With over 4.2 million people having taken a swim in the past month according to Sport England, swimming remains one of Britain's most beloved activities. The Outdoor Swimming Society reports several million Britons now regularly enjoy rivers, lakes, lidos and seas each year, with an astonishing 94% of swimmers reporting feeling happier and less stressed after their dip.
Essential Swimming Gear and Accessories
For the style-conscious swimmer, Bridget Flynn of Mamma Swim recommends Batoko gift vouchers for swimsuits made from recycled sea plastic. When it comes to visibility, the Huub Aphotic goggles (£24.99) adjust to light conditions and resist fogging for both indoor and outdoor use.
Post-swim care is equally important. Amateur swimming enthusiast Katy Morgan swears by Kiehl's creamy eye treatment with avocado (£22.50) to combat goggle marks, while regular swimmer Alicja Jasnikowska recommends the Tresemmé deep smoothing mask (£4.25) to combat chlorine-damaged hair.
Practical accessories make thoughtful gifts too. The Oex Drysack 10 waterproof pouch (£7) efficiently contains wet swimwear, and classic Havaianas flip-flops (from £12.50) provide reliable poolside footwear.
Specialist Equipment for Outdoor Swimmers
For Britain's growing community of wild swimmers, Finisterre's long-sleeved swimsuit (£155) offers warmth for extended open-water sessions. Shore swimming mittens (£49.99) protect against numb fingers during winter dips, while the Hydro Flask (£20) keeps post-swim drinks steaming hot for hours.
Changing robes have evolved too. Colin Hill, director at Ullswater Swim Place, recommends the lightweight Dryrobe (£195) that packs down small for swimming adventures abroad. For capturing those memorable moments, wild swimmer Elspeth Lewis suggests the GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera (£350), waterproof to 10 metres depth.
Safety shouldn't be overlooked. Year-round sea swimmer GP Clare Taylor recommends waterproof lights (£15.54) for early morning visibility and thick woolly mittens (£40) for recovering fingers after cold swims.
Gifts for Swimming Families and Enthusiasts
For swimming families, Alex Dearlove of Aquatots recommends reusable swimming nappies (from £7.99) and nappy sunsuits (from £14) for babies. Older children will enjoy Zoggs Dive Sticks (£15) and Speedo dive toys (£24 for set of four) that make learning fun.
Improving swimmers will appreciate technical aids like training fins (£21.99), kickboards (£28) and snorkels (£27.99), while competitive swimmers might prefer racing suits from Speedo (from £26.25).
For the swimmer who has everything, consider luxury items like the Nadadora Completo black necklace (€420) with its tiny swimmer charm, or the beautiful Stray Studio jacquard woven throw (£75) featuring swimming-themed designs for cosy post-swim recovery.
