Clothing Layers for Warmth and Comfort

Dress for immersion. Consider the water temperature not the air. You can always cool down with a quick dip. Staying warm is a greater challenge.

Choose clothes for existing and expected conditions. Several layers of thin clothing reduce heat loss and thus keep you warmer than just one or two thick layers. When the weather changes you can better adjust them.

Extreme cold requires wetsuits or drysuits, but in more moderate conditions you can use layers of more comfortable functional clothing.

Cotton clothes should never be worn in cold conditions because they "wick" heat away from the body when wet, accelerating the affects of hypothermia. In tropical climate wet cotton can be quite refreshing. Manmade fibres provide more warmth even when wet, compared to wet cotton.

Base Layer

Your first layer of clothing should be skin tight. It reduces water flow past your skin when swimming and forms a thin water layer that warms up a bit. You can also wear it for sunburn protection on its own. It acts as a moisture management layer next to the skin, a base layer that wicks perspiration away from your body.

Man-made fibres are better as they don't hold much water. Materials like polypropylene and polyester tend to resist water retention best and you warm up faster after your swim. Lycra suits are also helpful.

Kokatat makes an Inner Core line; NRS has HydroSilk and MicroLite; Immersion Research offers a Thin Skin material. Look for wicking, quick-drying material.

Cotton is very comfortable for swimming. It soaks up lots of water and gets heavy which makes it ideal for power training in pools. But out of the water it retains a high level of moisture and also holds water against your skin, rapidly moving heat away from your body. It's one of the worst materials for staying warm when wet.

Middle Layer

The middle or insulating layer is designed to keep you warm when it gets colder and is worn over a base layer and under an outer layer. Made from synthetic thermal fibres, it assists the movement of moisture to the outer layer. These fibres should not absorb much water; they should dry quickly and so keep you warmer.

Tracksuits are inexpensive and probably the most comfortable middle layer. Hooded tops reduce windchill and sunburn risk. Unlined tracksuits don't hold much water, it runs out quickly and the fabric dries reasonably fast. Any lining will hold pockets of air and water and will become a hindrance.

Wool also keeps you warm, even when wet, but it can be itchy on the skin so you should always wear a base layer with it. SmartWool and several other companies have a new generation of wool garments that don't itch and can be washed. They are good under waterproof layers.

Polartec has fleece products for boating and other water sports like the Thermal Pro PowerStretch and AquaShell, which has body-hugging four-way stretch and a windproof membrane. Check out Kokatat's Outer Core, Immersion Research's Thick Skin, and the NRS Mystery shirt, to mention just a few.

A snug fit is good, not too tight or too loose. It may trap a bit of air and give you some buoyancy. Air is a good insulator. Fleece and wool are both good insulators, but can get heavy when wet. Multiple middle layers will allow you to easily adjust to a change in temperature. In warmer climates you may not need a middle layer.

Outer Layer

The outer or waterproof layer is intended to keep the elements out. It usually has very little or no thermal properties, but should be entirely windproof.

The purpose of the outer layer is to keep you warm, not dry. It doesn't have to be waterproof because you get wet anyway, either from perspiration or from getting into the water. A warm layer of air, warmed up by your body or the sun, gets trapped inside it. If your clothes are not windproof this warm layer of air will be blown away and you'll get cold.

The solution is to wear windproof clothes that keep the wind off your body. A rain jacket, anorak or a light nylon overall stops the windchill and reduces cooling caused by evaporation when you're hopping in and out of the water all the time. This outfit is great for many water sports. Make sure it's large enough so you can move freely.

In warmer climates a breathable Pertex suit keeps various beasties off you when swimming and protects you against sunburn. The soft fabric dries very quickly and thus makes a nice amphibian outfit.

Socks and Shoes

Protect your feet with sandals or sports shoes. Put on some lightweight sandals or sports shoes with socks for extra comfort and protection.

Now go for a swim and notice the extra drag that slows your swimming somewhat. Get used to it, many water sports require shoes.