If you’re a beach lover, nothing stings more than the cold season setting in. The idea of having to wait six to nine months to go swimming again can be hard to stomach - the good news is, with the right winter beach equipment, you won’t have to!
Admittedly, it takes a certain kind of person to vibe at the beach in below-average temperatures. If you’re used to sunshowers and sipping on cold beer to get your groove on, it takes more than just a towel to get by in December.
Still, if you want a checklist of what you need to spend a winter day at the beach, look no further!
Disclaimer: Swimming in extremely cold water can be very dangerous, and by no means do we recommend it to inexperienced swimmers or people traveling solo. Be objective in assessing your personal limits before deciding on jumping into ice-cold water!
What are the benefits of swimming in cold water?
There are fewer crowds
Not everyone is a fan of huge crowds at the beach. For some people, the seaside is where you go to get away from it all, although you can’t always avoid noise pollution at the beach in the summertime.
Winter at the beach is different, though - there don’t tend to be many people (if any), so if you know the right spot and have some good company, you can enjoy your own little pocket of the world without outside distractions.
It’s good for your body and mind (in moderation)
For people who are in good shape, cold water can do wonders for your body and mental health. If you’re reasonably fit and equipped to handle the temperatures, immersing yourself in cold water can further help in building endurance and even reduce negative emotions.
It helps you burn calories
A lot of us get a bit idle in the winter, especially when the holidays roll around and we overindulge on quality Christmas food. If you have the body and experience for it, getting a swim in during wintertime is a good way to burn some fat or cheat some extra food space into your belly.
Essential Winter Beach Equipment
Winter wetsuit
When you’re dealing with cold water, you’ll want to cover as much of your body as you can. What wetsuits do is trap a thin layer of water inside, preventing heat from escaping your body.
Our favorite: Patagonia R4 Yulex Regulator (Men & Women)
These comfy wetsuits can deal with temperatures as low as 40 F, making them suitable for swimming in harsh conditions. The rubber combined with nylon lining offers the ideal balance of insulation and flexibility in the water.
Neoprene socks & gloves
A lot of people don’t like to wear stuff like this while swimming, but depending on the temperature of the water, it might be an absolute necessity.
Our favorite: Xuker Neoprene Gear (Socks & Gloves)
Besides being good at handling low temperatures, the durable socks will keep you from stepping on rocks or otherwise hurting yourself in shallow waters. The gloves boast premium insulation as well, all without compromising on movement range.
Goggles
If you’re big into swimming, chances are you’ll want to look beneath the surface (quite literally). There are enough risk factors with cold water swimming as is, so might as well bring along some goggles for added safety.
Our favorite: Huub Aphotic Swim Goggles
Beyond the quality lenses, what sets these apart is how easy they are to adjust at a moment’s notice. This comes in very handy when your hands aren’t at their most nimble due to the cold.
Battery emergency lamp
If the sun sets earlier than you might have expected or you lose sight of somebody, you’ll be thankful you packed one of these things. If nothing else, it’s a good way to make sure you haven’t left anything behind on your way home.
Our favorite: BESTSUN Military Grade Lamp
This two-for-one deal comes out on top thanks to its superior luminance and five different settings, including a strobe and SOS option.
Quick-dry towel
One thing you can’t do without is a towel that gets you dry, and fast. After all, how you respond to the cold wave you experience when you leave freezing water is critical.
Our favorite: Dock & Bay Quick Dry Towel
A myriad of colors, several sizing options, and a time-tested microfiber construction for quick and easy drying - what more could you ask for from a beach towel in cold weather?
Winter at the Beach: General Advice
Don’t go swimming alone
At the risk of sounding like helicopter parents, we can’t in good conscience recommend that anyone submerge themselves in cold seawater without someone looking out for them.
Even if you’re confident your body can handle the heat (or lack thereof, in this case), you need a contingency plan in the event of a cramp or sudden onset of fatigue.
Bring an extra change of dry clothes
In the summertime, you can generally let the sun do all the work when it comes to drying off. Things are a bit more complicated in the winter - save for when you’re in the water, you’ll want to keep as dry as possible to avoid catching a cold.
If you only plan on dipping yourself in the water one time, the first thing to do when you get out should be to wipe yourself down before immediately throwing on some warm clothes.
Travel by car
Winter temperatures can change pretty drastically and without warning - when that happens, no amount of layered clothing can do the job of warming you up.
In situations like these, you’ll really appreciate being able to jump into the car and turn up the heat. If you’re extremely cold, avoid turning up the heater all the way immediately - aim to get the car reasonably warm before amping it up if necessary.
Avoid swimming at night
Once again, we have to stress that swimming in cold water is not without its dangers. At the same time, doing it in pitch-black darkness is just asking for trouble.
Winter days tend to be a lot shorter, so the only way to get a lot of daylight in is to hit the beach early. Still, that’s always preferable to rolling the dice by doing it at night.
Keep an eye on the tide
In terms of rolling tides, not all beaches are created equal. Getting swept up by the tide happens all too often, and if you don’t know much about the place you’re going to, it couldn’t hurt to do some research.
Tide-Times offers one of the most comprehensive tide charts you can hope to find. With over 10,000 swimming spots in its arsenal, chances are it has all the information you’ll need, from the height of a tide to its time of onset.
