should wear a swimming wetsuit rather than a surfing wetsuit when swimming outdoors, as it will have greater shoulder mobility and be smoother than a normal wetsuit, helping you to glide through the water with ease! However, if you’re just splashing around in a stream then a surfing wetsuit is fine.

What’s the difference between a triathlon wetsuit and a surf wetsuit?

Swimming wetsuits are designed to support your body in the front crawl position and depending on budget, look for one that will also help to correct your body in the water. At the budget end you can now buy wetsuits specifically for open-water swimming, whereas the more investment-suits are more tailored towards racing and triathlon, with quick-release zips and cuffs and features to enhance speed included.

Top budget wetsuits for men and women

Swimming hat

If you’re swimming outdoors it’s wise to wear a brightly coloured swim hat as this will make you easier to spot in the water (especially as most wetsuits are black). Colours including red, yellow or a neon orange or pink are good choices – avoid black or white as they can be easily missed in water, especially if there are small waves.

If you feel the cold a lot, try a neoprene swim cap and if possible, choose one in a bright colour too, unless you are going to wear your usual swim hat over the top as well.

 

Goggles

Goggles are a must if you’ll be going underwater. If you’re serious about outdoor swimming you may want to buy polarised goggles, which are designed to cope with bright conditions – glare off water can be dazzling – but normal ones work fine on a cloudy day. Mirrored goggles for sunny days are the next best option. On very gloomy days clear goggles are ideal. You can also buy goggles with light-reactive lenses which are a great choice for changeable conditions or if you are planning longer swims/racing in open water.

The best goggles for indoor and outdoor swimming

 

Neoprene swim gloves