Subject: RE: Open water swimming in cold waters... How long do you plan to swim and how often will you be in water this cold? One time, 10-15 minutes? Double up on swim caps and put in earplugs. You might check whether petroleum jelly (Vasoline ) is a problem for your wetsuit, and if not, you might smear some on your neck (lots of blood vessels ), hands and feet (lots of surface area ). (I think long distance swimmers have been known to use shortening on their skin instead of petroleum jelly when swimming across the English Channel. ) For a short, one-time swim I wouldn't invest a lot, but preventing the dizziness/headache can be worth a few bucks. Regular or 30+ minutes in those temps? Neoprene booties, hood, and possibly even gloves if you're particularly susceptible to cold. The underarmour might prevent some chafing, but won't do much of anything to hold in heat because it doesn't stop the water. |