The most important body parts to keep warm when swimming

If you want to perform at your best in the water, you need to keep warm. Here, Professor Mike Tipton highlights the body parts that it's most important to insulate

To continue swimming in open water through winter safely and comfortably, you’ll need to make sure you take measures to keep your body warm. But what are the most important body parts to keep toasty while swimming in cold water? Professor Mike Tipton explains…

If you understand the underpinning physiology, then everything else will make sense. You can’t lump gloves, boots and hats in together, as they do different jobs!

If you go into cold water naked, your body will ‘amputate’ your limbs, as in there will be no blood flow going to them. They will tightly vasoconstrict and the temperature of those limbs will go down to meet water temperature. This is the body trying to conserve the deep body tissue.

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