Our wild swimming gifts will help you delight your cold water loving chum. Wild Swimming is gaining more and more participants. Swimming year round in open water be it rivers, lakes or the sea, is growing in popularity. And as the UK is sadly not known for its balmy climate, this usually means swimming in cold water. We have put together a list of gift ideas to consider for your wild swimming friend.
Our Top Wild Swimming Gifts
Wild Swimming birthday card
We adore this funny wild swimming birthday card for men, it reminds us of a few people we know! It comes in two designs for men and women so delight them for their birthday this year!
Swim Secure Luxury Bobble Hat
We never, ever go swimming without a hat to put on afterwards; even in the height of summer you can feel cold and lose heat quickly. So we have to recommend a hat in our top cold water swimming gifts, and this one fits the bill perfectly. Help your wild swimmer friend stay cosy and warm with these funky Beechfield fleece lined bobble hats. The hats are super insulated making them perfect for post swim recovery and to prevent thermal after-drop.
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Outdoor Swimming Guide
This popular wild swimming book lists over 400 of the best lidos, wild swimming and open air swimming spots in England, Scotland and Wales. Give this book as a gift for your open water swimmers to take on a UK holiday so they can discover new awesome wild swimming locations.
DryRobe Compression Bag
Does your swimming friend already have a DryRobe? Lucky them, so how about this compression bag to store and transport their robe? DryRobes are brilliant but they are bulky and so the company wisely designed this vacuum packed bag. Genius in our view.
Dry Robe Towelling Changing Robe
A changing robe is a must have. This towelling DryRobe is a cheaper option than the waterproof DryRobe and a good entry gift for wild swimmers as it can used for beach holidays as well. We use ours to dry off, keep warm and to change in. They are lovely and roomy so changing is easy and discreet. On warmer swimming days we throw this on over our swimming costumes to walk home. On cold swimming days they keep us warm until the last possible moment!
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Waterproof changing mat and bag
There are those amongst us who don't like sand (imagine!). For those souls this bag converts into a handy changing mat that will keep their feet clean while they change on the beach. The bag is waterproof and made of heavy duty material so it is ideal to carry home wet and sandy wetsuits, socks, shoes etc. This is one of our most popular wild swimming gifts.
Wild Swimming Accessories
Bright Swimming Cap
After the cold, the biggest danger to swimmers is boats, especially near busy beaches. It is very important to be visible to other water users. Be seen, be safe. Along with the Swim Bubble below, we recommend bright swimming caps as the essential outdoor swimming accessories for safety. These unisex swimming caps come with ear pockets and are suitable for people with long hair.
Women's Boy Leg One Piece Swimming Costume
Let's face it, looking good while cold water swimming is pretty tough, especially when you are focused on keeping as warm as possible. So we love this swimming costume that comes in a whole variety of colours. It features boy legs which will hide a multitude of sins while giving a tiny extra bit of warmth. The back is a racer style and with no clasps to worry about we think this is a great wild swimming gift for women.
Speedo Unisex Goggles
Goggles obviously help with vision when swimming. In sea water they help protect your eyes from the salt. We use these goggles so they come highly recommended. They come in a choice of colours. This affordable option is a great swimming present idea. We find them particularly helpful in the sea when there are jelly fish around. Gulp!
Hearprotek 2 pairs Swimmer ear plugs
Ear plugs are really good at keeping the nasties away. These ear plugs are high quality and come in a choice of colours. They come in a pack of two pairs and are made of silicone. They can be used over and over so make a really good gift for open water swimmers.
Saguaro Unisex Water Shoes
These lovely water shoes fulfil a number of functions. Most importantly they keep your feet warm, but they also give you some grip on slippery rocks and may guard against weever fish stings. We wear these shoes whenever we go sea swimming, even in the height of summer, as we see them as an important bit of sea swimming gear. The shoes come in a variety of colours for men and women.
New Wave Swim Bubble
From the Company that brought you the New Wave Swim Buoy, the Bubble offers a light weight way to float and rest during swims and a great way to remain visible. The Bubble is fixed around the open water swimmer's waist and floats behind the swimmer without creating drag. We think this is one of the best wild swimming gifts as it will keep your chum safe.
Emergency Whistles
Another great idea for a wild swimming gift that focuses on safety. Thankfully we have never had to use them, but we always carry them in our dry bags. This piece of outdoor swimming equipment is an affordable idea for open water swimmers.These whistles come highly recommended and they are loud!
Waterproof Phone Case
This one of the more ingenious sea swimming accessories. It is a great idea if your sea swimming relative is nervous about leaving their phone on shore, or if they want to take underwater pictures. It can be used for multiple sports including kayaking and surfing as well as wild swimming.
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Wetsuit gloves
We know many people who don’t wear a wetsuit (we are sadly rarely that brave!), but they do wear gloves to keep their hands warm. They also help with swimming as they are more efficient in the water than a bare hand. A great idea for a swimming gift.
Wetsuit socks
Just like the wetsuit gloves above, these socks help to keep your extremities warm in cold water. They should be worn with shoes as they are not intended to be suitable for walking on sand or rocks. Why not give shoes and socks as wild swimming gifts together?
