The best long-sleeved swimsuits to see you through spring

I know, I know. It’s February. It’s still freezing. Why would I suggest getting in the sea?! Good question… but as just about anyone who has tried it will tell you, there’s an addictive magic to stripping off and submerging yourself in ice-cold water. Wim Hof was onto something, you know.

Irish people have always been drawn to the sea, but never more so than in the past two years. There’s been a notable shift in favour of outdoor pursuits and swimming has become the nation’s new hobby of choice.

Is it a uniquely Irish thing to throw ourselves en masse into the sea on Christmas Day? Well, probably not, but Australians have the advantage of summer heat on their side so we’re claiming extra points for bravery… which will definitely be needed to coax yourself in, but learn to ignore the voice shouting “run” inside your head and the process becomes much easier.

Other accoutrements that help, include but are not limited to hot water bottles, flasks of tea, tote bags laden with post-swim pastries and swim socks (exceptionally uncool, but a necessity all the same).

A long-sleeved swimsuit will also save you a world of trouble.  You’ll still be cold, mind, but most of it comes down to the placebo effect anyway – the more fabric you see, the less time you’ll have to spend convincing yourself to get “just get in already!”.

Below are some of our favourite long-sleeved swimsuits currently available on the market.

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