At the pool and on the way home
Short answer: Pack an extra set of underwear and a pair of socks. Damp clothes after a swim are the most common reason people feel cold on the way home. Dry off fully, wait a few minutes, and put a dry layer next to your skin.
Why you feel cold afterwards
Your skin is damp, your hair is wet, and the air outside is colder than in the pool hall. Evaporation from skin and hair keeps cooling the body for up to an hour after a swim. That is why many people feel the cold not in the water, but on the way home.
The gap between hall and outdoors
In winter the jump from the warm hall to the air outside is at its largest. Your body has used energy to stay warm in the water, and as you step out, warm skin meets cold air. The bigger the difference, the more clearly you feel the cold, even on a short walk home.
What belongs in the bag
A dry set of underwear, dry socks and something for your head if your hair is long. Keep them in their own bag or pocket, so they do not turn damp from the wet swimwear. It sounds trivial, but it is the simplest way to a comfortable trip home. See bamboo underwear for men.
The dry layer against the skin
The dry layer against the skin matters most. Damp clothes on a wet body soon turn clammy, and then you might as well not have bothered. Bamboo viscose feels soft and cool and lies flat, even when the skin is still slightly damp. For women there is bamboo underwear for women.
The order when you change
Dry off completely, wait a few minutes, and only then put the underwear on. Clothes straight onto damp skin turn damp at once. Start with the body and leave the hair for later, so water from your hair does not run into clean clothes. If you are in a hurry, at least dry the places where clothes fit close.
Socks last
Put the socks on last, when your feet are dry. Damp feet in closed shoes turn cold quickly, and there is often water on the changing room floor. Stand on a towel and dry between your toes too. Dry bamboo socks for women make the walk home more comfortable.
Hair and head
Wet hair cools the head quickly, and you often feel it in the whole body. With long hair, it helps to wring it out and dry it in a towel before you go outside. A hat or scarf keeps the warmth in until the hair is dry. Without a hat, the way home in winter is needlessly cold.
The swimwear on the way home
Swimwear should not share the bag with the dry clothes. Pack it in a separate bag and wring it out as well as you can. In many places the pool has a spin dryer, and that removes most of the water. Then it is easier to carry and less damp when you get home.
The bag for next time
If you swim often, you probably know what works for you. Leave the bag ready with the dry clothes, so nothing gets forgotten. Wash swimwear and worn clothes soon after the visit, so they do not pick up a stale smell of damp in the bag. Then everything is easy next time.
Frequently asked questions
Why is it worse in winter
Because the jump in temperature when you leave the hall is larger. Warm skin meets cold air, and evaporation from skin and hair draws heat from the body faster than you would expect.
Does a hat help after swimming
Yes, a lot. Wet hair cools the head quickly, so a hat or scarf keeps the warmth in until the hair is dry. Towel-drying first makes it work even better.
Can you dry swimwear at the pool
In many places there is a spin dryer, and it removes most of the water. Ask whether your pool has one, and otherwise wring the swimwear out well before it goes in the bag.
You can find the full range at Bamboo-Clothing.com.
