The Best Swimsuits & Bikinis for Cold Dips

Still dipping in these chilly winter months? Well done you. Many D&B customers enjoy outdoor swimming year-round and a number of our pieces have been deliberately designed with wild swims in mind (think warmth, durability, ease of getting on and off river-side...) What's more, over the last few years we've spoken to hundreds of you about which pieces of our kit you most prefer for your colder swims. The below are ours (and your) favourite styles for cold dips whether you're leaping into your nearest unheated lido for a few brief seconds or braving longer cold-water swims in the local lake or sea. 

Need more tailored advice? Don't hesitate to get in touch with us (email us at hello@deakinandblue.com) and we can recommend the right piece for your needs.

1. The Essential Swimsuit

We first launched the Essential Swimsuit in Black in 2018 and it has been such a popular piece that we've since launched it in Cobalt (pictured above). It's one of our most beloved styles for cold water swims - whether that's lengths at the lido, wild dips in a river or pond or something else altogether. 

First up, this style is made from a bonded Lycra which is twice the thickness of standard swimsuit nylon. Customers tell us that it reminds them of neoprene with all of the warmth but none of the faff-factor of putting on a wetsuit. As a result this style promises to provide additional warmth for cold swims. Easy to pull off water-side with its fuss-free design (no fiddly straps, no zips, no clasps) the Essential Swimsuit also features built-in bust support; a comfortable, low arm hole for chaf-free movement; and generous bottom coverage for guaranteed wedgie-free swims. We often describe this style as a 'second skin': once on you should feel comfortable, sculpted and contained without any of the constriction, rubbing or chaffing that bad swimwear can offer. 

As with all our swimwear this style is hyper-resistant to chlorine and salt water (so it will keep it's colour and shape during your cold dips) and is made from regenerated ocean waste in London by our trusted team of seamstresses.

Browse the Essential Swimsuit now.


2. The Swimbra High Waist Bikini Set

The Swimbra High Waist Bikini is a sportsbra style swim bikini which offers medium-impact bust support making it popular for competitive swims and water sports activities as well as gentle lengths and wild dips. 

In 2019 we added an easy-to-use back zip to the top so that it can easily be slipped off over the shoulders even when you're a little damp and shivering post-cold-swim. This style is double lined for additional warmth and features built in bust support. Our customers tell us that they like to match the Swimbra Bikini Top with our high waisted bikini bottoms for maximum coverage (read: warmth) for colder dips. 

Now available in Navy, Plum and Mint Blue.

Browse the Swimbra Bikini now.


3. The Long Sleeve Swimsuit 

The Long Sleeve Swimsuit was designed to bring together all the features our customers have come to love in D&B swimwear (great bust support, super comfortable fit, sustainably made) in a swimsuit that offers a little more coverage than classic styles. This easy-to-wear piece is as popular with sun-seeking-surfers as cold-water-dippers. The long sleeves offer both warmth in cold water and UV-protection on sunny days. The high back design helps minimise that cold-water-on-your-back sensation and generous bottom coverage guarantees wedgie-free fun. 

The Long Sleeve Swimsuit is lined for additional warmth and comes with a long back zip (22-26cm depending on the size of the suit) and zip pull, to ensure getting it off post-cold-swim is an easy task. 

Like all our styles, this popular piece is made from ocean waste in our London production studio. We struggle to keep this style in stock year-round because of its popularity but restocks occur regularly so do join the waitlist if it isn't available today!

Browse the Long Sleeve Swimsuit now.