Freezing cold water dips

[Ymx]

For Christmas I was gifted a cold water plunge bath.

It’s nothing complicated at all. Basically a half barrel shaped paddling pool. Fill it with cold water and ice, and then torture yourself until you feel good.

Anyone else have one, or do cold dips?

Please share your experience/tips …

[Ymx]

I’ve had it for 3 days now. I’ve done cold showers and so have exposure to this.

I filled it up with the hose, and the temp was pretty cold at about 9 degrees.

First day I did 10 minutes

Second day I did 15 minutes

Today I did 30 minutes.

To be honest, once you’ve got through the initial bit it’s not too hard, and becomes quite bliss.

[Ymx]

The first part is pure wrong. Every instinct is telling you not to dip down once you have your legs in.

When you sit down, it’s just utter madness. Everything hurts, you can’t breathe properly.

After about 30 seconds the breathing normalises. But the cold sting all over remains, and I started to suddenly get a headache in the back of my head.

Eventually the cold becomes tolerable after a couple of minutes. And then after about 3, the headache fades.

At about 5 minutes I am finally at peace. Hands a bit cold but it’s okay.

I keep music playing as a slight distraction. But from 5 minutes on, it’s just great, and it’s quite easy to just stay for ages.

[Slick]

The first part is pure wrong. Every instinct is telling you not to dip down nice you have your legs in.

When you sit down it’s just utter madness. Everything hurts, you can’t breathe properly.

After about 30 seconds the breathing normalises. But the cold sting all over remains, and I started to suddenly get a headache in the back of my head.

Eventually the cold becomes tolerable after a couple of minutes. And then after about 3, the headache fades.

At about 5 minutes I am finally at peace. Hands a bit cold but it’s okay.

I keep music playing as a slight distraction. But from 5 minutes on, it’s just great, and it’s quite easy to just stay for ages.

I think your description is great. It’s the total focus on the cold and trying to normalise everything else that clears your mind, you can’t think about anything else so any other thoughts or annoyances just fade away.

Are you getting the post dip buzz yet? Can last a few hours for me

Edit: to be honest, 30 minutes at that temperature is probably a bit much, just be careful

[Ymx]

The good parts.

It feels like quite an accomplishment

It gives a strong relaxation feeling

I felt strangely highly motivated, it really lifted me

[Ymx]

The first part is pure wrong. Every instinct is telling you not to dip down nice you have your legs in.

When you sit down it’s just utter madness. Everything hurts, you can’t breathe properly.

After about 30 seconds the breathing normalises. But the cold sting all over remains, and I started to suddenly get a headache in the back of my head.

Eventually the cold becomes tolerable after a couple of minutes. And then after about 3, the headache fades.

At about 5 minutes I am finally at peace. Hands a bit cold but it’s okay.

I keep music playing as a slight distraction. But from 5 minutes on, it’s just great, and it’s quite easy to just stay for ages.

I think your description is great. It’s the total focus on the cold and trying to normalise everything else that clears your mind, you can’t think about anything else so any other thoughts or annoyances just fade away.

Are you getting the post dip buzz yet? Can last a few hours for me

Edit: to be honest, 30 minutes at that temperature is probably a bit much, just be careful

Definitely getting some good endorphins.

As I mentioned above I feel super motivated.

It’s enough to make me want to do it again !

Do you get the headaches? I’m slightly wondering if it’s the temp imbalance of my head?

[Slick]

The first part is pure wrong. Every instinct is telling you not to dip down nice you have your legs in.

When you sit down it’s just utter madness. Everything hurts, you can’t breathe properly.

After about 30 seconds the breathing normalises. But the cold sting all over remains, and I started to suddenly get a headache in the back of my head.

Eventually the cold becomes tolerable after a couple of minutes. And then after about 3, the headache fades.

At about 5 minutes I am finally at peace. Hands a bit cold but it’s okay.

I keep music playing as a slight distraction. But from 5 minutes on, it’s just great, and it’s quite easy to just stay for ages.

