Top Tips

Pick up knowledge to improve your outdoor swimming. Learn how to plan routes, train with others, complete events, and overcome obstacles like nerves or fitness level. Get guidance on skills like bodysurfing, underwater swimming, and adapting your stroke for rivers and seas. Experts and seasoned swimmers share their top tips so you can swim safer, stronger, and with more joy.

Should you train in open water or a pool?

Simon Griffiths explores the pros and cons of open water and pool training.
Back to basics: how do I get my face in the water?

“I’m struggling to get my face in the water when swimming at my local lake, and I would love some…
Top tips for festive dips

Christmas morning dips, New Year's Day swims and loony dooks: a madcap dash into the sea is fast becoming a…
How to remove your neoprene accessories fast

Check out these tips we’ve curated from the Outdoor Swimmer team and social media to avoid getting colder than necessary…
Winter freestyle refresher: body position, action and reaction

Here we look at your body position in the water, and how your body responds to various actions.
What is the bilateral breathing ladder, and is bilateral breathing really necessary?

We share some top tips for improving your bilateral breathing – and even if you can't get it right, it's…
How do I motivate myself to train through winter?

Swimming coach Cassie Patten believes the winter months are prime time for focusing on technique and maintaining fitness levels.
How can I pace myself when swimming long distances?

Giving a talk before Swim Serpentine, swim coach Cassie Patten advised swimmers to start out steady and build into their…
How and why should I practise kicking?

I wear a wetsuit and barely kick my legs when I swim in open water but I’ve been told I…
Winter Freestyle Refresher: Breathing for front crawl

How to identify areas for improvement and work out what to do. Your winter freestyle refresher by Simon Griffiths.
What does it take to swim an ice mile?

If you’ve ever seen a swimmer at the end of their ice mile, you’ll appreciate what an incredible feat of…
How to ditch your wetsuit for winter swimming

"For a 10-minute winter swim, I'm not sure wearing a wetsuit is worth it. What do you think?" Simon Griffiths…
Swim support you can trust

Are they qualified? What experience do they have? In this growing world of outdoor swimming, we share some advice for…
How do I improve my technique to avoid Swimmer’s Shoulder?

Swimming coach Cassie Patten answers a reader question about how to improve their swim technique to avoid further shoulder pain.
Two modes swim training

Simon Griffiths explains why it's beneficial to have two modes for your swimming training, which can sometimes mean leaving the…
How to maintain swim fitness without pool training

No pool? No problem. Jonathan Cowie explains how you can maintain your swim fitness with some dry land training, including…
Boost your outdoor swimming confidence by doing an event

It sounds counter-intuitive but doing an open water swimming event can boost your swimming confidence.
How to train with other people

While your training buddy won't necessarily be doing the same strokes as you, swimming with other people can be enjoyable…
How to plan a river swimming route

A long and lazy river swim under the dappled light from riverside trees is a quintessentially summer pastime. Jonathan Cowie…
What’s the cause of my hip pain while swimming?

Swimming coach Cassie Patten troubleshoots a reader's hip pain, and shares some tips for preventing further discomfort.
How to use a pull buoy

Pull buoys can help with coordination and arms-only training, and can also make for a very relaxing, even meditative swim.…
How I’m preparing for my next 10km marathon swim

How to build a training plan for a long distance swim that fits around your life.
How to calm first event nerves

Signed up for your first swimming event and feeling nervous? We share some top tips for overcoming those pre-event jitters.
Want to learn more about river swimming? Try kayaking

Whether learning how to find the fastest flow of water or avoiding hazards unique to rivers, Simon Griffiths suggests trying…
How to prepare for an English Channel relay swim

Meet your pilot and eat crisp butties – Lionel Spittle and David Rock share their top tips for preparing for…