GEAR

Outdoor swimming gear reviews and gear advice articles.

Swim Secure Wild Swim Bag

We’ve been a fan of tow floats and bags ever since Chillswim introduced them to the UK market a few…
Zone 3 Onesie

We love this onesie from Zone3. A nice alternative to waterproof robes already on the market, the Zone3 Onesie is…
Swans Open Water Seven Polarised Goggles

The Open Water Seven from Swans features seven faces to the lens, an interesting feature that is designed to combat…
Blueye ‘Eel’ and ‘Squid’ Sunglasses

As far as we can remember, this is our first review of sunglasses, possibly for the obvious reason that most…
How to Read Water, by Tristan Gooley

Naturalist Tristan Gooley is perhaps best known for his book The Natural Navigator, an enticement to leave behind your phone…
Immersion by Karen Throsby

A few years ago, a friend of mine returned from a successful swim across the English Channel bearing gifts –…
AMEO Powerbreather

We have reviewed training snorkels before on our gear pages, but the Powerbreather is something different. Rather than the traditional…
Arena R-Evo+ vs Finis Vapor

I’ve been a competitive masters swimmer (on and off) for the past 10 years and got into open water about…
MAD at BEST (or finding out how good your wetsuit really is)

Measuring drag in swimming is, well, a drag. A swimmer’s speed through the water is determined by two things: force…
Funkita Mosaic Magic two-piece

Funkita and Funky Trunks swimming costumes are popular with outdoor swimmers and a common sight at open water races and…
FUEL10k Protibrick and Protiflakes

Breakfast company FUEL10k has based its marketing strategy around the premise that to excel at anything – whether it’s swimming,…
FINIS Fuse Jammer

FINIS pitches its Fuse Jammer (and the women’s equivalent, the Fuse Knee Suit) as an entry level racing suit with…
Liquid Fire Pro Knee Suit (open back) – women’s racing costume

I’ve been encouraged by my team mates for some time to embrace a racing suit (everyone seems to have one…
Liquid Fire Pro Jammers – men’s racing costume

The men’s equivalent is a little cheaper, sounds like it’s a little easier to get into (but still takes patience)…
The Bering Papers: An extreme winter swimmer’s story

Jack Bright is perennially drawn to extreme adventures in nature. As a winter swimmer and explorer the lure of swimming…
Michael Phelps Race Kit, from Aqua Sphere

We finally got our hands on a pair of men’s XPRESSO jammers and the matching X-O Race Cap, the final…
Wild Swimming in Ireland, by Maureen McCoy and Paul McCambridge

Fifty swims in Ireland chosen by open water swimmer McCoy, this book looks like an essential companion to any trip…
Sport & Meditation, by Sri Chinmoy

A fascinating look at the power of meditation in sport and the untapped spiritual aspect of training and racing. £16.99…
Are you tough enough? By Helen Summer

Well, this book is pretty much about what it says on the cover. We picked it up because it has…
Finis Posture Trainer

Although it looks like a mediaeval torture device, the Finis Posture Trainer is designed to promote correct head and spine…
Max’s Protein Bar

My usual experience with protein products is the taste ranges from chemically enhanced to just about palatable. It was therefore…
Aqua Sphere XCEED goggles

Developed in conjunction with Michael Phelps and US Olympic coach Bob Bowman, these racing goggles are not designed for open…
Zone3 Bouyancy Shorts

We love these premium neoprene shorts from Zone3. Designed to improve your body position in the water by getting swimmers…
Swimzi XK jacket

The Swimzi XK jacket was designed in collaboration with a team of swimmers who attempted a relay crossing from the Farallon…
BlueSeventy Thermal Helix wetsuit

On first appearance the Blueseventy Thermal Helix looks like any other wetsuit. However inside it has the added feature of…