We all know that exhilarating rosy feeling you have after venturing in for a cold dip and laughing with your friends. You've done it, you crazy woman!! Now enjoy yourself but pay attention to how you're feeling... Don't leave it too late. If you're starting to feel pretty cold or shivering, that's often a sign you've stayed in a touch too long. Get yourself out and warmed up sharpish.
Get dry and dressed straight away, starting with your top half. Add layers, a hat and a slurp of a warm drink, then keep moving, do the swim jiggle dance. Expect to feel colder ten minutes after you get out than you did in the water.
Why you get colder after you get out
It's called afterdrop. In cold water your body pulls blood towards your core and lets your skin and limbs cool. Once you're out, that cold outer layer keeps cooling your core. The Outdoor Swimming Society describes it as feeling colder ten minutes after leaving the water than at the moment you got out. Their guide, The Subtle Art of Warming Up, explains afterdrop in full.
What to do, in order
- Take off wet kit and dry yourself straight away.
- Dress quickly, top half first. Loose layers go on faster than tight ones.
- Add a hat, gloves and a proper coat.
- Stand on a mat or your bag, not on cold ground.
- Sip a warm drink.
- Snuggle a hot water bottle if you have one
- Walk about, or get into a warm car or café.
What to avoid
- Standing around chatting in a wet swimsuit
- Faffing over tight jeans, fancy underwear or make-up...just get the layers on.
- Wet hair in chilly winds - get a hat on sharpish
- A very hot shower as soon as you get home. Warm up slowly.
Kit that helps
A changing robe, to dry yourself and keep you warm while you change underneath. Bring clothes that are easy to put on. My favourites include my dryrobe and my Wylding jumpsuit.
A swimsuit that comes off easily helps too. A front zip, like the one on our Bonded Long Sleeve Swimsuit, makes a difference with cold hands and wear a bikini/swim top under layers so you don't care so much about preserving modesty at the beach and you can whip off the wet layers quickly.