Wild swimming has taken off across the UK, from Lake District tarns and Highland lochs to Cornish coves and city lidos. If you're starting out, or just want better kit for the year round dip, here's what to wear and a few things worth knowing before you get in.

What to wear for wild swimming

Plenty of open water swimmers prefer swim briefs and swimsuits to wetsuits, especially in summer and for short winter dips. Close fitting swimwear doesn't drag, doesn't fill with water and dries quickly once you're out.

• Men: swim briefs with a drawstring stay put when you wade in from a shingle beach or jump off a jetty. Have a look at our men's swimwear.
• Women: a thick strap racer or a one piece with good support works well for proper swimming. Try the Thick Strap Racer in Box Jelly Fish or browse one piece swimsuits.

Our swimwear is made in our Sydney factory from GRS certified recycled fabric with SPF 50+ sun protection. It's built for chlorine too (80 to 90 hours), so the same pair does the lido, the leisure centre and the sea.

Be seen: wear a bright swim cap

A brightly coloured cap is one of the simplest ways to stay visible to boats, paddleboarders and anyone keeping an eye on you from the shore. It also keeps your hair out of your face. Our swim caps are latex free silicone in bold prints you won't lose sight of.

Warming up afterwards

The swim is often the easy part. Getting warm again is where good kit counts, especially from October to April.

• A hooded towel lets you change on a windy beach without a fumble. Ours have a waterproof pocket for your phone and keys: see towels.
• A fleece or hoodie over dry layers straight after: try our retro polar fleeces or fleece lined hoodies.
• A warm drink and a hat. Not ours to sell, but always worth packing.

A few safety basics

Wild swimming is brilliant, but open water isn't a pool. Before you go, it's worth reading the advice from organisations such as the RNLI and the Outdoor Swimming Society. The basics most swimmers agree on:

• Never swim alone, and tell someone where you're going.
• Check the conditions: weather, tides, currents and water quality.
• Get in slowly. Cold water shock is real, even on a warm day.
• Stay close to the shore and know how you'll get out before you get in.
• Keep winter swims short and warm up gradually afterwards.

Wild swimming kit list

• Swim briefs or a swimsuit
• A bright swim cap
• A hooded towel or changing robe
• Warm layers, a hat and something hot to drink
• A tow float if you're swimming further out

See you in the water. Browse our open water picks to get started.