Outdoor swimming kit we love this summer
A reversible tow float and backpack, a pour-over coffee set for post-swim brews and a bat and ball set: read on for our round up of the best pieces of outdoor swimming kit we’ve tried, tested and loved this summer
RED 2-in-1 Reversible Swim Tow Float Dry Bag Backpack
£74.95
Every now and then, an item comes out that’s so brilliant, we wondered how we ever swam without it. As an ardent swim-hiker, this tow float backpack is one such piece of kit. It’s a superb tow float – neon yellow, mesh pocket, integrated whistle and light attachment points, and 19L of dry storage. But its real moment to shine is when you turn it inside out, it becomes a comfortable, waterproof 28L backpack.
WILD CHANGER
£125
Created in Scotland by entrepreneur Lee Walls, with insight from over 100 outdoor swimmers, this heavy-duty 50-litre changing bag eliminates the ‘faff’ of getting changed on cool shorelines or chilly car parks. The fully insulated interior ensures you have pre-warmed layers. There’s a padded and insulated changing mat plus dedicated wet and dry zones to keep your kit separate. Finally, its massive capacity offers plenty of space to swallow a bulky changing robe, wetsuit, and all your heavy winter woollens.
DiC Daily Sun Protection
£14.99
DiC stands for Don’t ignore Cancer. The founders, based on their own experiences with skin cancer, wanted to create a skin-protection product that people would actually use. They also share two sobering statistics: men are 69% more likely to die from skin cancer than women, and 86% of cases are preventable. Using sunscreen is part of that prevention. DiC is easy to apply from a spray bottle and rubs into the skin quickly.
UBER GAMES Frescobol Set
£60
Who doesn’t love a classic beach game? For swimmers, a fast-paced game of frescobol is a great way to warm up before a dip or shake off the chill after a sea swim. We love this beautifully crafted set from Uber Games, made from dark rosewood and white ash. Unlike traditional bat and ball, frescobol is entirely cooperative – you work with your partner to keep the ball airborne in a high-energy game of beach keepy-uppy.
DRYBONES cable knit hat
£17.99
As a year-round outdoor swimmer, you become a bit of warm hat connoisseur. One of the most important pieces of kit all year, spring calls for a cosy but light and low-profile beanie. The Drybones Cable Knit Hat is all of these things. It’s incredibly soft and warm post-long swim or by the campfire, but it’s small and lightweight enough to fit under a hood or in a pocket. RC
FORM Protein Bar
£29 (12 x 50g bars)
Genuinely the tastiest post-gym bar I’ve tried, Form’s Protein Bar delivers 15g of plant-based protein while being low carb, high in fibre and with just 1g of sugar. There’s a choice of chocolate Peanut or Chocolate Salted Caramel and both taste like desserts, without the overly sweet profile or artificial taste of other protein snacks. They also have a satisfying crunch, and I loved the caramel layer on the salted caramel bar. JT
GUMBIES S-Cape
£95
Having lived in their recycled felt slippers for the past few years, I was interested to see that Australian footwear brand Gumbies™ have brought out a changing robe. It’s thoughtfully designed. I especially like the zip-off sleeves, which allow you to adapt it to all seasons; the soft teddy fleece lining; zipped internal pockets; and detachable hood. JT
HELINOX Chair Zero LT
£134.95
We tested what we thought was the lightest chair from Helinox last year, but it turns out this is even lighter! We love these super small, light and easy to pack-down chairs for our swim-backpacks. They are so simple to set up and pack away. They are great for swimming picnics and adventures, or to sit in to get your neoprene socks off and your shoes back on! We love the addition of the X-Strap which makes it better in soft terrain, which waterside often is!
KEEN Roam Trail Running Shoe
£130
I tried out these new trail running shoes on the South West Coast Path. Exceptionally comfortable from the off, they have that springy feel that urges you forward, a high-traction grip and a cushioned outsole that softened the impact of the rocky path, leaving me free to focus on glimpses of the sea through the trees. They’re not waterproof, but they’re lightweight and dry quickly. A great go-to trainer for trail running or trips to the coast when you want to do more than just swim.
