Gear for swimming in cold pools?

Hmmm....I'm getting a neoprene cap for a tri swim, so maybe will wear that to the pool as well. Have tried the two regular caps and two suits but didn't help much. The only noticable benefit was from wearing the long-sleeved suit over a regular one, but the drag slowed me down about 10 seconds/ hundred and made fly all but impossible. Okay for solo training but it would make master's, literally, a drag!

Maybe should just get a sleeveless wetsuit--it seems like I'd then have the mobility for "fly" and if I'm only wearing it 2-3 times a week for 6-8 weeks a year, it shouldn't get trashed too quickly. At this point, I don't care if the other swimmers laugh at me--they do anyway when I have to bail on practice and they think the water's just fine!

Why I sugested sailing wet suit, fairly cheap, any zipps in front. Used to get cheap wet suits for the kids. Fair choice. Check out on line.Just watch the thickness. Cheap is thin, good for moving, some have pading on knees etc. Or a 2nd hand tri suit and trash it. I used to do anything to keep warm, cuddle 21yr old guys(huddle, that is), and even moved to the tropics. No sailing Found tri, thats OK

Get a couple neoprene caps--easier to trash those than a whole wetsuit actually -- you could probably order a sheet of neoprene pretty cheaply from China, and make your own caps and a snug vest. Tailors come cheap in Vietnam. If you can get your head and trunk covered, you're pretty good.

So neoprene cap with a silicone over it, EARPLUGS for sure (I do like the silly putty/silicone kind) ... and get your face into some cold water at the basin or fountain first. You are definitely skinny and prone to cold-itis, but it will still help with the perception/immediate acclimatization of cold, which will get you a little more yardage in the water.

Good luck. I feel for you.

fly/IM = wetsuit = SLEEVELESS = pool = does not compute

Shorty suits are cheap. Like, really cheap. And now you have me thinking of ways to make it chlorine-resistant. Special shampoo before and after?

You could paint the whole thing, inside and out, with boat sealant. And that may or may not help. But ...

I bring hot herb tea or coffee to every master's practice. It helps a little. Sometimes enough to get me through it, sometimes not. And take some ribbing for that, too!  My other strategy is to swim in a lane that's too fast for me and basically never stop. I still freeze between sets, though, and by the end, I'm shivering as I swim (as well as about to puke from swimming all-out for 3000+ meters). Would just do it on my own indoors but don't have consistent access to that pool and the master's group is well-coached and otherwise fun. I always train solo here so it's a nice break from that--if I could just get warm!

Yanti--I wasn't asking if it would look cool (gave up on that long ago), but if it's physically possible! It can't look any more stupid than fly in a long-sleeved Vietnamese "swimsuit" with purple and turquoise flowers over a regular Speedo. (You missed your chance to see it--I brought it to Bali for jellyfish defense and I wore it with my tri shorts to chase the reef fishies in Lembongan!)

nigelshort - 2012-04-15 2:51 AM Having done several years ocean sailing, with Sea Survival and Safety certs, about 75-80% of heat comes out of your head. Cold feet, put a hat on. So maybe 2 or more swim caps. Keep groin area warm with tri short, or swim pants. keep as much water from escaping with your body temp, by wearing 2 swim suits. This may help, or slow it down. We used to wear wetsuits on skiffs, no arm, maybe check out a sailing gear store

I have a hard time believing the 70-80% part. 

If this were true we'd all be running around naked but with a hat on!

Brian

ya that 75% heat from your head things a myth

Don't feel bad,  a few years ago I joined the local health club and their indoor pool was too cold for me!

I wear one of these:

http://www.aquasphereswim.com/us/index.php/products/performance-wear/aqua-skins

I have both the long leg sleeveless and the shorty- are very flexible and don't restrict my swimming at all.

When I bought my wetsuit the sales guy told a story about a petite water aerobics instructor who got cold easily.  She would wear a wetsuit into the pool every day.  He said that she went through 4 suits a year and that they were DESTROYED when she brought them in.  Though I guess the place she taught paid for them so she didn't care.  I bet the shop loved it though!

Of course this does not in any way help with your dilemma!  For that, I've got nothing.