The sun is starting to show itself a bit more now that we're edging our way into Spring, but the waters are staying chilly.
It's good to know all the tricks to warm yourself up after a dip, but we've got some tips to help you stay in the water that bit longer first.
Start from the top!
You have probably heard that you lose a lot of your body heat through an uncovered head, which is why we're starting off with recommending you get yourself some kind of headwear for the next time you're in the water. That can just be a beanie if you're wild swimming, or ideally a neoprene hood if you're doing more extreme water sports like surfing. Or you could just get yourself an extra layer of head warmth with our Kokatat Surfskin range to wear under a helmet.
There's plenty of options so we're sure there's something to suit your needs.
Now, paddling can get a little uncomfortable if you can't feel your fingers, so gloves are considerd pretty essential if you're planning to venture in to the water in the early months of the year.
We have various thickness available in our neoprene gloves, as well as offering different shapes to fit different needs. We have mittens and lobster gloves to provide extra warmth whilst allowing full flexibility of the fingers within the mit for your paddle, alongisde short finger gloves that provide padding on the palm to prevent blisters whilst allowing your fingers to move freely and keep a tight grip.
Last but by no means least, the feet. Neoprene boots are ideal for getting involved with the water in the colder months. The neoprene material provides the warmth in the same way a wetsuit does and it helps to keep you protected from bitter winds whilst allowing movement and stability.
There are regular pull on boots available or zipped boots that are considered easier to get on and off.