Choosing what to wear wild swimming makes a bigger difference than most people expect. The right kit keeps you warm, helps you recover faster, and means the swim stays enjoyable.
Here at Wild Moose, we've been wild swimming for years. We started the brand because we love the water and wanted wild swimming gear that properly dealt with the Great British weather. Everything we make comes from that same experience, kit designed by swimmers who actually use it, and built for swimmers.
If you're completely new to wild swimming, our beginner's guide is worth reading first. This guide focuses more on what to wear, and how that changes depending on the season.
What Is Wild Swimming?
Wild swimming is basically swimming outdoors in natural water, rivers, lakes, tarns, and the sea. Across the UK it's grown into something much bigger than a hobby. For a lot of people it's a regular ritual, a mood reset, and a reason to get out into nature, no matter what the weather.
What you wear matters more in wild swimming than in a pool. There's no heated changing room, no controlled temperature, and conditions vary enormously depending on the time of year you’re heading out. Getting your kit right from the start means you can focus on enjoying it properly.
Your Changing Robe: The Most Important Piece of Kit
If there's one thing worth getting right, it's this. A changing robe earns its place before, during, and after every swim.
Wear it to the water's edge and you stay warm until the last possible moment. The second you get out, it goes back on. A fleece-lined robe traps heat and wicks moisture away from your skin, which matters a lot when your body is still cooling down even after you've left the water. The waterproof outer keeps wind and rain off while you get changed, which in the UK is most of the time!
Wild Moose robes are waterproof and windproof outside, warm fleece-lined inside, and built with pockets big enough to actually be useful when your hands are cold. They work just as hard in January as they do in July, the difference is just how quickly you want to get back into one.
In summer, a lighter changing poncho does the job if you want something less bulky. In winter, go for the warmest fleece lining you can find and don't compromise on the waterproof outer.
What to Wear in the Water
Swimwear
A well-fitting swimsuit is the staple of any swimmer's kit. In warmer months a standard swimsuit or swimming shorts is all you need. When the water gets colder, a neoprene swimsuit provides warmth without the complications of a full wetsuit.
Many swimmers ask about wetsuits though. They do provide warmth but they're restrictive, harder to get off, and slow down the warming-up process at exactly the moment you need to move quickly. A neoprene swimsuit tends to be the better choice for most wild swimmers, particularly those getting started with cold water.
In summer, brighter colours and patterns are worth considering beyond just personal preference. They make you more visible in open water (along with a tow float), which matters if you're sharing the space with paddleboards or boats.
Swim Gloves
Your hands are usually the first thing to suffer in cold water. Neoprene swim gloves keep feeling in your fingers for longer, which is both more comfortable and safer. You need to be able to grip things when you get out, and cold hands make even simple tasks hard to manage.
In summer you can leave these at home. From autumn onwards, they're worth having in the bag just in case.
Swim Socks
Your other extremities, your feet, will also lose warmth quickly in the water in the colder months. Plus you have to walk on the cold ground before and after your swim. A good pair of neoprene socks is a wise addition to your kit list.
Remember that when you get out of the water your body is going to focus on warming your core first, so you need to give your hands and feet an extra helping hand.
Getting In
Whatever you're wearing, get in slowly. Wade in gradually, let your breathing settle, then lower yourself in properly. Cold water shock is much less likely when you ease in rather than jumping or diving straight in.
Our guide to wild swimming safely covers cold water shock and a safe entry in more detail. It's well worth a read before your first cold water swim.
Warming Up Afterwards
This is where a lot of people underestimate how much kit matters. Your body continues cooling after you leave the water, even when you feel like you're warming up. Getting changed quickly and layering up properly makes a massive difference.
Mittens and Gloves
Neoprene swim gloves work well in the water, but once you're out you want something warmer and drier. Thick mittens or gloves for afterwards make getting changed, pouring a drink, and generally functioning much easier when your hands are still cold from the swim.
Hammam Towel
A hammam towel dries you quickly without taking up half your bag. Lightweight, compact, and fast-drying, they're far more practical for wild swimming than a full bath towel, particularly when you're getting changed outdoors.
Hottie Bottie
A hot water bottle might sound old-fashioned until you try one after a cold swim. You can even wear one against your tummy with our hands free version - the Hottum. As well as holding it against your body to warm your core while you're getting changed you can pop your hands in the integral, fleece-lined, hand-warming pocket on the front. You'll feel the difference almost immediately. Most experienced cold water swimmers wouldn't leave home without a hot water bottle during the cooler seasons. Top tip - Fill it up before you go in, and wrap your towel or your undies round it while you swim so they are cosy and warm for when you emerge.
