New wonders in neoprene

Pops of neon and easy-to-remove gloves and swim socks feature in Speedo’s new range of neoprene swimming kit. Digital journalist Abi gave them a try during a wintry lake swim.

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Outdoor swimmers know all too well the bane of removing neoprene accessories after a cold-water swim. I once nearly broke a numb finger trying to remove a booty that was stubbornly attached to my foot!

So when I heard about Speedo’s new Outsiders range that features velcro loops on the cuffs of its neoprene gloves and swim socks, I was very keen to try it.

I headed down to my local lake with the Speedo Outsiders swimsuit, gloves and swim socks. Before getting into the water I walked a loop of the lake to test the gripped soles of the swim socks. They performed great on the stony path – there was no slipping and sliding around, and they felt hardy and comfortable. 

Insulating and flexible

In the cold water (6.7°C), the 3mm neoprene of the accessories and swimsuit kept me well insulated, and the velcro cuffs of the gloves and boots performed well keeping the water out. And YES it was so nice to pull open the velcro straps and remove the accessories with ease using the pull tabs. A godsend when it comes to neoprene!

The swimsuit was also easy to remove because of the long front zip and elasticity of the neoprene, and the bust shelf felt comfortable and supportive throughout my swim. I love the racer back design and the awesome pops of neon yellow on the suit, which is echoed in the gloves and socks too. 

All in all, the Outsiders range from Speedo is a stylish and high-performance ensemble of kit for cold-water swimmers, and I’m excited to wear them on lots more bracing swimming adventures! 

Written in partnership with Speedo

Find out more about the new Speedo Outsiders at speedo.com