This Is The Best Lake Temperature For Swimming

Polar bear clubs: you see these groups on the news and across social media. There these people go, jumping into icy water, wearing only a bathing suit. But then there are all these warnings about hypothermia and shock if you swim in a cold lake. Yet there the neighbor goes, plunging in as the sun rises on a spring day. It is all incredibly confusing.

The best lake temperatures for swimming are 78 – 86 F (26 – 30 C). Those doing vigorous exercise prefer it closer to 78 F. People do swim in lakes at cooler temperatures, but there are some risks. It is essential to acclimatize correctly, keep moving, and know the warning signs.

Swimming in water that is too hot or cold has its risks. Thus, official advice is always the safest, most cautious range. However, many lakes never reach 78 F, but people successfully swim in them without a wetsuit. Nobody can guarantee swimming below 78 F is safe, but there are some tips for reducing risks.

Why Is 78–86F The Ideal Lake Temperature For Swimming?

Swimming in a body of water that’s too cold or too warm has risks. Thus, FINA (now known as World Aquatics) sets Olympic competition pools temperatures at 77-82 F (25 – 28 C). The pool is kept at the cooler end of the scale for vigorous swimming, such as races and water polo. For diving, the water is warmer.

Swimming in water that is too hot, above 86 F (30 C), can make you lethargic while putting you at risk for heatstroke.

You sit in a jacuzzi and soak, not train for the triathlon.

_{Hot water is best kept for jacuzzis; image via GIPHY}

Water that’s too cold can make swimmers breathless, cause shock, or even put people at risk for hypothermia.

Also check out Is Swimming In 60 Degree Water Possible?

Signs Of Water Shock When Swimming In A Lake

“Just jump in,” people often encourage. “Like ripping off a band-aid,” people claim. But plunging into cold water can cause cold water shock.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution defines cold water as anything from 59 F (15 C) or lower. Most other coast guard type associations have a similar line. However, many factors impact where an individual’s “line” is to susceptibility to water shock. Plenty of people can jump into a lake at 59 F and be fine, but others can’t.

Cold water shock signs come in three main stages:

• Gasping, loss of breath
• Incapacitation
• Hypothermia

The first is the gasp when you hit the water. This can cause some people to then inhale, even if they are still underwater, which is how you drown. The gasp is commonly followed by shallow breathing.

This shock can also induce panic, which can lead to hyperventilating. If this occurs, the person could inhale water, which leads to drowning. Lastly, this can cause some people to have an asthma attack, and a lake is a dangerous place to have one.

The second stage is incapacitation. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter if you are in shape and a strong swimmer or a couch potato when it comes to cold water shock. The body instinctively shifts warmth from the limbs to the core to keep your vital organs safe. Tragically, the muscles in your limbs might react to this by not working very well or at all.

You don’t know how quickly your body will shut your limbs down until you’ve had the experience. Unfortunately, if you are not wearing a life jacket when this “loss of working limbs” reaction happens, you can drown.

Thankfully for many people, the reaction is much slower. The body slows down, the breath picks up, and you know you’re in trouble. This is when you call for help and try to get yourself out as quickly as possible.

Even when out of the water, there is still a danger of hypothermia. Thus, it is essential to get dry, warm, and seek professional assistance.

Signs of hypothermia include:

• Confusion
• Fatigue
• Incoherent speech
• Lack of coordination
• Shallow breathing that can slow
• Weak pulse

Severe shivering is a sign, but when that stops, that doesn’t mean the person is necessarily getting better. Lack of shivering can also signify that the hypothermia is even worse.

6 Tips For Swimming In Lakes Colder Than 78 F

We can’t tell you that swimming in a lake that is cooler than 78 F is safe. All we can say is people do it a lot without suffering from cold water shock or hypothermia. In fact, there are studies into its health benefits. Thus, we’ve rounded up tips for those determined to swim in lakes cooler than the recommended 78 F.

1 – Acclimatize When Swimming In Colder Lakes

Let your body adjust before plunging your chest and head in. Once submerged, move, and keep swimming, so you are generating body heat. If you continue to swim regularly, your body will adjust.

2 – Never Swim Alone In Colder Lakes

People should never swim alone, but this becomes a crucial safety tip in colder water.

3 – Upgrade Your Gear For Swimming In Colder Lakes

If you know you are sensitive to cooler water, upgrade your kit. You don’t need to go full-on wetsuit if the water isn’t that cold. Instead, consider insulated swimsuits that are often sold at surf shops. If you are dipping into frigid water, then a wetsuit can help, along with gloves, booties, and even headgear. A good compromise is a spring or shorty wetsuit that can provide just enough insulation to keep you warm in cooler waters.

_{A shorty or spring wetsuit can be a good compromise between a full wetsuit and a bathing suit; Image courtesy of Amazon.com}

4 – Don’t Dive Into Colder Lakes

Diving straight into cold water can lead to cold water shock. Give yourself a moment, let your legs and body start to adjust, before plunging the chest and head in.

5 – Limit Your Time Swimming In Colder Lakes

Just as there are time limits for sitting in a hot tub, there is a limit on how long you should be swimming in colder water. For example, it is estimated that the maximum a person can be in 40 F (5 C) water is 7 minutes. However, for some, even that will be too much. Also, your gear will matter.

For temperatures only slightly under 78 F, the general advice is to keep it to a maximum of 20 minutes.

6 – Warm Up Slowly After Swimming In Colder Lakes

Just as diving into cold water can shock the system, so can heating yourself back up too quickly. So don’t jump into the hot tub. Instead, get dry, change into cozy clothes, and sip a hot drink. But please note that our advice is for people having a nice, cool swim and not for those suffering from hypothermia.

Conclusion

Swimming in lakes can be glorious fun, and the best water to do it in is 78 – 86 F. However, if you choose to swim in cooler temperatures, try to do so safely. Remember, jumping straight in might be your buddy’s advice, but the health experts disagree.