Icy.ie

Cold water swimming gear

Start with the six essentials. Then check the specifications of the picks below. We have not tested any of these products, and we say so on every card.

Links marked "affiliate link" may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change what we list. How we are funded

Must-have essentials, in order

  1. A tow float. Visibility to boats and something to hold. The single piece of safety kit most worth owning. Read the guide
  2. A changing robe. Gets a layer on you within seconds of leaving the water, which matters more than almost anything you wear in it. Read the guide
  3. Neoprene gloves, socks and a cap. Hands, feet and head cool first. These extend how long you can stay comfortable, not how long you can stay safe. Read the guide
  4. A hot drink in a vacuum flask. Warm sweet fluids help once you are dressed. Leave it in your bag until you have changed. Read the guide
  5. A dry bag. Keeps clothes dry on a wet slipway and gives you somewhere for keys and phone. Read the guide
  6. A thermometer you trust. Buoy readings are a guide. The water at your beach can differ. Read the guide

Picks, checked against official specifications

Specifications were read from the maker's or retailer's own page on 19 October 2026. They can change. Not tested by Icy.ie.

Changing robes

dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve

  • Recycled nylon outer with PFC-free water-repellent finish
  • Recycled polyester fleece lining, including the hood
  • Stated 25,000 mm waterproof and 8K breathability
  • 3-year performance guarantee on purchases after 1 January 2024

dryrobe ships to Ireland through its EU store, free over €50 on the date we checked.

Maker's page

Tow floats

Restube Swim Buoy (Classic, Pro, Pro Neon)

  • 760 mm long, 125 N buoyancy
  • TPU-coated nylon, PVC-free
  • Pro version has a 12.5 L integrated dry bag
  • 2-year warranty

Shipping to Ireland was €8.50, free over €150, when we checked.

Maker's page

Neoprene for hands, feet and head

Zone3 Heat-Tech Swim Gloves

  • 3.5 mm stretch neoprene with heat-tech lining
  • 3D palm pattern for grip
  • Glue-bonded, double blind-stitched seams

Maker's page

Zone3 Heat-Tech Swim Socks

  • 3.5 mm neoprene with titanium and heat-tech linings
  • 3D sole pattern for grip
  • Hook-and-loop closure

Maker's page

Zone3 Heat-Tech Swim Cap

  • 4 mm Yamamoto Smoothskin neoprene
  • Fleece-lined
  • Hook-and-loop chin fastening, sizes S to L

Maker's page

Wetsuits

Zone3 Aspire

  • Men's 5-1 mm, women's 3-1.5 mm
  • Yamamoto neoprene with SCS nano-coating
  • Glued and blind-stitched seams, 12-month warranty

Maker's page

Orca Vitalis Hi-Vis Men Openwater

  • 2.5 mm Yamamoto 38 neoprene in torso and legs
  • Orange hi-vis colour for visibility
  • 95% neoprene, 5% polyamide

Maker's page

Flasks

Stanley Classic Legendary Bottle 1.0 L

  • 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation
  • Manufacturer claims 24 hours hot or cold
  • 807 g, 117 x 94 x 358 mm

Maker's page

Cold plunge at home

Lumi Recovery Pod ice bath (MAX Ultra)

  • 420 L, 90 cm diameter, 75 cm high
  • Five insulation layers including 10 mm foil-backed foam
  • 6-month UK warranty

Delivery to Ireland was not stated on the page. Check before you order.

Maker's page

Other kit: tow floats (affiliate link) · thermometers (affiliate link) · dry bags (affiliate link)

New and notable

What we left out, and why

  • Plunge and Ice Barrel chillers are specified for US mains (115 to 120 V) and list international orders as 'contact sales', so we have not listed them for Irish readers.
  • We found no verified Irish retailer affiliate programmes yet, so some links go to the manufacturer with no commission. We add affiliate links only where a programme has accepted us.

Full gear guide · Cold plunge running cost calculator