MERRY PEOPLE Oberon Boot
£109.95
Like our favourite Bobbi Ankle Boot but with a roomy, wide-fit, squarer toe box and a more rugged design, the Oberon Boot is just the thing for adventurous dippers. The thick, flexible neoprene lining is rated for below-freezing temperatures to instantly warm numb feet, while the cushioned footbed provides arch support to absorb the shock of uneven ground; it feels more like walking in a springy running shoe rather than a flat, heavy welly.
OCEAN BOTTLE Peak GO
£42
Ocean Bottle’s new PEAK range is designed to be leak-proof, slimmer, stronger, and with more capacity. We love the 710ml GO bottle with its locking flip cap; it’s built to last, robust enough to sustain drops and keeps your drinks cold for 15 hours. I particularly liked the modular lids with three options for a morning coffee to a weekend hike. Plus, every bottle sold funds the collection of 11.4kg of ocean-bound plastic.
SUNSKI Estero
£97.95
I love these aviator style sunglasses by Sunski, a San Francisco based eyewear brand creating original sunglasses for those that love life outside. Made from lightweight recycled materials, sourced from post-industrial scrap plastic, with a carbon neutral supply chain, they tick the sustainability boxes. Plus, they have polarised lenses, tough metal frame and comfortable sculpted nose pads for all-day by the sea wear.
TEVA Original Universal Slim Flat Sandals, £50
£97.95
These were comfortable from the minute I put them on. I love the strapping system with the multiple ways you can adjust to fit your foot. I have wide feet, so sandals are often hard to fit comfortably. They are really light and the quick-dry straps make them ideal for using in around the water. Made from recycled materials and still offering support with a spongy sole, they great as the days get warmer.
TRI-FIT DryBag Backpack Buoy
£44.95
Combining a dry bag with a rucksack is always going to involve compromise and trade-offs, but this piece of kit from Tri-Fit does a good job of balancing both. As a backpack or dry bag, it’s large enough to hold your swimming kit, and even a wetsuit, to get to the water, and it will hold a light change of clothes while swimming. The external mesh bag is useful for things you might want quick access to, such as gels or a (small) drinks bottle. The rucksack straps and the towline are attached with clips or quick switching, and the bright orange colour is great for visibility in the water with a reflective logo for cycling home in the dark.
NOMADIX Ultralight Towel
£29.95
So often, lightweight materials don’t really work when it comes to drying the body, or they don’t dry quick enough after use. This towel ticked so many boxes for me. Great size – covering my more generous body size, while also being light in weight. It dried me off well and then also dried quickly to be able to pack back in my bag. I used it travelling and on all-day swim guiding trips. The fabric is soft, the print fun and it shook off the sand like nothing else I have tested. I used it for five days before washing and it didn’t smell! Such a great piece of kit.
VSSL Nest Pour-Over Set
£54.95
I am super fussy about my coffee and can’t stand instant powders, so this set is absolutely perfect for me! It’s a compact pour-over kit comprising a mug, filter and dripper. It’s such a simple design and easy to use, plus it fits easily into a backpack or swim kit bag. It means I can take my favourite coffee with me to the water for warming up after.
VSSL Rift Tumbler
£35
This 10oz insulated tumbler is built to last, which is exactly what you need when you’re throwing a flask into a kit bag, perching it on a rock or rolling it up in your towel for a toasty treat after a cold dip. It’s got a leakproof, lockable lid, which you can open with one hand, an anti-slip base for said rock perching, and it keeps your brew steaming hot. What more do you need? Available at wildbounds.com
All products were chosen independently by our editorial team. This review contains affiliate links and we may receive a commission for purchases made. Click here to subscribe to the magazine. Read more Outdoor Swimmer gear reviews.
Jo Tinsley
Jo is the Gear Editor for Outdoor Swimmer and also writes news and features for the website. A keen open water swimmer and long-distance walker, she loves seeking out lakes and lidos close to her home in the Mendip Hills, Somerset. She is the author of The Slow Traveller, editor and founder of independent magazine, Ernest, and has previously tested outdoor clothing and kit for BBC Countryfile Magazine, BBC Focus and Ernest Journal.
