From surf to swim: the story behind NewFlow

NewFlow began to tackle surfer’s salty skin and pesky sand but now is taking off as a way to help all those in the outdoors, especially swimmers. Co-Founder Harvey Platt tells us more…

Tell us a bit about your swimming background?

I grew up in Bournemouth, so the sea was always on the doorstep. I had my first surfing lesson in 2008, got a board that Christmas and never really looked back. Bournemouth isn’t known for its waves, and most days it’s fairly flat, but on a handful of days each winter it turns on properly and there are a few local reef breaks that get good when the swell and wind line up. That’s part of what hooked me. You learn to watch the forecast, drop everything when it’s on and get in whatever the temperature. Surfing is what got me into the water, but it’s also what got me into the outdoors more generally, and I’ve been chasing waves, swims and cold dips around the UK coast ever since. Bournemouth is also where I first became aware of Surfers Against Sewage and the state of our water, which has stuck with me and shaped a lot of what I’ve done since.

How does time in and around water enhance your life?

It’s the reset button. Whatever is going on with work or life, an hour in the sea clears it out completely. I love the sport, but honestly, it’s the being outside, the changing light, the fact that no two sessions are the same. I run a couple of businesses and time in the water is the one thing that reliably gets me out of my own head.

Where did the inspiration for NewFlow come from?

Two things I hate: being cold, and sandy feet. There is nothing worse than getting changed in a car park in January, wetsuit half off, trying to wipe sand off your feet with a towel that is already wet. I wanted a proper warm rinse at the car, not a bottle of cold water poured over my head. That was the whole idea. Something simple, portable and warm enough that the post surf or post swim bit stops being the worst part of the day.

What makes your product unique?

The NewFlow shower is an 8L pressurised shower that lives in the boot of your car or the back of a van. You fill it with warm water at home, pump it up, and you get three to six minutes of continuous spray with a 10 mode shower head and a three-metre hose. The tank is wrapped in neoprene to hold the heat, so the water is still warm by the time you’re out of the sea. It doesn’t need power or a tap, and it packs away small. The bit that finishes the job is our waterproof changing mat. It opens out as a mat so you can stand, rinse and change without your feet ever touching the car park, then it pulls up into a 40 litre dry bag so your wet kit, wetsuit and sand all go in the bag rather than the boot. Shower, mat and holder together mean you get out of the sea, get warm, get changed and get home clean. We launched in April 2026, sold out twice over the summer and have sent out over 600 showers so far, mostly to swimmers, surfers, paddlers, van lifers and a surprising number of muddy dog owners.

Where can people buy and connect with you?

You can find us online at newflow.co.uk, where you can pick up the shower on its own or as a bundle with the holder and changing mat. Find us on Instagram and TikTok at @NewFlow. Orders placed before 1pm ship the same day.