Warm Layers
Get something warm on your legs quickly. Joggers, thermal leggings, whatever you have. A thermal base layer under your robe works well if you're staying out for a while after the swim. The goal is to stop heat escaping while your core recovers, not just to feel comfortable.
Seasonal Kit: What to Add or Drop
The sections above cover the core kit that works across all conditions. Here's how to adjust depending on the time of year.
Spring and summer. A standard swimsuit, your robe or poncho, a hammam towel, and a flask covers most situations. Swim gloves can stay at home unless the water is still cold from winter, which in the UK it often is well into May.
Autumn. Start adding neoprene gloves and socks back in. Water temperature drops faster than air temperature and catches a lot of swimmers off guard. Maybe pop your hottie botties in your swimbag from here.
Winter. This is where your kit list grows. Neoprene gloves and socks are essential for most. A neoprene swimsuit or neoprene jacket over your swimsuit makes a real difference to how long you can stay in comfortably and how quickly you recover afterwards. A warm bobble hat for the walk to and from the water helps more than people expect, you lose a lot of heat through your head. Have all your warm layers laid out and ready to get into before you even get in the water.
Other Kit Worth Having
Waterproof bag. A waterproof bag keeps your dry clothes dry on the way to the water and gives you somewhere for wet kit on the way back. Not all waterproof bags are equal though. Look for welded seams and a roll-top closure for a proper seal rather than just water resistance. Our guide to the best bags for wild swimming covers what to look for in detail.
Tow float. A brightly coloured tow float trails behind you in the water and keeps you visible to other users, paddleboards, anglers, and small boats. It also doubles as a small dry bag for keys and a phone, and gives you something to hold onto if you need a rest. A sensible addition regardless of your experience level.
Thermal flask. A hot drink at the end of a swim is one of the genuinely simple pleasures. It also helps your body warm up from the inside. Fill it before you leave and keep it accessible so you can get to it quickly when you get out. One of our favourite drinks is a hot ginger cordial!
Safety gear. A whistle and a basic first aid kit are worth having, particularly in more remote spots. Most swims go without incident, but the cost of being prepared is very low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a wetsuit for wild swimming?
No - it’s personal preference.. Our bodies all have different abilities to tolerate cold water. Many experienced wild swimmers don't wear one at all = often for the dual reason that they want to get the full benefit of the cold water and that a wetsuit can be quite a faff to carry around and get on and off. In colder months a neoprene swimsuit with gloves and socks may be enough because it's much quicker to get them off when you're cold and need to warm up fast. That said, a wetsuit is worth considering if you're swimming in very cold water for longer periods, or you have very little body fat, or you’re new to swimming and would feel more comfortable trying it in one. You do you and don’t worry about whether other people are wearing a wetsuit or not.
What do you wear after a wild swim?
Changing robe or poncho on first, straight out of the water. Then a warm hat, changing mittens, and a core warmer like the Koji are a good starting point. Warm layers should already be laid out and ready. A hot drink helps too. The goal is to stop your temperature dropping further, not just to feel comfortable.
What wild swimming clothes are best for cold water?
A neoprene swimsuit for your core, neoprene gloves and socks for your extremities, and a waterproof fleece-lined changing robe for before and after. The other key thing is having your warm layers ready before you get in so there's no delay getting into them afterwards.
Can I wild swim without specialist gear?
Yes, and plenty of people do. But the right cold water swimming clothing makes the experience significantly more comfortable and safer, particularly through autumn and winter. A changing robe is the one thing most swimmers say they wish they'd bought sooner.
What should I wear on my head for wild swimming?
This depends on whether you are a heads-up or head-in wild swimmer. If you plan t swim with your head in the water, a brightly coloured swim cap helps with visibility and provides a bit of insulation in the water as your head loses heat quickly in cold water. For the walk to and from the water in colder months, a warm bobble hat is just as important and this can stay on in the water if you are not planning on ducking under.
Ready to Get Kitted Out?
Wild swimming doesn't need a lot of gear, but the right kit makes every swim better. Whether you're planning your first dip or heading out year-round, getting your changing robe, bag, and layers sorted before you go is always worth it.
Explore the Wild Moose range, changing robes, waterproof bags, and everything else you need to get in the water and actually enjoy it.