I think your description is great. It’s the total focus on the cold and trying to normalise everything else that clears your mind, you can’t think about anything else so any other thoughts or annoyances just fade away.

Are you getting the post dip buzz yet? Can last a few hours for me

Edit: to be honest, 30 minutes at that temperature is probably a bit much, just be careful

Definitely getting some good endorphins.

As I mentioned above I feel super motivated.

It’s enough to make me want to do it again !

Do you get the headaches? I’m slightly wondering if it’s the temp imbalance of my head?

At those temps I often get a pain right at the base of my skull at the back. Normally for a couple of minutes then it eases off

[Slick]

The lochs and reservoirs I’ve done in the last few weeks have been down around 3/4 degrees.

A couple of lads I dip with had to take hammers with them a couple of weeks ago to break the ice as they waded out

[Margin__Walker]

No doubt missing out from a life experience point of view.



But fuck that.

[Slick]

No doubt missing out from a life experience point of view.



But fuck that.

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it….

It has genuinely changed my life for the better

[Ymx]

The lochs and reservoirs I’ve done in the last few weeks have been down around 3/4 degrees.

A couple of lads I dip with had to take hammers with them a couple of weeks ago to break the ice as they waded out

I just can’t imagine those temperatures. It must sting like crazy ! And breathing must be nigh on impossible.

I think I read somewhere a minute for every degree. So 3 degrees, 3 minutes.

I think in hindsight my 30 mins was too long. I ended up needing a long shower and a coffee to raise my temp again.

[Ymx]

No doubt missing out from a life experience point of view.



But fuck that.

I’ve probably not sold it too well

But you just need to tough out the first couple of minutes and your in bliss.

[Slick]

The lochs and reservoirs I’ve done in the last few weeks have been down around 3/4 degrees.

A couple of lads I dip with had to take hammers with them a couple of weeks ago to break the ice as they waded out

I just can’t imagine those temperatures. It must sting like crazy ! And breathing must be nigh on impossible.

I think I read somewhere a minute for every degree. So 3 degrees, 3 minutes.

I think in hindsight my 30 mins was too long. I ended up needing a long shower and a coffee to raise my temp again.

We usually stick around those times but also, “when it starts to feel really comfortable it’s time to get out”

[Margin__Walker]

No doubt missing out from a life experience point of view.



But fuck that.

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it….

It has genuinely changed my life for the better

No doubt. Not knocking it at all and remember you talking about it previously.

TBF I'd never say never.

Just not any time soon. Barely got time for anything these days with work and a 9 month old who wont sleep.

[Slick]

No doubt missing out from a life experience point of view.



But fuck that.

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it….

It has genuinely changed my life for the better

No doubt. Not knocking it at all and remember you talking about it previously.

TBF I'd never say never.

Just not any time soon. Barely got time for anything these days with work and a 9 month old who wont sleep.

Eek! Best of luck, it does get easier

[Margin__Walker]

Eek! Best of luck, it does get easier

Ha, cheers. Last one was easier at this age and I'm a fair bit older.

All good fun.

[SomersetJock]

I was very cynical at first but the Mrs talked me into joining her for her dips into the sea.

Very similar experience to the above, real battle to get in but once sorted it’s the most amazing feeling ever. Added bonus is the most amazing nights sleep whenever I’ve dipped.

We live about 5 mins from the beach so generally are out and home and in the shower within 10 mins at most. Went to a beach on Anglesey a few weeks ago and popped into the supermarket on the way home. I was halfway around the refrigeration section and I have never felt so cold and unwell in my life, was utterly horrendous.

Lesson learned, it’s straight home and in the shower every time now !

[Uncle fester]

Must be a bit like getting submerged in the English channel after your dinghy sinks.

[Enzedder]

Stuff that - I'll just keep prone on my Shakti mat for 30 minutes instead.

[Slick]

I was very cynical at first but the Mrs talked me into joining her for her dips into the sea.

