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Swimming is among the most popular sporting hobbies in the country, with 4.2 million people having taken a dip in the past 28 days, according to Sport England. Meanwhile, the Outdoor Swimming Society says several million people in the UK now take to rivers, lakes, lidos and seas each year. Their main motivation? Joy, with 94% saying they felt happier and less stressed after a swim.
Whatever reason the swimmer in your life is diving into the water, we’ve asked pro and amateur swim enthusiasts to help us compile a range of gifts they might love to receive this Christmas.
The best Christmas gifts for swimmers
A stylish suit
Batoko gift voucher
Bridget Flynn, the director of Mamma Swim, a social enterprise focused on enhancing the wellbeing of mothers through swimming, recommends a gift voucher for Batoko. “The swimsuits are made from recycled sea plastic, and are fun and flattering. It also runs amazing sample sales, where you can grab serious bargains.”
Fog-proof swims
Swimming goggles
Flynn’s go-to goggles are the Huub Aphotic, which “adjust to the light, work brilliantly indoors and out, and fit comfortably without fogging. I always recommend them – they’re also about as flattering as goggles get.”
A feast for the eyes
Kiehl’s eye treatment, 14g
Amateur swimming enthusiast Katy Morgan, who swims four times a week, in the pool and the great outdoors, loves Kiehl’s creamy eye treatment with avocado to combat goggle marks.
Bag up your wet costume
Waterproof pouch
To pack away wet swim kit, Flynn recommends the Oex Drysack 10 waterproof pouch. “A simple-but-brilliant gift, they’re great for kids and adults alike.”
Care for your hair
TreSemmé deep smoothing mask, 440ml
Keen swimmer Alicja Jasnikowska hits the pool year-round: “Swimming three times a week dries out your hair, so I use this Tresemmé conditioning mask in place of a regular conditioner,” she says.
For more, read our guide to the best conditioning masks from our tests
For the softest skin
Nivea soft moisturiser, 300ml
This Nivea moisturiser is always in Jasnikowska’s swim bag because it’s “light, easily absorbed and a bargain”. She uses it regularly on her hands and feet, too, so “it’s a great all-rounder”. Pop it in a swimmer’s stocking.
Gotta have sole
Flip-flops
Jasnikowska loves classic Havaianas to go between the changing rooms and the pool, as they’re “durable, stylish and double up as a holiday flip-flop”.
Under cover
Swim caps for thick hair
Katrice Rodrigues is the founder of Unity Swimming CIC, which provides a safe space to improve swimming confidence for Black and Asian people. She recommends the Swimscarf swim hat: “It fits all heads, hair lengths and types, keeps it dry, and comes in several fabulous colours,” she says.
Pool pendant
Necklace
Flynn loves this “absolutely epic” Nadadora Completo black necklace. “I’d definitely need to have been very good this year to find it waiting for me, but the tiny swimmer charm makes it irresistible.”
The best gifts for outdoor or wild swimmers
Suited to the weather
Long-sleeved swimsuit
This long-sleeved suit by Finisterre is “on the pricier side,” says Flynn, “but worth it if you’re a keen open-water swimmer and want to do more than just the occasional dunk. Lots of our Mamma Swim mums swear by them.”
You got the glove
Swimming mittens
“Keeping hands warm when winter swimming is key. These swim mittens are practical, stylish and easy to get on and off, even when your fingers have gone numb,” says Flynn.
Post-dip sip
Hydro Flask, 12oz
Need a warming post-cold-dip drink? “These flasks by Hydro Flask keep your tea or coffee hot for hours after a chilly swim,” says Flynn.
Post-swim snuggles
Throw
For a cosy post-outdoor swim moment, Flynn loves this Stray Studio jacquard woven swimming-themed throw. “Perfect for wrapping up with a hot drink on the sofa.”
Swimspiration
Lido by Christopher Beanland
A beautiful coffee table book is always a pleasing gift to unwrap. Flynn loves Christopher Beanland’s dive into the history of outdoor pools, Lido. “It celebrates the history of swimming outdoors, and is a beautifully illustrated look at the design, culture and community around lidos and open-air pools.”