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Garmin Swim 2 - GPS Swimming Smartwatch
What a fabulous treat for your swimming friend! We are jealous already… This is a great piece of wild swimming gear that will help your cold water loving chum to track their performance. This watch works underwater and its GPS connectivity will record open water swims, stroke rate, distance and a whole host of other metrics.
Outdoor Swimming Accessories
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Waterproof Action Camera
We love this gift idea for wild swimmers. This piece of kit really is the dog's wotsits. It has video and still functionality as well as wireless wrist remote control. Your chum can record underwater or the shore from the water, giving a unique perspective for family and frends. It is also surprisingly affordable, so worth checking out. Who knows, you may be creating a future Instagram Influencer!
Bamboo Tide Clock
When swimming in the sea and tidal rivers, you soon learn how important it is to know both the timing and the direction of the tide. This bamboo tide clock will be able to give an approximation of the local tide at a glance. The clock rotates every 12 hours and 25 minutes and indicates whether the tide is falling or rising and how long until the tide turns. This is a pretty unique wild swimming gift and sure to be a talking point in the home.
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Maxtop 40 litre Rucksack
With all this kit, your chum is going to need a bag big enough to cope. Check out this option which holds 40 litres of outdoor swimming stuff. It has pockets to take your dry stuff, your wet stuff, your warm drinks and your camera. A great swimming gift for your swim chum.
Apres Swim Gifts
Dock and Bay Recycled Microfibre Towel
This is a great idea for wild swimming gifts, it is recycled, made of microfibre so it dries quickly, and comes in a great choice of patterns. We love the Dock and Bay brand.
Dry Robe Long Sleeve change robe
DryRobes surely need no introduction. This is a great piece of wild swimming gear to use after swimming in cold water. Not only are Dryrobes extremely practical, they are also very trendy so they are one of our favourite ideas for wild swimming gifts. And we are proud that DryRobes are a UK based company , and were developed by a surfer and his Mum. Why not treat your sea swimming friend to one today?
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Pack of two rechargeable hand warmers
What a brilliant idea! These hand warmers come in a pair with three temperature settings. They are charged at home and then only activated when required. One in each pocket of a coat is a great way to keep hands toasty on the walk back from the sea.
Microfibre towel
Swimming outdoors is a cold business needing a surprisingly large amount of bulky equipment. One way to cut down on the size and weight is to use microfibre towels, they are compact and quick drying. So we can recommend these towels as a good idea for an outdoor swimming present. They come in a choice of colours and sizes to suit all swimmer's needs.
Ladies Double Layer Beanie hat
After the swim the focus is on keeping warm and as we all know 90% of our body heat escapes through our head. So this lovely ladies beanie will be the first thing your wild swimming friend will put on after the swim. It has a superfine fleece lining for comfort and warmth. This is a key bit of apres wild swimming clothing.
Take the Plunge Hoodie
There really is nothing as good as snuggling into a lovely warm hoodie after a cold water swim. With no zips to trouble trembling fingers, this hoodie is an excellent wild swimming gift. And bonus, this unisex outdoor swimming clothing idea comes in a choice of colours and sizes.
Wrist warmers/half fingerless gloves
I find that getting changed quickly is very important or I start to feel really really cold. So I make sure that the clothes I use after open water swimming are easy to get into. These wrist warmers have a thumb hole with no fingers. This makes them easier to get on than regular gloves and they still do a great job of keeping hands and wrists warm.
Thermos ThermoCafe Stainless Steel 1 litre Flask
Sometimes when swimming in open water all I can think of is the flask waiting for me on shore. When the weather is particularly cold the apres-swim can be much longer than the actual swim! So give the gift of warmth. Warm coffee or mulled wine, what ever takes their fancy to warm up after a cold water swim…
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Hot Water Bottle
A great insider tip we learned from a member of the Blue Tits of Newquay in Cornwall; take a hot water bottle and wrap your towels and clothes around it while you swim, that way you will have toasty towels and clothes to change into after the swim. Genius!
Insulated Picnic Blanket
Once your swimming chum is dry and all bundled up they may want to sit for a while to enjoy a hot drink or some food. This insulted picnic blanket will give a comfortable base for warming up after a swim. We live this colour scheme but there are plenty of others to chose from.
Wild Swimming Books
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Taking the Plunge by Anna Deacon and Vicky Allen
A great wild swimming gift idea for your chum who is contemplating taking the plunge. This lovely book shares hints and tips so that the first swim is undertaken with confidence. The book explores the joy of wild swimming and the benefits that it brings.
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Wild Swimming Walks Cornwall
This is a one of a fabulous series of books that combine adventurous walks with awesome wild swimming locations. We have picked this book as it includes one of our favourite swimming locations, but we're not saying which one! If Cornwall isn't your bag then there are other books covering different areas like the Lake District and Dorset.
Wild Swimming Logbook
This cute logbook comes in paperback or hardback and has space to record 100 swims. Each page covers one swim and includes date and time, location, conditions, water quality, hazards and currents. You can record your personal experiences and even what coffee facilities are nearby. A great gift idea for the open water swimmer who likes to record their swimming experiences.