Very similar experience to the above, real battle to get in but once sorted it’s the most amazing feeling ever. Added bonus is the most amazing nights sleep whenever I’ve dipped.

We live about 5 mins from the beach so generally are out and home and in the shower within 10 mins at most. Went to a beach on Anglesey a few weeks ago and popped into the supermarket on the way home. I was halfway around the refrigeration section and I have never felt so cold and unwell in my life, was utterly horrendous.

Lesson learned, it’s straight home and in the shower every time now !

I think the key is to get a couple of layers on as quickly as possible. For me it’s a mad rush to get toweled off, T-shirt and long sleeve top on, then I can relax

There are some that say you shouldn’t get in a hot shower too soon after

[Ymx]

Ok, so day 4.

Just did 25 minutes. Dialled it back a little bit.

It was nowhere near as painful this time. And I felt pretty calm after about a minute.
The breathing remained ok
The skin still shocked but recovered after 30 seconds
The back of head pain gone after a minute.

Also, a red kite was lingering around our house, flying really low in the stormy winds. So a nice little outdoor display.

[Blackmac]

Bought one a year ago, put it up, filled it up and then emptied it and took it down a couple of months later without having ever got in.

[Tichtheid]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

[Sandstorm]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

is the rest of his health good, good diet, etc? Any family history of high blood pressure?

[Tichtheid]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

is the rest of his health good, good diet, etc? Any family history of high blood pressure?

Yeah, he is otherwise healthy, as far as I know, he’s in his 50s, both parents still alive etc

[Ymx]

Bought one a year ago, put it up, filled it up and then emptied it and took it down a couple of months later without having ever got in.

Come on Blackmac join the fun, and torture.

[Ymx]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

is the rest of his health good, good diet, etc? Any family history of high blood pressure?

Yeah, he is otherwise healthy, as far as I know, he’s in his 50s, both parents still alive etc

There’s a spike in blood pressure whilst doing it. But don’t believe there to be adverse effects as an aggregate activity.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6101458/

Well I hope not. I thought this thing was supposed to make me stronger. Like Wim Hof

[SomersetJock]

I was very cynical at first but the Mrs talked me into joining her for her dips into the sea.

Very similar experience to the above, real battle to get in but once sorted it’s the most amazing feeling ever. Added bonus is the most amazing nights sleep whenever I’ve dipped.

We live about 5 mins from the beach so generally are out and home and in the shower within 10 mins at most. Went to a beach on Anglesey a few weeks ago and popped into the supermarket on the way home. I was halfway around the refrigeration section and I have never felt so cold and unwell in my life, was utterly horrendous.

Lesson learned, it’s straight home and in the shower every time now !

I think the key is to get a couple of layers on as quickly as possible. For me it’s a mad rush to get toweled off, T-shirt and long sleeve top on, then I can relax

There are some that say you shouldn’t get in a hot shower too soon after

I have abandoned the wetsuit as I found it was a pain in the arse to get off when I come out and delayed getting dried properly and layered up. Don’t miss it while in the water as I get “the glow” once I’m submerged.

The dryrobe is an absolute godsend though, I couldn’t do the cold months without it.

I suppose my shower is probably a good 30 mins after I get out the sea by the time I get sorted, get home and wait for the Mrs to have her shower !

[TB63]

Bought one a year ago, put it up, filled it up and then emptied it and took it down a couple of months later without having ever got in.

Come on Blackmac join the fun, and torture.

At least you can safely know those lumps in your neck isn't mumps..

It's your bollocks...

[Ymx]

I actually think I’ve lost some weight around the belly and man tits.

[Slick]

I was very cynical at first but the Mrs talked me into joining her for her dips into the sea.

Very similar experience to the above, real battle to get in but once sorted it’s the most amazing feeling ever. Added bonus is the most amazing nights sleep whenever I’ve dipped.

