The Community Answers: What Do You Wear in the Open Water?

Open Water Swimming Gear

You have to feel comfortable and confident to give any activity your all, including swimming in the open water.

What do you wear when swimming in the open water? We recently asked the open water swimming community this question, and received nearly 20 interesting responses. Here is what the community wears when swimming in the open water:

Facebook 

  • “Goggles, if in public, a bathing suit and goggles.” - Linda H. 

  • “I have a sleeveless wetsuit which i was required to wear when swimming in a quarry out here in Virginia. Also had to wear it in a Ches Bay swim to avoid / minimize sea nettle stings. I never liked it though and always prefer regular pair of jammers.” - John D. 

  • “I’m a triathlete - so you know I’m wearing a wetsuit. Roka sleeveless or sleeved depending on temp.” - Robert S.

  • “Blueseventy Reaction! But I wear a speedo under it to make public changing easier.” Aaron W. 

  • “In Berkeley, just a swimsuit. In SF, the Blueseventy Fusion wetsuit.” - Tiffany M. 

  • “Wetsuit with a jolyn underneath if the water is below 60deg, otherwise no wetsuit...no pain no gain.” - Mel H. 

  • “Roka neoprene swim shorts and earplugs 😀.” - Shon J. 

  • “Waterpolo suit over a swimsuit or just a swimsuit.” - Bianca B.

  • “⅔ surfing wetsuit.” - Kerri M. 

  • “Skins!” - Ilana W.

  • “A smile.” - Sarah M. 

  • “Swimsuit” - Jeany H.

Instagram 

  • “Tyr Hurricane3 wetsuit...and my New Wave Swim Buoy of course.” - @randydistanceswimming

  • “Nothing!” - @mike94040

  • “Blueseventy Reaction! But I wear a speedo under it to make public changing easier.” - @walzmusic

  • “Swimming shorts in any water temperature.” - @fouadbdiab 

  • “Jammer shorts, silicone cap if above 65 degrees, warmer blueseventy thermal cap or two silicone caps when below 60 degrees, ear plugs when colder than 60 degrees, bright safety buoy.” - @seth.horowitz.3 

  • “Speedo, bright cap, socket rockets and safety buoy. When it’s under 60 I add a thermal cap, earplugs and neoprene gloves (arthritis in hands).” - @megswim12

  • “Mates and I wear speedos all the way.” - @thejamesarthur 

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Rustin Rassoli