Drawn into swimming
Calendar
Colin Hill, director at Ullswater Swim Place in the Lake District says, “Every year I look forward to artist Nancy Farmer’s calendar; her amazing observation catches the beauty and sometimes absurdity of swimming outdoors.”
Drink it in
Mug
“I’ve given these lovely mugs to a few swim friends”, says Hill. “Created by Lake District-based potter Helen Thornley they capture a little swimmer bobbing along with tow-float and a woolly hat.”
Just warming up
Lightweight dry robe
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“This year I’ve been at a winter swim race in China, swum across the Cook Strait in New Zealand and around Manhattan – with more swim adventures to come – so I need the perfect changing robe to travel with”, says Hill. “This lightweight Dryrobe packs down small, saving on baggage space.”
Top it off
Long-sleeve swim top
Morgan is keen to pick up some warm kit for winter swims, like this long-sleeved number from Speedo.
Capture memories
GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera
Keen wild-swimmer Elspeth Lewis, who swims with The Bluetits Chill Swimmers, spent the summer “enjoying numerous adventure swims in and out of caves and jumping off boats, so I recommend a GoPro Hero 13 camera to capture it all. It’s waterproof to 10 metres (33ft) underwater.
Hot stuff
Hot-water bottle
Jasnikowska thinks outdoor swimmers (like her mum) would love nothing more than a decent hot-water bottle for Christmas. This Wild Moose one is designed by wild swimmers and is petite enough to fit in your robe pocket and to snuggle your hands around. It comes with a knitted cover. There’s also a £6.99 Boots option for those who want a more affordable pick.
The gentle touch
Muslin towels
Freya Bromley, author of The Tidal Year, travels by public transport for outdoor swimming adventures, “so having quality gear that’s light to pack is really important”. The hammam towels from Bohemia Design fit the bill and “get softer with every wash”.
Dip into a great read
Sea Pools by Chris Romer-Lee
Bromley also suggests a swim-themed coffee-table book, “along with a handwritten promise to take your loved one to one of the destinations featured”. Her pick is Sea Pools by Chris Romer-Lee for its “stunning photography”.
Shower on the go
RinseKit Pod
Bonnie Tsui, author of Why We Swim, says: “I love the RinseKit, a portable shower that you can fill with hot water and stow in the back of your car.”
Lighting up your swim
Emergency light for sea swimming
GP Clare Taylor, who swims in the sea year-round, suggests “waterproof lights to attach to your goggle strap, so you’re visible in the early mornings before the sun is fully up”.
Feel your fingers
Cold-defying mittens
Taylor also says a good gift for swimmers would be, “thick, woolly mittens for after I get out of the water – I can’t get my fingers into gloves when I am cold!”
The best swimming gifts for kids
Beat those leaks
Reusable swimming nappy
Nappy sunsuit
Buying for a swimming-mad family with a newborn? Alex Dearlove, teacher for Aquatots, which provides swimming lessons for babies from 10 weeks old to children aged eight, says, “We recommend all babies wear two tight-fitting layers to swim. These come in a range of designs, so there is something for everyone.”
Couple this with a mini wetsuit. “Swimming pools on holiday can run cold for little ones. These are great for keeping them warm without being too bulky, and they are UPF50+,” says Dearlove.
Dive sticks
For older children, Dearlove also rates Zoggs Dive Sticks, describing them as “fun for the whole family, compact and lightweight, so easy to travel with”.
Help for little learners
Dive toys, set of four
Chris Lee, head coach at Plymouth Leander, who has worked with Paralympic multi-medallist Reece Dunn, says sinkers or saucers are ideal for children because they’re “fun items that engage the swimmer and allow them to enjoy the water”.
Discs swimming aid
Swim England also recommends that noodles – long cylindrical pieces of foam – are great training aids for swimmers of all ages.
Funky swim aids for improvers
Training fins
Kickboard
Pullbuoy
Snorkel
Lee says, “Technique aids such as fins, kickboards, pull buoys, mesh bags and snorkels” would make great gifts for improvers.
Time to race
Race suits
If you have a competitive swimmer to buy for, Lee suggests a racing suit: “Try Pro Swimwear, where there is a wide range of racing suits with some cheaper options.” Other options include Speedo and Swim Sport.
