What are people wearing in open water?

ted1

just started back swimming in the sea (killiney beach) I've been wearing a wetsuit. just wondering what everybody else is wearing?

are you wearing suits, or just speedos?

I do between 1.5km and 2km so i'll be in for a good few minutes.

Also I know that sandycove is generally warmer than killiney, where's the hottest water in Dublin?

mad m

Skins last night at 7pm out at Seapoint. Out and around 4buoys and back in. Feet were still cold going to bed!

It's all bloody cold to me, but to be fair it's much better than last year at around same time. Killiney is always cold as it's deep.

rainbow kirby

Depends really - open water around London at the moment is in the 16-19c range so not exactly uncomfortable in skins! Wetsuit for longer swims and skins for shorter ones.

TopOfTheHill

Sorry to jump in - what thickness are the skins generally used for open water swimming.

I have never done it and am considering giving it a go. I have 5mm suit that is used for surfing, but am imagining this might be a bit thick for swimming.

Thanks...

mad m

TopOfTheHill wrote: »

Sorry to jump in - what thickness are the skins generally used for open water swimming.

I have never done it and am considering giving it a go. I have 5mm suit that is used for surfing, but am imagining this might be a bit thick for swimming.

Thanks...

From my limited experience in a wet suit, the main core is thicker mm and around the arms it's usually 2/3mm, makes it easier to swim. If it's any thicker you would get tired very quickly.

Kurt Godel

TopOfTheHill wrote: »

Sorry to jump in - what thickness are the skins generally used for open water swimming.

I have never done it and am considering giving it a go. I have 5mm suit that is used for surfing, but am imagining this might be a bit thick for swimming.

Thanks...

A surf suit will restrict your shoulders and arms during the swim TopOfTheHill- they are not really suitable to swimming at all (I know this because my first wetsuit question on Boards was exactly the same as yours;)). A swim wetsuit will be around 5-7mm neoprone on the core, with thinner 2-3mm material where more flexibilty is needed (shoulders in particular). Swimming "skins" generally means just a swimsuit (ie. swim trunks/togs or body suit, but with no extra buoyancy).

FWIW swimming without a wetsuit (ie swimming "skins") is a much freer sensation, and will be closest to your natural "pool" stroke. Wetsuits are mandatory in most Triathlons, (mainly to stop the athlete getting hypothermia moving from cold water to a long bike), and the amount of athletes training for Tri that you see, may give the impression they are ubiquitous for Irish waters. However, they can negate your kick to a large degree (by making the legs sit too high in the water), and if you can get into the early habit of swimming OW without the wetsuit, you'll be the better for it.

ted1

Cheers guys. I was down in seapoint last night and it was much warmer.

So for June it'll be a wetsuit in killiney and skins in sea point.

There's a 2km and 4km in killiney this weekend that I think I may do. Anybody else from here doing it?

Is the vico / hawk cliff any warmer?

With regards wetsuits, be sure to wear a high mech rashie if wearing a surf suit. You get awful chaffing on the neck that you wouldn't get from surfing.

TopOfTheHill

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice and clarifications.

Now I just need to get myself in there

Gloomtastic!

Entering my first ow swim for a few years this weekend and humming and hawing whether to wear a wetsuit or not. It's the Howth 1.9k and I'm a little worried about the cold but a lot worried about jellyfish.

Any advice?

mad m

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Entering my first ow swim for a few years this weekend and humming and hawing whether to wear a wetsuit or not. It's the Howth 1.9k and I'm a little worried about the cold but a lot worried about jellyfish.

Any advice?

Better to make your mind up on the day, see what weather and if sea is flat calm. Bring suit with you, better to be looking at it than for it. The sea has heated up a lot.

Have you been in the sea at all?

Gloomtastic!

mad m wrote: »

Have you been in the sea at all?

Heading for a swim this morning .

It's more the jellyfish I'm worried about. I haven't seen any on Dollymount beach so far.

Paulownia

No jellyfish sightings at Whiterock yet, but the sea is a cold 16 degrees so I just hop in and out and disport myself in the sunshine with minimal cover. No 2 km for me, I leave it to you hardy souls, I'm lost in admiration of your energy especially if you wear a cumbersome wetsuit.

mad m

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Heading for a swim this morning .

It's more the jellyfish I'm worried about. I haven't seen any on Dollymount beach so far.

Havent come across any in Sandycove, Seapoint, Killiney yet....

Gloomtastic!

Went out by Bull Wall for 20 mins or so, not bad, not bad at all!

No jellies there either. I reckon it's the lack of wind we've had (or not had) for the last few weeks. Weather changing tomorrow I believe.

So I think I'll take it and see. Thanks all.

Paulownia

I was in at Whiterock on saturday morning early and it was lepping with jellyfish and the beach had three feet deep of seaweed. There was almost nobody swimming or sunbathing

Taltos

Swim hat and speedos. Get warm fairly fast. Not huge distances though.

Paulownia

Taltos wrote: »

Swim hat and speedos. Get warm fairly fast. Not huge distances though.

You can dispense with both if swimming at Whiterock and Hawks Cliff but watch out for the Jellyfish! Could be sore!

Leticia Medina

During the naturist season (more or less May-October) you can see more and more nudist swimmers in Hawk Cliff and White Rock indeed. The Irish Naturist Association organises open meetups there, everyone is very welcome!