Used to do it in 90’s but it was just called “swimming”.
Not sure what’s wild about it.
It means not in the pool - you are in 'the wild' meaning not an environment managed for swimming. And probably surrounded by wildlife, at least the small kind.
As another who used to open water swim before I could afford a good swimming wet suit I had a totally unbiased and uninfluenced view of whether it was good for either my physical or mental well being. I can remember stopping in November 1989 in the Med because it had become a misserable experience that left me feeling wiped out rather than invigorated as I had when the water had been warmer. So at some temperature below 14°C (I didn't have a thermometer that's just typical for the time I stopped) the enthusiasm was replaced with dread, and the invigorating start to the day turned to feeling crap for a few hours. I was and still am around 65kg for 1m74 and lean, it ain't for everybody.
OP, just have a go. There are as many opinions about everything as there are in cycling. Wait till the weather and water warms up a bit, find some people to go with. I don't think you need any special kit, I swim all year round in just a bikini, no neoprene. No bobble hats. No instagram. Just get some swim shoes to protect your feet. More layers than you think you might need for after. There are so many hundreds and hundreds of beautiful places to swim in the UK, I've swum as far south as the Scillies and as far north as Achmelvich in the far North of scotland and many places in between, lakes, rivers, waterfalls. No need to be able to *swim* swim, just not drown. It's a whole, other, lovely world. This is somewhere in Pembrokeshire.
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Oh and is it “wild swimming” or “open water swimming”? I tend to use the latter, but sometimes refer to wild swimming just because it’s fun waiting for the inevitable “in my day it was just called swimming” remarks.
And right on cue a day later......
Used to do it in 90’s but it was just called “swimming”.
