Outdoor Swimmer Magazine

Autumn brings a seasonal split for outdoor swimmers: sea temperatures peak while cold-water devotees count down to the first frost. This issue looks past cold water's usual spotlight to explore the other extreme, swimming in heat. The October magazine finds common ground between the two: whether gasping in ice or sliding through warm water, both demand close attention to your body and full presence, which is often the whole point.
Inside, swimmers share firsthand stories from both ends of the thermometer, plus practical guidance for swimming safely in extreme conditions. A feature on Transient Global Amnesia—increasingly common among outdoor swimmers—explains what it is and how to support a fellow swimmer experiencing it. Gear coverage covers changing robes, a must-have as temperatures drop, while the challenge section rounds up highlights from recent events. In travel, Editor Ella Foote recounts a magical winter swim in Sweden.
Wherever you swim this month, this issue offers plenty to think about next time the water takes your breath away.