We live about 5 mins from the beach so generally are out and home and in the shower within 10 mins at most. Went to a beach on Anglesey a few weeks ago and popped into the supermarket on the way home. I was halfway around the refrigeration section and I have never felt so cold and unwell in my life, was utterly horrendous.

Lesson learned, it’s straight home and in the shower every time now !

I think the key is to get a couple of layers on as quickly as possible. For me it’s a mad rush to get toweled off, T-shirt and long sleeve top on, then I can relax

There are some that say you shouldn’t get in a hot shower too soon after

I have abandoned the wetsuit as I found it was a pain in the arse to get off when I come out and delayed getting dried properly and layered up. Don’t miss it while in the water as I get “the glow” once I’m submerged.

The dryrobe is an absolute godsend though, I couldn’t do the cold months without it.

I suppose my shower is probably a good 30 mins after I get out the sea by the time I get sorted, get home and wait for the Mrs to have her shower !

Yup, the dry robes are a total game changer!

[Slick]

I actually think I’ve lost some weight around the belly and man tits.

When I’m doing it 2/3 times a week I definitely notice a bit of weight loss

[Slick]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

Has it been confirmed that it’s “as a result”? Seems a bit odd after all these years

[Tichtheid]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

Has it been confirmed that it’s “as a result”? Seems a bit odd after all these years

I'll need to ask him again as I know this something you do, but that was the impression he gave me.

I'll get back to you on it.

[Slick]

There’s a guy I know who swims in the sea every day bar when there are storms, has done for many years now.

His GP has had to put him on blood thinners as a result

Has it been confirmed that it’s “as a result”? Seems a bit odd after all these years

I'll need to ask him again as I know this something you do, but that was the impression he gave me.

I'll get back to you on it.

OK, thanks. Genuinely interested rather than challenging, there is quite a bit of contradictory reporting over this but never heard of it actually leading to an ailment

[Ymx]

Day 5. 25 mins.

Again, much easier today. Was in the zone within a minute.

I had a huge bath yesterday, afterwards. About 45 mins.

Today I didn’t, and just dressed up loads and got back in to bed and watched Fargo.

Although, admittedly I only just started feeling warm again about an hour ago.


This is the one I’m using which is absolutely fine. So if you’re wondering what to do with any Amazon vouchers …

https://amzn.eu/d/4gcHsgi

[Glaston]

Definite call out thread for some of the Loonies.


26c is the barest minimum water temp
Ideally it needs to be above 30c

[Tichtheid]

Has it been confirmed that it’s “as a result”? Seems a bit odd after all these years

I'll need to ask him again as I know this something you do, but that was the impression he gave me.

I'll get back to you on it.

OK, thanks. Genuinely interested rather than challenging, there is quite a bit of contradictory reporting over this but never heard of it actually leading to an ailment

Turns out he was talking a lot of bollocks.

It's a funny story as to how it's a lot of bollocks, but I won't post it on a forum.

Basically you're good to go as long as the science says so.

If we ever meet for a pint it's probably worth a laugh to tell you the story.

[Slick]

I'll need to ask him again as I know this something you do, but that was the impression he gave me.

I'll get back to you on it.

OK, thanks. Genuinely interested rather than challenging, there is quite a bit of contradictory reporting over this but never heard of it actually leading to an ailment

Turns out he was talking a lot of bollocks.

It's a funny story as to how it's a lot of bollocks, but I won't post it on a forum.

Basically you're good to go as long as the science says so.

If we ever meet for a pint it's probably worth a laugh to tell you the story.

I look forward to that!

[Ymx]

I'll need to ask him again as I know this something you do, but that was the impression he gave me.

I'll get back to you on it.

OK, thanks. Genuinely interested rather than challenging, there is quite a bit of contradictory reporting over this but never heard of it actually leading to an ailment

Turns out he was talking a lot of bollocks.

It's a funny story as to how it's a lot of bollocks, but I won't post it on a forum.

Basically you're good to go as long as the science says so.

If we ever meet for a pint it's probably worth a laugh to tell you the story.

Fact checked for misinformation spreading.

Result