The sudden re-opening of many swimming venues in May took us (and many others, we suspect) by surprise. With swimming pools still closed, it’s likely that some regular pool swimmers will be tempted to try open water. One of the most common questions we hear from beginners is, “do I need a wetsuit, and if so, which one?”
To be clear, you don’t need a wetsuit to swim outdoors. Many committed ‘skins’ swimmers would argue that swimming in open water without a wetsuit is a more natural experience. In fact, some groups, such as Channel swimming and marathon swimming, actively discourage them. Some swimmers simply don’t find them necessary, or they don’t want the additional faff involved in putting on and taking care of a wetsuit.