is 67 degrees too cold to swim in?

Answer 1

Depends on if it's the water temperature of the air temperature. Water, you're fine. Air doesn't really matter, as long as the water has had a chance to warm up.

Answer 2

No, its not too cold. But it will be chilly.

It also depends on you. Some people can't stand cold water. Others don't have a problem with it.

The skinnier you are the colder it will feel. We have a skinny guy on our team and he hates anything below 70. Others went swimming New Years day in 54 degree water.

I'm the Open Water coach on our swim team in southern California. We start open water swimming in late June and the water can be anywhere from 63 - 68 degrees. It's cold but we swim for an hour or more.

Once you get going, it can be down right nice.

Remember when starting off in cold water, resist the urge to start of sprinting to warm up. YOU WILL PULL A MUSCLE! Start SLOW and let your muscles get used to the water. Stretch before you get in and after you get out.

Don't swim alone or without a lifeguard and you'll be just fine.

Good luck and have fun.

PS. To correct someone above USA Swimming says that competition pools should be between 78-80. USMS says the same.

PPS. The advice that swimming with a swim cap will not help keep you warmer is 100% incorrect. You loose about 25% of your body heat through your head. Wearing a cap will definitely help that heat loss. It is possible the person just can't tolerate cold water. I regularly swim an hour in 60-65 degree water in a speedo, no wetsuit, and a swim cap.

Answer 3

Since this is in the Sports section...
To train, a temperature of 70-80 is considered optimal. In fact, USA swimming mandates this temperature range for competition. Over 85 is very bad to train in. 67 isn't unsafe, but it can't be the most comfortable(shortening workout time and you're ability to use energy to do work and not to heat your body). I've done open water races in June where the water is below that.
Personally i feel i train best around 76ish not too cold but i don't feel like i am overheating either. But you are safe in 67, never swim alone and you'll be fine.

Answer 4

I tried laps in exactly that temperature once, and it was a nightmare. I thought for sure I'd warm up the more I got into it, but I started to feel worse. Keep in mind how fast you lose body heat through your head (my cap didn't help at all.) There's a difference between goofing off in a cold swimming hole on a hot humid day for a little while and swimming vigorous laps for exercise or training. To say "your body will warm itself up" is too simple considering how fast your body loses that same heat if it is too cold. Hypothermia is a very real possibility if you're not careful. You body loses heat a lot faster in water than in open air.

Anyway, I normally swim laps for about 40 to 50 minutes in 82-85 degree water, but I couldn't manage 10 minutes in 67 degree water. After I got out I had mild flu-like symptoms for the rest of the day and the following day. It was a bad experience. On the bright side, I had the entire pool to myself as I was the only swimmer even attempting to make a go of it at that temperature!

Answer 5

That's about 10 degrees less than a competitive swim pool temp (which I always found cold) but as long as you keep moving you'll be alright. You can use a wet-suit to retain heat if you find it too cool.
Be sure to take a nice long hot shower after to bring your body temp back up!

Answer 6

usually, since my mom runs a pool in my town it has to be 70 degrees to swim in, but we only get like 12 kids.

Answer 7

It's not too cold to swim in as long as you don't stay for a long time.

Answer 8

Yes, the pool I go to is 85 degrees, and I still think it's too cold!

Answer 9

Nope. I wouldn't recommend swimming in water below 32 degrees though. You could hurt yourself.

Answer 10

that's a personal decision, most people would think it to cold to swim in but some people can tolerate it, just be careful to not stay in too long as you could develop Hypothermia