A guide to ice swimming
Ice swimming is a great hobby. It leaves you feeling fantastic, and people of all ages can do it. You get to know new people on the sauna benches, and the cold water clears your head for a moment.
Essential gear for ice swimming
Feet and hands:
- Neoprene socks protect your ankles and feet from the cold.
- Neoprene gloves keep your hands warm and make it easier to climb out over icy surfaces.
Head and body:
- A beanie or warm hat helps reduce heat loss and makes swimming safer.
- You don't usually put your head under in an ice hole, so the cold doesn't hit your body too hard.
Drying off and warming up:
- A towel or bathrobe is essential, so you can get something dry and warm on as soon as you come out of the water.
Hydration:
- A water bottle is worth bringing along. You can get thirsty, especially after the sauna.
You can start before the water freezes over. It can sometimes be almost as cold as in the depths of winter. When there's no ice hole, the correct term is cold water swimming.
I'm Monika, product coordinator at Scandinavian Outdoor and store manager at our Salo store. I'm an ice swimmer myself, and I'd like to share a few tips with you.
Getting started with ice swimming
The easiest time to start is in autumn, when the water begins to cool. I simply carried on after the summer season with evening swims. Ice swimming is a seriously addictive “sport”. If you swim regularly, your body slowly gets used to the cooling water, and you'll find yourself looking forward to the next dip.
In cold water, your ankles and wrists need protection. I recommend neoprene socks with a cuff designed for ice swimming, plus neoprene gloves. Wear a beanie on your head. Keep a towel or bathrobe right next to the ice hole, so you can get something on quickly when you climb out of the cold water. If you're not heading into the sauna afterwards, merino wool base layers are nice to pull on over cold, or even slightly damp, skin to warm up.
If you're a beginner, find out whether there's an ice hole with a sauna near you. In many places, the sauna by the ice hole is heated on a set day each week. Then just give it a go. The first time, a quick dip is plenty. You can stay in the water a little longer each time after that.
As you climb out, you'll feel a pleasant tingle on your skin. And the feel-good buzz after an ice swim is something you'll only know once you dare to try it.
The gear we recommend for ice swimming
Neoprene socks
In winter the ground is frozen, and walking barefoot is difficult and painful. A neoprene sock with a silicone pattern gives you grip and insulation. A longer cuff protects your ankles too. Neoprene still feels warm when wet.
Waimea Neoprene Sock, high cuff
Neoprene gloves
When the water gets colder and the handrails are icy, neoprene gloves make a real difference.
Beanie or warm hat
Keep your head out of the water when ice swimming. Putting your head under cold water can trigger a strong reaction to the sudden temperature change. This can lead to hyperventilation, heart rhythm problems or even a reflex pause in breathing, all of which can be dangerous in the water.
Your head and neck also have plenty of blood vessels that can carry the cold into your body faster, which increases the risk of hypothermia. Keeping your head above the surface and wearing a beanie helps reduce heat loss and makes ice swimming safer, especially for beginners and anyone who feels the cold easily.
We've got more beanies than you could ever need. Or how about a fur hat?
Towel, warm clothing or bathrobe
When you come out of the water, it's good to pull on something dry and warm. Especially if there's no sauna to hand. Even if there is, it's nice to cool off outside for a while after your swim.
Have you come across the popular Bleubird Nordic Robe yet?
Water bottle
Drinking is important when you use the sauna, because your body loses a lot of fluid through sweat. If you don't replace it, you can become dehydrated, which may cause headaches, dizziness, tiredness and poor concentration.
In the sauna, your body can also lose electrolytes such as sodium and potassium, which can affect how your muscles and nervous system work. Topping up with fluids – especially water or light electrolyte drinks – helps your body stay in balance, supporting your wellbeing and recovery after the sauna.
It's also worth remembering that alcohol is not a good sauna drink. It dehydrates you further, can dull your alertness and increases the risk of accidents in the sauna and at the ice hole.
You'll find a wide choice of water bottles with us, including insulated ones that keep your drink at just the right temperature.
Enjoy your swims!