Leap In: A Woman, Some Waves, and the Will to Swim
Acclaimed sports writer Alexandra Heminsley tells us the story of her relationship with the sea and swimming in it. She suffers highs and lows, all written in a very entertaining style. From her first swim off Brighton beach on the day of her wedding we follow her story. A fabulous read.
Salt on your Tongue: Women and the Sea
For everyone who loves the sea Charlotte Runcie takes us on a voyage of discovery. This is a story of women and water and love, with a birth and a death, songs and tall tales, and the wind blowing high on the waves. Gift this book to a sea swimmer so they can read how the sea connects us all.
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Why we Swim by Bonnie Tsui
If you are uncertain about gifting wild swimming equipment then this book could offer a brilliant alternative. Bonnie Tsui takes us around the globe via personal stories to discover why we swim. We explore the history of swimming, the benefits of swimming and how swimming can improve your spirituality.
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How to Read Water by Tristan Gooley
Clues and Patterns from puddles to sea. Tristan Gooley draws on his own pioneering journeys to reveal the secrets of ponds, puddles, rivers, oceans and more to show us all the skills we need to read the water around us. This book is part of a series; The Walker's Guide to Outdoor Clues and Signs.
The Mindful Art of Wild Swimming: Reflections for Zen Seekers by Tessa Wardley
We have often thought about how wild swimming feels spiritual and is certainly good for our mental health. In this book Tessa explores this theme in greater depth. One reviewer comments that the book makes them want to hurl themselves in to the water.
The Shape of Water by Andy Skitt
A small book of swimming poems, split into two parts - The first part, The Shape of Water, is a swimming pool love story told in four poems. The second part, Sirenstrokes, is a collection of fourteen poems, which explore the place and time and sensation of wild swimming.
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Lonely Planet The Joy of Wild Swimming: 60 of the world's most joyous wild swimming spots
For the globe trotting wild swimmer, this book explores 60 of the planet's best wild swimming spots. For example 'Wade into Hawaii's crystal clear sea where tropical fish weave through the coral reefs of the Kona coast.' We're packing our bags already!
Fun Wild Swimming Gifts
Deep Blue Sea Wild Swimming Mug
If you are looking for a Secret Santa gift for a wild swimmer colleague then this is a great option. It is a beautiful mug made by a UK-based small business. The design is lovely and any wild swimmer would be delighted to display this mug proudly on her desk.
I'd Rather be Swimming Key Ring
Another great Secret Santa or stocking present idea for the wild swimmer in your life. This keyring is stainless steel and features three charms. They will be delighted with this gift.
Open Water Swimming Diary: A Week to View 2024 Diary and Wild Swimming Planner
A great swimming gift for a Christmas stocking. This diary features a week to view and includes space for swimming goals for the year. Help your wild swimming friend plan some epic outdoor swims in 2024.
Wild Swimming Bingo Game
For swimmers who appreciate a good laugh, this light hearted game will have you all in stitches. A great idea for a Secret Santa for wild swimmers or for a Christmas stocking for open water swimmers. What better for a group of wild swimmers than to play this hilarious game over a hot chocolate after a New Year's Day dip?
Swimmers watercolour
A lovely picture for your swimming friend, this measures 30 x 20 inches. It is sure to be a focal point in the home as well as a conversation starter. The picture features swimmers painted from above. One of the more unique wild swimming gifts for the open water swimmer.
Swimming Make Up Bag
A fun make up bag makes a great gift for the female wild swimmer in your life. Make her smile with this bag that reads 'It's a beautiful day for swimming'. Its perfect for lip balm, moisturiser and a small hair brush. A pretty safe bet as a gift for sea swimmers.
Wild Swimming Birthday Cards
Wild Swimming Birthday Card
We love this fun wild swimming birthday card – she looks just like some of the wild swimmers we know (and a bit like me if I'm honest with you)! And bonus there is one for men as well. It comes blank so you can write your own swimming related greeting to your slightly bonkers friend.
Wild Swimming Card
This amusing card comes with no message so is suitable for a number of occasions including birthdays. The caption starts with 'Unwind in nature’s wondrous theatre and immerse your body and soul in the serenity of the open water' and then goes on to give a long kit list! This card is sure to go well with many wild swimming gifts.
Wild Swimming Birthday Card
We love this design and feel it could have been based on Godrevy in Cornwall? Anyway, it is a joyous depiction of a group of wild swimmers. You can't go wrong.
Swim, Cake, Sleep, Repeat Birthday Card
Another great wild swimming birthday card idea, this one is simple but gives a great message that swimming is the secret to a happy birthday, and well the secret to a great life if we're honest.
How to get more Inspired Gift Ideas
We hope you enjoyed our list and found some gift ideas that will work well for you. We would love to hear your views on this list so please either let us know on Facebook or via this page. See new lists as they are published by following our Facebook page here. Want us to research a gift list for you? We would love to, so please let us know here. Want to find out more about us? Please read here.
Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API